Residential Services
Stone Work
Manufactured stone is normally applied as a masonry veneer to exterior and interior walls, columns and landscape structures. It is sometimes referred to as precast stone and simulated stone, and is technically called Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer (AMSMV).
Most of the exterior ‘stone work’ we see in Alberta is really a manufactured stone.
It is a lightweight, man-made concrete masonry product that is typically cast into random sizes in a variety of colours and finishes meant to mimic the look of quarried rock.
Total Exteriors can handle these types of claims from start to finish.
Manufactured stone is normally applied as a masonry veneer to exterior and interior walls, columns and landscape structures. It is sometimes referred to as precast stone and simulated stone, and is technically called Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer (AMSMV).
Cultured Stone®, a name that is sometimes used generically, is actually a masonry product manufactured by Owens Corning, and is probably the most popular manufactured stone used in Alberta.
Our Total Exteriors inspectors frequently come across manufactured stone during hail storm inspections and we know how to identify the damage, estimate and coordinate the full repair or replacement from start to finish.
Manufactured Stone vs. Cast Stone
Manufactured stone is often referred to by many different names. While in most instances, the various names can be used interchangeably, manufactured stone is not synonymous with cast stone. Manufactured stone is a different product entirely.
Cast stone is a refined architectural concrete building unit whose appearance is meant to simulate quarried stone, but is generally built into a load-bearing masonry wall system. This is a different purpose from the lightweight veneer created with manufactured stone.
These two products are manufactured according to different standards and are intended for different applications, although they are often confused with each other.
Contact Total Exteriors today to find out more about our services.
Stone Veneer and Cultured Stone in Calgary
Total Exteriors repairs and installs manufactured stone veneer, often called cultured stone, on homes in Calgary and the surrounding area. You will find it on the lower front wall of many Calgary homes, on columns, chimneys and accent walls, and on landscape features. Much of our stone work follows hail and wind storms, where we assess the damage, handle the insurance side and rebuild the stone so it blends with what is already on the house. We also take on private stone projects.
Why Homeowners Choose Stone Veneer
- Durability. Manufactured stone is concrete-based, so it shrugs off most hail that would crack vinyl siding.
- Low maintenance. No painting. An occasional rinse and a check of the mortar joints is usually enough.
- Curb appeal. It gives the look of natural stone at a lower weight and cost, and it pairs well with vinyl, Hardiboard and stucco.
- Lightweight. Because it is an adhered veneer, it can usually go on existing walls without the extra foundation support full-bed stone needs.
Common Stone Veneer Problems in Calgary
- Chipped, cracked or broken stones from large hail or impact
- Loose or fallen stones, often where water has frozen behind them
- Cracked, crumbling or missing mortar joints
- White staining (efflorescence) that points to moisture moving through the wall
- Stone installed too close to the ground, a deck or a roof surface, where it stays wet
Stone veneer relies on a water-resistive barrier, lath and a way for water to drain out behind it. When those details are missing, chinook freeze–thaw cycles push moisture into the wall and work stones loose over time.
Stone Repair or Replacement?
A few broken or loose stones can usually be cut out and reset with new mortar. Matching is the main challenge: manufactured stone colours and profiles change over the years and between production batches, so we try to source the same product and blend new stones in. If many stones are loose, or there are signs of water damage behind the veneer, the right fix is to remove the section and rebuild it with a proper barrier, lath and drainage.
Our Stone Work Process
1. Inspection
of all stone areas, mortar joints, flashing and the walls around them, with photos.
2. Written quote
for repair, partial rebuild or full replacement.
3. Insurance or private
We work with your adjuster on storm claims through our insurance claims process, or quote directly for private work.
4. Installation
with the barrier, lath, mortar and clearances the system needs.
5. Clean-up
of mortar, debris and dust, and a final walk-through.
What Does Stone Work Cost?
Stone work is priced by the job. The main factors are the area to be covered, the stone product, how many corners, columns and openings are involved, and whether existing stone or damaged wall layers need to come off. We measure on site and give you a written quote.
Hail Damage and Insurance
Stone is tough, but large hail can still chip and crack it, and the same storm usually damages the roof, siding and eavestroughs. Have the whole exterior checked together. Read about our hail damage repairs or report a claim online.
Areas We Serve
We repair and install stone veneer in Calgary and nearby communities. Choose your area for local details.
Stone Work FAQ
Is cultured stone the same as stone veneer?
Cultured Stone is a brand name, but most people use it for any manufactured stone veneer. Both describe a lightweight concrete product made to look like natural stone and adhered to a wall.
Can you match the stone already on my house?
In most cases we can source the same or a very close product. Older or discontinued colours can be harder, so we blend new stones in where they are least noticeable or rebuild a full section for a consistent look.
Can stone veneer be installed in winter?
Mortar must not freeze while it cures, so most stone work is done in the warmer months. Winter work is possible only with heated enclosures, which adds cost.
Does hail damage stone veneer?
Less often than vinyl or stucco, but large hail can chip faces and edges and crack stones. Damaged stones should be replaced so water does not get in and freeze behind them.
Need stone repaired or installed? Call Total Exteriors at (403) 313-4932 or request a quote online.
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