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Upgrade Your Stone Veneer Siding Game: Get Quick & Stunning Results

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Be.on stone photo
Be.on stone photo

Upgrade Your Stone Veneer Siding Game: Get Quick & Stunning Results

Fast-track Your Masonry Projects with Instone’s Solutions

Whether you’re a contractor or a weekend warrior do-it-yourselfer, you feel the need … The need for speed.

Installing a veneer one stone at a time is meticulous work that takes time. Time that could be spent on a family outing, crossing tasks off the to-do list, or doing the things you love. Or in the case of a masonry professional, time that holds you back from moving on to the next job.

Instone offers two high quality solutions that are easy to install and help you cruise through stone veneer siding installations. Interloc Natural Stone Panels and Be.on® Stone are three to eight times faster to install. And they work well on interior and exterior applications.

Both stone siding brands have their own unique features but share a common approach in producing panels made of multiple stones. The professionally designed panels can cover plenty of ground in a hurry. The veneer panels fit together seamlessly and are designed for stress-free installation, making projects simple enough for any moderately handy do-it-yourselfer to take on.

Using Interloc or Be.on Stone, a wall that looks like it’s clad with thousands stones will only actually require a few dozen stone veneer panels. Chris Camosse, general manager for Massachusetts-based Camosse Masonry Supply, said these creative products have been hot sellers and given his company an edge.

“With the proprietary products that Instone finds, it allows us to have something that our competitors in the area don’t have – for example, the Interloc interlocking panel systems,” Camosse said. “These have become a huge success not only with homeowners but with contractors. Everyone sees the value of the product and the time it saves.”

Interloc gif
Interloc Natural Stone Veneer Panels – Real Stone 8x Faster

A Loc on Quality

Interloc panels feature thin natural stone pieces that are set into mortar and shaped to fit tightly together, hiding joints and giving the appearance of a stacked stone masonry wall. With Interloc, the hard work of selecting and arranging individual stones is already handled at the factory. Adding to the ease of installation, Interloc stone veneer panels have rough grooves on their backs that aid bonding.

Camosse first began carrying Interloc products about three years ago. Since then, he has held short how-to courses for contractors to introduce the product. During the courses, he demonstrates the panels’ consistency, time savings, and helps them become familiar with the product.

“The product we got on day one was the same quality as the product we got a year in, so that proved a lot to us as well.”

Chris Camosse, general manager for Massachusetts-based Camosse Masonry Supply

Interloc is available in two styles: New England, which features a blend of grey and warm, earthy colored stones, and Berkshire, a more consistent grey stone with sandy highlights. Use our online savings calculator to compare costs of Interloc vs. standard stone veneer siding.

Interloc Natural Stone Veneer Panels In Two Colors - Berkshire and New England
Be.on Stone Veneer Panels Showcase Carousel
Be.On Stone Veneer Panels – Mechanically Fastened

Above and Be.on for Simplicity

Instone President and CEO Kevin Grotke recently took on a DIY project of his own, adding wainscoting around the outside of a cottage he bought for family getaways. After giving some thought to his options, he determined Be.on Stone mortarless stone veneer siding was the ideal choice.

“We’re only here on the weekends so I’ve only got a day and a half to get this done, which is why I decided to go with this rather than a mortar and a lath application.”

Kevin Grotke, Instone president and CEO

Be.on Stone, also known as “screw-on stone veneer” or “stone veneer siding,” requires no mortar. It requires few tools – if you have a screw gun, a tile saw, a level and a tape measure, you’re off to the races.

As Grotke demonstrates in this video, the key is applying a starter strip along the base of the wall at the beginning of the job and making sure it’s level.

Once you’ve screwed in the initial row of veneer panels, you can run the rest of your panels above them quickly and perfectly level. Whether you have a standard OSB or plywood wall, you only need two or three fasteners per panel and don’t need to hit a stud.

Best of all, you won’t need a confusing assortment of panels to form your corners. As explained in our InBuilding Design series, the same pieces are used for inside and outside corners.

“You don’t need to order inside corners, you don’t need outside corners. One panel does it all,” Hortigan said. “All you have to do is figure out what your square footage is.”

Plus, with Be.on Stone’s patented D.Rain water management system, any rain that makes it behind the stone veneer drains automatically to the bottom of the wall, preventing mold and other damage to the structure. The product also has a 50-year warranty.

Be.on stone veneer siding drain system

Be.on Stone comes in four styles, ranging from the Element collection, with its old European flavor, to the more contemporary Horizon. Each has its own variety of color options. Try our Virtual Designer for an instant glimpse at what a Be.on Stone veneer would look like on your home.

