A cost effective solution to achieve the
brilliance of stone with the simplicity of precast.

Natural stone has long been used in buildings mainly due to its strength, durability, visual interest and accessibility and inherent low costs for maintenance. However, in today’s market, constructing a building with solid stone is not a cost effective option. As an alternative to solid stone block, architects wanting to achieve the look, feel or functionality that stone presents, can use stone veneer.

Stone veneer-faced precast concrete panels offer many benefits

• Veneer stock can be utilized in thinner sections as anchoring points may be placed closer together.
• Multiplane units such as column covers, spandrels with integral soffit and sill sections, deep reveal window frames, inside and outside corners, projections and setbacks, and parapet sections are assembled more cost effectively as veneer units on precast concrete.
• Because each of the larger panels contains a number of veneer pieces precast concrete backup systems permit faster enclosure, allowing earlier work by other trades and subsequent earlier occupancy.
• Veneered precast concrete panels can be used to span column-to-column, thereby reducing floor-edge loading and eliminating elaborate temporary scaffolding. 

The use of a natural stone panel over a precast veneer is an economical and schedule-effective solution. There are three primary options for installing stone veneer:on studs, on steel strong back or on precast. Because the backs of solid stone panels are never seen, the choice of using a veneer is not just an inexpensive choice, but is one of function and schedule.

Stone veneer provides a striking façade treatment that helps to facilitate the tight constraints of today’s budgets and timetables. Blending stone and precast offers a strong choice that designers should consider whenever they are looking for ways to create this type of look and to do it in a way that is both time-saving and cost-effective.