What is the difference between manufactured stone veneer and Champlain Stone natural stone veneer?
Manufactured stone veneer is typically made from Portland cement, natural aggregates and pigments and formed using cast molds of natural stones, resulting in a limited offering of repeated shapes and sizes. Our natural stone is quarried from the foothills of New York's historic Adirondack Mountains and exhibits beautiful natural colors and textures that only Mother Nature can provide, making each piece of stone unique. Because natural stone provides a full range of colors and sizes, it can be manipulated to achieve many different looks, offering a considerable amount of creative flexibility.
What are the benefits of using Champlain Stone?
Efficiency
Natural stone possesses good thermal mass (the ability of a material to store heat and slowly release it) so using it as part of the interior or exterior of your project increases the level of insulation and efficiency. In addition, using a light colored stone such as our South Bay Quartzite®, can aide in reflecting sunlight and reducing heat-island effects.
Eco-friendly
No chemicals are used for quarrying or fabricating Champlain Stone keeping it pure and non-toxic to you and the environment.
Low maintenance
Although manufactured stone may look appealing on the surface, scratches, chips and cracks can quickly change its illusion of real stone by revealing the cement product underneath. Because the pigments are generally applied to the surface only, a special touch-up kit is required to repair damaged or faded pieces. When natural stone is chipped or scratched, all that is revealed is more natural, beautiful stone, and won't require the hassle or added cost of cosmetic repairs.
Better resale value
Using Champlain Stone increases the value of your structure due to its low maintenance, high quality, durability, aesthetic appeal, and uniqueness. If you are looking for ways to improve your building and/or it's surroundings, Champlain Stone offers a wide variety of solutions.
Unique
Champlain Stone exhibits beautiful natural colors and textures that only Mother Nature can provide, making each piece of stone unique and timeless.
Durability
Our granite is approximately 1.2 billion years old, our quartzitic sandstone 500-600 million years old and our dolomitic limestone 450-500 million years old. In other words, it's sticking around.
It just looks good
There are unlimited ways to add beauty using Champlain Stone products. Whether a small or large-scale project, our natural stone products include full-bed, thin sawn and hand selected thin veneers. When thinking of using manufactured products because of weight restriction or budget concerns, remember to consider the genuine alternatives.
Because every piece of natural stone is unique, does that mean the colors are inconsistent?
Variations in color and texture do exist, but can still be kept consistent when being processed in the quarry. We can also isolate particular color ranges that you may favor, such as all of the pinks in our Van Tassell Granite® or the blues in our Corinthian Granite®.
Where can Champlain Stone be installed?
Our stone can and has been used in a large variety of applications. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
Archways
Barbecues
Benches
Boulderscapes
Bridges
Caps
Chimneys
Coping
Curbing
Fire pits
Flagging
Foundations
Fountains
Garden bed edging
Indoor and outdoor fireplaces including, hearths, mantels and lintels
Interior and exterior walls
Keystones
Memorials
Paths
Patios
Paving
Piers
Ponds
Pools/Spas
Restoration
Retaining walls
Retrofits
Sculptures
Sills
Steps/Stairs
Tiles
Waterfalls
Water table
Wet bars
Is the cost of natural stone comparable to manufactured stone?
Yes. Although traditional masonry installations can add additional cost to your construction, choosing natural stone is an investment that adds value, longtime durability and sustained quality that will far exceed that of manufactured stone. If traditional masonry installation still falls outside your budget, we do offer natural stone thin veneers that provide the same quality and aesthetic results without resorting to man made alternatives. Please view our Veneer Options to learn more.
Where are your products available?
Champlain Stone is available nationally and internationally. Please contact us to find out where you can buy our products.
Can we request material that is not within Champlain Stone specifications?
Yes. We can accommodate most any creative design requirement through special orders for custom size, color, finish or quantity.
Can I order specific dimensions?
Absolutely. Our stone production capabilities allow you to customize your needs whether sawn or split. Some limitations may apply.
Can you assist in matching existing stonework even if it is not your stone?
Yes. We can customize a blend of our stone colors and textures to match existing stonework through photo reference or preferably, a site visit.
How can damages such as graffiti be removed from Champlain Stone?
Often graffiti marred stone can be surface washed to remove damage without affecting the stone. Contact your stone provider or installer for more specific information and suggestions for ways to assist in this matter.
I would like to build a stone wall. How do I calculate how much stone I will need?