Be.on color skews

We Make it Easy!

Contact Instone today to learn more about why Interloc and Be.on Stone products are the fast, easy solutions for your next stone veneer job or DIY home exterior and siding project.

Natural Stone vs. Concrete Pavers: The Ultimate Patio Material Showdown

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Aura Patio design
Aura Patio design

Natural Stone vs. Concrete Pavers: The Ultimate Patio Material Showdown

So you’re weighing the pros and cons of natural stone vs. concrete pavers for your patio. As you move ahead with your research, allow us to share a few data points for consideration.

  • The Parthenon was built in 447 with marble.
  • Stonehenge was built around 2,500 BC with bluestone and sarsen (a sandstone).
  • The Sphinx was built around 2,500 BC of limestone.
natural stone examples
The Parthenon; Stonehenge; The Sphinx

These breathtaking structures, still standing strong after thousands of years, were all made of natural stone – some of the same varieties of stone we use for patios, pool decks, and walkways. Look at pictures of these wonders. The stone radiates atmosphere, history, and mystery. Can a concrete stamp do the same?

“When you have natural stone, you have a story behind it,” Instone Territory Sales Manager for New England Jake Alicandro said in a recent episode of InBuilding Design.

“You have a stone that’s coming from the earth, that’s been here thousands of years, vs. a paver that’s manufactured, that’s only a few months old or so.”

Don’t Oversimplify Patio Paver Cost

Too often, the choice of natural or artificial hardscaping comes down to cost  and the notion that concrete products will save you money. Sometimes that’s not even true. There are manufactured pavers that cost more than natural products, so buyers should compare the specific products they’re considering. 

Overall, the gap between the initial costs of concrete pavers and natural stone pavers like those produced by Aura Natural Landscapes have been narrowing. But when comparing prices, it’s important to factor in the costs of upkeep and the expected life of the product. The greater durability of natural stone can save money in the long run on repairs, maintenance, and the need to replace materials vs. concrete pavers, which are prone to suffer chipping, cracks and deterioration. 

And then there are the intangibles. Getting beyond the initial material purchase, here are a few reasons why purchasing natural stone products is money better spent.

Natural Stone Pavers Retain Their Natural Beauty

aura oxford buff sandstone patio
Aura Oxford Buff Sandstone

Mother Nature is a talented designer. Natural stone is full of the speckles, swirls, tints and other details that give each piece its own unique character. There’s a reason why many manufactured stone varieties are created to look as much like natural stone as possible.

“The great part of natural stone is the creativity you see within it,” Alicandro said. “You have stones that have a lot of movement in them, and there are stones that are very uniform and linear. The possibilities are endless when it comes to natural stone.”

You can amplify those qualities by laying out your stones in irregular patterns. Irregular pavers are pieces of stone that are not uniform in shape and size, like squares or rectangles, but can be arranged together to create attractive mosaics that call other patterns in nature to mind. Aura Natural Landscapes irregular pavers come in consistent cuts designed to fit together like a puzzle, making them 10 times faster to install than other irregular flagging products.

Aura irregular pattern patio
Aura Silver Ridge Irregular Pattern

Eliminate the Vulnerability of Concrete Pavers

Manufactured pavers have come a long way, but even the best of them can’t match the shelf life of natural stone. They are far stronger structurally.

According to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), an independent organization that develops standards for construction materials, typical granites can withstand 16,000-25,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure; sandstones upwards of 15,000 PSI; and limestones in the range of 8,000 PSI. The regular concrete used for projects like patios and sidewalks support in the neighborhood of 2,500 PSI.

Even if your stones or concrete won’t be used for a project that will bear the brunt of heavy weights on a regular basis, the elements will deal plenty of abuse over time. The harsh freeze-thaw cycles of the Northeast and the extreme heat waves of the South expand and contract your material, causing a gradual degradation. Concrete pavers are more vulnerable to these swings. .

The fresh appearance of concrete pavers also won’t hold up like a high-quality natural stone. Concrete paver colors are made with pigments and dyes that eventually fade from exposure to sun and the elements, while standard white concrete tends to stain. Take a look at the sidewalks and curbs around your town – are they pretty to look at? And while trends in paver colors and patterns come and go, a classic natural stone never goes out of style.

