Natural stone veneer
Thin natural stone veneer for exterior walls, fireplaces, and accent features. 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Real stone — not manufactured. Multiple profiles and textures.
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All stone sourced from quarries in Mexico · Per project request · 4–8 week lead time for Southern California projects
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Common questions about natural stone veneer
From stone origin and material selection to installation requirements and maintenance.
What is the difference between natural stone veneer and manufactured stone?▼
Natural stone veneer is real quarried stone cut to 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Manufactured stone is concrete cast to look like stone. Natural veneer is heavier, more durable, and weathers naturally over 50 to 100 years or more.
Where does NexaBuilder stone veneer come from?▼
Veneer stone comes from multiple Mexican quarrying regions: Cantera from Queretaro, Chiluca from Estado de Mexico, Tezontle from Puebla, and quartzite from Oaxaca. Each produces stone with distinct color and texture.
What is Tezontle stone?▼
Tezontle is a reddish-brown volcanic stone native to central Mexico, one of the defining materials of colonial Mexican architecture. Used in Aztec temples and Spanish colonial buildings, it is lightweight, naturally rough in texture, and produces a warm Colonial Mexicano aesthetic.
How long does natural stone veneer last?▼
Properly installed natural stone veneer on a correctly waterproofed substrate lasts 50 to 100 years or more. Annual sealing and repointing of cracked joints prevents water infiltration that degrades the substrate.
What substrate is required for natural stone veneer?▼
Expanded metal lath over a vapor barrier on wood framing. On concrete or masonry, lath is not required but the surface must be clean. A scratch coat of Type S mortar is applied and cured before stone is set.
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Installation & Finishing Guide
Materials, methods, finishing products, tools, and pricing guidance for stone veneer installation in Southern California.
Structural & Setting Requirements
Stone veneer is set on metal lath and a scratch coat of Type S mortar. Back-butter each stone with 3/8-inch full coverage — voids cause freeze-thaw spalling. Joints are raked to 3/4-inch depth and pointed with mortar matching stone color. Two coats of breathable penetrating sealer protect against efflorescence.
Standard setting mortar: Type S masonry cement + washed plaster sand (1:3 ratio). For wet areas and pools: white latex-modified thin-set. Never use pre-mixed mastic in wet or exterior applications.
Natural stone is heavy. Calculate dead load per square foot: cantera avg 12–14 lbs/ft², travertine 13–15 lbs/ft², quartzite 16–18 lbs/ft². Submit loads to structural engineer for any overhead or load-bearing applications.
For any wet-area application, apply crystalline waterproofing membrane (XYPEX, Kryton, or equivalent) to substrate before stone setting. Two coats at 90° to each other. Allow full cure before setting stone.
Cleaning, Sealing & Enhancement
After mortar cure (72 hrs), clean with pH-neutral stone-safe cleaner. Remove grout haze with manufacturer-recommended haze remover — not muriatic acid, which damages porous stone. Rinse thoroughly.
Apply penetrating impregnator sealer (silane/siloxane blend) after cleaning and full cure. Exterior: StoneTech BulletProof or equivalent. Pool-adjacent: chlorine-resistant formula. Re-seal every 1–3 years.
For color enhancement (wet-look or natural finish), use enhancer + sealer combo product. Test on back of sample piece first — some stones will darken significantly. Enhancement is permanent.
pH-neutral cleaner only for daily cleaning. No vinegar, bleach, or citrus. For stain removal, use stone poultice appropriate to stain type (oil, rust, organic). Re-seal on schedule. Inspect joints annually.
Tools & Jobsite Equipment
- Angle grinder with 4″ diamond blade
- Wet tile saw with diamond blade (7″–10″)
- Hand-held circular saw with segmented diamond blade
- Stone chisel set + 3 lb mash hammer
- Bull-nose router bit (for edge profiles)
- Laser level (rotary, self-leveling)
- 4’ and 6’ bubble level
- Rubber mallet + wooden beating block
- Notched trowel (1/2″ square-notch for thick-set)
- Suction cup lifters (for large slabs)
- Stone spacers (3/8″ and 1/2″)
- Grout float (for wide joints)
- Grout bag + nozzle (for raked joints)
- Sponges + 5-gal buckets
- Caulk gun (for silicone joints)
- Painter’s tape (protect stone from mortar drips)
- Stone dolly / panel cart (for heavy slabs)
- Mortar mixer (drum or paddle)
- Scaffolding or pump jack (elevated work)
- Vacuum + HEPA filter (silica dust control)
- PPE: N95 respirator, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves
Cutting dry stone generates crystalline silica dust — a known carcinogen causing silicosis. Always wet-cut or use vacuum dust collection. Never dry-cut cantera or travertine without N95 minimum respiratory protection.
Pricing a Stone Veneer Job
All stone is sourced and imported from Mexico per project. Lead time is typically 4–8 weeks from order confirmation. Do not schedule installation without confirmed delivery date and full material inspection on arrival.
Order 10–15% overage on all stone — breakage, cuts, and pattern matching demand extra material. Once a lot leaves the quarry, matching is nearly impossible. Leftover stone has resale value; short material stalls the project.
Include in your bid: substrate prep, waterproofing, structural steel (if required), mortar and grout materials, sealer, equipment rental, and disposal. Stone is often 40–60% of project cost.
Always inspect stone in person before full order — photos don’t capture variation, color, or finish accurately. Request samples of the actual lot. Verify dimensions are exact before cutting begins.
Ready to order stone veneer?
All stone is sourced per project from Mexico. Request a quote and we’ll match you with a CSLB-verified stone contractor and confirm material availability.
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