<p>Sustainable, eco-friendly, easy on the pocket and pretty, stone veneers are revolutionising the way interiors can be designed by simply doing away with the heavy, bulky and expensive stone, observes Gaurav Jain.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Set in stone, they say. The noun 'stone' comes loaded with a sense of permanence that is both beautiful and overwhelming. And when something of permanence comes together with something exquisite, the result is clearly stunning. <br /><br />For millions of years, layer upon layer of earth’s materials have formed various metamorphic rock layers we now call slate, mica and sandstone. We know them as durable stones used for floors and patios cut only with diamond saws then mortared into place and usually grouted along the edges. Generally easy to work with, but quite heavy and improbable in many applications, these solid stones have been the only practical means of creating that real stone look.<br /><br /> While stone, in all its forms and textures, is a delight when it comes to architecture and design, it is difficult to work with. The sheer weight and the ineffectiveness of cost makes most people rule out using stone work most of the time. But here's the perfect thing for them - stone veneers. <br /><br />Sustainable, eco-friendly, easy on the pocket and pretty, stone veneers are one of the best things for architects and designers. Stone veneers are revolutionising the way interiors can be designed by simply doing away with the heavy, bulky and expensive stone. <br /><br />What are stone veneers?<br /><br />Veneers are lightweight, flexible, acrylic sheet with a layer of natural stone. The end-result is the beautiful stone effect but light-weight, easy-to-transport, easy-to-cut-and-mould and available in plenty of textures and effects. And because of such incredible reasons, stone veneers are the in-thing with Gen-Y in creating beautiful homes. Stone veneers are being used liberally in furniture, doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms and even fashion accessories! Soothing to the eye and pleasing to the senses in its subdued style, stone veneers are the next big thing in home interiors. <br /><br />The usageArchitectural uses include building facades, interior walls, flooring, columns, shower walls and much more. It is an attractive addition to many decors due to the product’s ease of installation and the ability to apply the product in areas where stone or masonry previously would not have been considered. Natural Stone veneers have also been used for the manufacturing of indoor/outdoor planters, custom residential/commercial water features, and automotive, marine and RV panelling. Veneers address a large need for a flexible, adaptable, durable and weather-resistant material that is not only cost-effective, but also pleasing to the eye.<br /><br />The history<br /><br />Thin stone veneers were first developed in the late 19th century, but there were materials developed much earlier that seems to suggest the use of stone veneer. Parts of the Roman Coliseum were made out of marble veneer. Modern stone veneer first made its appearance in the late 1800s. It was cut into thick portions and then hand-tooled into appropriate panels. The stones that were used were granite, marble, travertine, limestone and slate.<br /><br /> One-and-a half inches became the common thickness of stone veneer in the 1930s. Panels of stone veneer were generally installed via mortar techniques, with steel rods drilled into the edges of panels providing support. In the 1940s, complete facades of buildings were made with thin stone veneers. In the 1950s, stone veneer construction became much of what we see today. <br /><br />As stone veneer panels got thinner in the 1960s, the properties of the stone used became more important. In the 1980s, the thickness of stone veneer was to be cut to 3.2 mm, because of improvements in technology. By the early 2000s, the thickness of typical thin stone veneer was three centimeters.<br /><br />Stone veneers versus stone<br /><br />Transportation cost, fuel and space are saved in normal shipping and handling of stone veneers compared to standard stone or tile products because of its extreme lightweight. There are also additional savings in packaging materials and those involved with design and architecture will know that this is an added benefit when compared with stone or tile products. <br /><br />Veneer is also a much more sustainable product, as compared to stones and tiles, as it utilises only what is needed from the stone quarry. Because of the unique manufacturing process, each sheet is just a thin layer of the natural stone and can be designed as demanded. <br /><br />(The writer is the founder of Arvicon International, Delhi)</p>
<p>Sustainable, eco-friendly, easy on the pocket and pretty, stone veneers are revolutionising the way interiors can be designed by simply doing away with the heavy, bulky and expensive stone, observes Gaurav Jain.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Set in stone, they say. The noun 'stone' comes loaded with a sense of permanence that is both beautiful and overwhelming. And when something of permanence comes together with something exquisite, the result is clearly stunning. <br /><br />For millions of years, layer upon layer of earth’s materials have formed various metamorphic rock layers we now call slate, mica and sandstone. We know them as durable stones used for floors and patios cut only with diamond saws then mortared into place and usually grouted along the edges. Generally easy to work with, but quite heavy and improbable in many applications, these solid stones have been the only practical means of creating that real stone look.<br /><br /> While stone, in all its forms and textures, is a delight when it comes to architecture and design, it is difficult to work with. The sheer weight and the ineffectiveness of cost makes most people rule out using stone work most of the time. But here's the perfect thing for them - stone veneers. <br /><br />Sustainable, eco-friendly, easy on the pocket and pretty, stone veneers are one of the best things for architects and designers. Stone veneers are revolutionising the way interiors can be designed by simply doing away with the heavy, bulky and expensive stone. <br /><br />What are stone veneers?<br /><br />Veneers are lightweight, flexible, acrylic sheet with a layer of natural stone. The end-result is the beautiful stone effect but light-weight, easy-to-transport, easy-to-cut-and-mould and available in plenty of textures and effects. And because of such incredible reasons, stone veneers are the in-thing with Gen-Y in creating beautiful homes. Stone veneers are being used liberally in furniture, doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms and even fashion accessories! Soothing to the eye and pleasing to the senses in its subdued style, stone veneers are the next big thing in home interiors. <br /><br />The usageArchitectural uses include building facades, interior walls, flooring, columns, shower walls and much more. It is an attractive addition to many decors due to the product’s ease of installation and the ability to apply the product in areas where stone or masonry previously would not have been considered. Natural Stone veneers have also been used for the manufacturing of indoor/outdoor planters, custom residential/commercial water features, and automotive, marine and RV panelling. Veneers address a large need for a flexible, adaptable, durable and weather-resistant material that is not only cost-effective, but also pleasing to the eye.<br /><br />The history<br /><br />Thin stone veneers were first developed in the late 19th century, but there were materials developed much earlier that seems to suggest the use of stone veneer. Parts of the Roman Coliseum were made out of marble veneer. Modern stone veneer first made its appearance in the late 1800s. It was cut into thick portions and then hand-tooled into appropriate panels. The stones that were used were granite, marble, travertine, limestone and slate.<br /><br /> One-and-a half inches became the common thickness of stone veneer in the 1930s. Panels of stone veneer were generally installed via mortar techniques, with steel rods drilled into the edges of panels providing support. In the 1940s, complete facades of buildings were made with thin stone veneers. In the 1950s, stone veneer construction became much of what we see today. <br /><br />As stone veneer panels got thinner in the 1960s, the properties of the stone used became more important. In the 1980s, the thickness of stone veneer was to be cut to 3.2 mm, because of improvements in technology. By the early 2000s, the thickness of typical thin stone veneer was three centimeters.<br /><br />Stone veneers versus stone<br /><br />Transportation cost, fuel and space are saved in normal shipping and handling of stone veneers compared to standard stone or tile products because of its extreme lightweight. There are also additional savings in packaging materials and those involved with design and architecture will know that this is an added benefit when compared with stone or tile products. <br /><br />Veneer is also a much more sustainable product, as compared to stones and tiles, as it utilises only what is needed from the stone quarry. Because of the unique manufacturing process, each sheet is just a thin layer of the natural stone and can be designed as demanded. <br /><br />(The writer is the founder of Arvicon International, Delhi)</p>