Aura commercial paver project
Aura Italian Bluestone Sandstone

 The Eco-Friendly Choice

The concrete manufacturing process is energy intensive and can rely on chemicals, rocks, cement, and other ingredients being shipped from far and wide. The Natural Stone Institute notes, “From an overall sustainability perspective, natural stone has a lower environmental footprint than precast concrete. This is due to the minimal resources used to quarry, fabricate, finish, and transport natural stone. … Every step in the precast concrete manufacturing process requires the use of a lot of energy, which contributes to their total global warming potential.”

No environmental harm comes from the disposal of stone. In fact, the waste materials from quarrying and preparing natural stone flagging can be recycled for a range of uses, including gravel, artificial reefs, the foundations of construction sites, the bedding beneath patios, and even as ingredients of concrete.

For these reasons, using natural stone can help a project earn points to attain a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

See the patio where Aura sandy point pavers replaced concrete pavers
Aura Sandy Point

Go Natural

To learn more about the possibilities for a property you own or are working on with natural stone products, visit our Aura Natural Landscapes page . There you can browse its online catalog of granites, sandstones, marbles and other natural stone varieties in a range of colors and patterns, all competitively priced. You can also count on Aura’s design services team to collaborate with your architects, consultants, and other professionals through each project phase.

Contact Instone today to get the conversation started!

3 Superior Building Materials for Luxury Home Construction and Renovations

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Pangaea Fieldstone House
Pangaea Fieldstone House

3 Superior Building Materials for Luxury Home Construction and Renovations

High Quality Stonework Transforms Homes

From cellar to ceiling, from front yard to fence line, nothing can transform a home quite like high-quality stone work. Natural stone products have the power to set the atmosphere of a room, boost curb appeal, and make a property feel like a personal vacation getaway. 

When it comes to high-end residential building projects, choosing the right products can make all the difference. Luxury building products possess distinct characteristics that set them apart from standard materials. The allure of exquisite craftsmanship, superior quality, innovative features, customization options, and the ability to fulfill client expectations drives builders to seek out these materials.

Aura Silver Ridge granite patio
Aura Silver Ridge Granite

Instone carries a trifecta of natural stone brands that experts consider as best-in-class for veneer, hardscaping, and fireplaces: Pangaea Natural Stone, Aura Natural Landscapes, and Isokern Fireplaces & Chimneys. Used in combination, the trio works together seamlessly to make residential building projects and luxury home renovations beautiful on the inside and out.

By using luxury building products in their projects, builders can create remarkable structures that exemplify sophistication, durability, and unparalleled beauty.

Using low-quality materials can have the opposite effect. In an episode of our InBuilding Design series covering the differences between natural and manufactured stone products, Instone President Kevin Grotke observed that lesser-quality artificial stones look “obvious” and can cheapen the look of a home.

“Sometimes we’ll call it ‘Chiclets’ when you see an entire stone painted red, and then brown, and then orange – it just looks fake,” Grotke said. “I think the unfortunate thing is, a lot of people don’t know what they’re putting on their home, and it’s permanent.”

‘Chiclets’ example

Ultimately, the highest-quality materials elevate the overall construction experience and deliver exceptional results that leave a lasting impression on both builders and their clients. Their innovative design, factory preparation, and packaging also allow builders and contractors to complete jobs faster, saving homeowners money in the process.

Below we explore why Pangaea, Aura, and Isokern are an ideal triple play for custom home construction and renovations. 

More Than A Pretty Face

Pangaea Natural Stone Veneer

Pangaea Natural Stone veneer stands apart from its peers on the strength of its quality and innovative features. 

  • Stones are available in seven unique patterns and styles, each with multiple color options, providing plenty of possibilities to suit any living space. 
  • Pangaea’s pallet layers come pre-arranged in an optimal blend of stone colors and sizes so they’re ready for immediate installation. Each pallet of Pangaea stones comes pre-cut, tooled, trimmed, and fitted, simplifying the installation process and ensuring greater quality control. 
  • Additionally, each stone is pre-scored with grooves to ensure secure, long-term adhesion to any surface. 
Pangaea designed living room
Pangaea Fieldstone Westcoast

Handpicked Stone & Personal Attention

Aura Natural Landscapes

Unmatched quality, consistent availability, and superior stone fabrication services, that’s Aura Natural Landscapes. Customers and masonry professionals alike consider Aura a premier partner from sourcing to completion.

Aura’s extensive network offers access to the top stone products from quarries around the globe, whether for patios, steps, poolside pavers, pebble edging, walkways, or other hardscaping improvements. 

