7 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MANUFACTURED AND NATURAL STONE
October 2, 2019
DIFFERENCE #5: INSTALLATION
NATURAL STONE:
It is possible to install natural stone on concrete. Assuming the surface is reasonably smooth, you may need to add scratch masonry or metal lath for a better grip. You need to add grout between the stones for added strength unless you want to create a dry-stack appearance. Put in mind that natural stone is heavy, so you should not install it on thin materials and drywall, except you intend to use only a small piece of it. Since natural stone is also difficult to cut, the best thing to do is to make sure that the installation surface fits well with the stone instead of the other way around.
MANUFACTURED STONE:
The installation process is just about the same as natural stone, only easier. You can install manufactured stone on various surfaces with grout, metal lath or scratch coat. Because you can cut the stone with a regular power saw or even a chisel and hammer – if you are skillful enough – work surface preparation is much more forgiving. The lightweight nature of manufactured stone also allows for easier handling.