  • Aura offers a deep catalog of granites, sandstones, marbles, and other natural stone varieties in colors ranging from classic speckled grays to ruddy earth tones, all competitively priced.
  •  A project’s design professionals can also count on Aura’s design services team to help unlock their creative ability by collaborating closely with architects, consultants, and others through each project phase.
Aura misty blue granite patio
Aura Misty Blue Marble Blue Mist Granite

Superior Warmth & Selection

Isokern Fireplaces

Isokern manufactures high-end modular fireplaces made from pumice (volcanic rock), the most energy-efficient material on earth.

  • The Icelandic pumice used in Isokern components has remarkable refractive properties that distribute heat back into a room. This sets it apart from site-built concrete, metal, and masonry fireplaces. 
  • Modular Isokern fireplaces are not only quick to install, often taking less than a day, but are also more cost-effective compared to traditional masonry fireplaces. 
  • Isokern includes options for wood-burning and gas, vented and vent-free fireplaces. This makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Isokern offers a complete line of fireplaces and complementary products, including firebrick, fireplace stone, flues, and Isoset mortar.
Isokern Magnum series
Isokern Magnum Series

The Allure of Luxury Building Products

Luxury building products hold a distinct appeal in the construction trades. Builders who are dedicated to creating exceptional and high-end structures understand the importance of selecting materials that will help them exude that quality. Here are some of the top attributes Instone’s masonry and installation partners say they look for in their products. 

Exquisite Craftsmanship: Builders seek out materials that display exceptional attention to detail and meticulous artistry. Whether ornate moldings, intricate metalwork, or finely crafted custom cabinetry, these elements showcase the dedication and expertise of skilled artisans. 

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Superior Quality and Durability: Builders prioritize materials that are designed to stand the test of time, ensuring that structures maintain their appearance for years to come. From top-of-the-line veneer for a façade to flagging that can endure harsh freeze-thaw cycles, natural stone products offer unparalleled strength and resilience. 

Eco-Friendliness: Homebuyers and developers are factoring sustainability into purchasing decisions with more prominence than ever. Builders are responding by expanding their use of environmentally friendly materials and seeking out manufacturers that go the extra mile to reduce their carbon footprints.

Pangaea is recognized internationally as a trailblazer for the steps taken to make its operations and products more sustainable. Among them are its recycling of waste materials and water, renewable energy use, and specially designed packing crates to thwart the spread of invasive pests. 

Isokern uses all natural pumice the natural insulator and reclaims the pumice out of vast lava fields. In addition all of the products are recyclable, exceed EPA standards and help reduce greenhouse particles.

Unique and Customizable Options: Builders are drawn to luxury building products that allow for personalization, ensuring that the finished structure stands out as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. From custom-designed tiles or irregular flagging, the ability to tailor these products to the project’s specific requirements allows builders to create a truly exceptional and personalized space for their clients.

Prestige and Client Expectations: Luxury materials evoke a sense of prestige and exclusivity, reflecting the status and lifestyle that clients desire. These products help builders fulfill their clients’ aspirations and create an atmosphere of opulence and refinement. 

Explore Our Luxury Look Book Here

Elevate Your Work

Pangaea Natural Stone, Aura Natural Landscapes, and Isokern Fireplaces and Chimneys present a winning combination for upscale home projects.  

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Top Renovations That Maximize Your Home’s Value

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Cultured Stone Modern House
Cultured Stone Modern House

Top Renovations That Maximize Your Home’s Value

Job interviews. First dates. Meeting the parents. We all know that first impressions are everything.

That’s why, when it comes to increasing the value of your home, the almighty exterior plays an outsized role. It doesn’t matter if your listing is perfect if people are underwhelmed when they pull up for an open house. If your curb appeal isn’t measuring up, your perfect buyer may not even make it through the front door.

So, what do buyers and real estate agents look for when it comes to curb appeal? Let’s explore some exterior projects that’ll have agents — and potential buyers — falling head over heels for your property.

Let’s start with some of the most common curb appeal-boosting projects:

Roofing:

Buyers and real estate agents both have a keen eye for any signs of roofing wear and tear. If your roof needs some TLC, investing in repairs or even a full replacement can be a smart move to boost your home’s value. Some buyers are looking for sustainable solar roof options to help protect their wallets and the environment at the same time, while others are just looking for leak-proof living. Note:  Grey and black impact-resistant shingles remain the most popular options.

Siding:

If your current siding is looking a bit outdated or worse for wear, it might be time for an upgrade. Consider swapping it out with a fresh and stylish material like natural stone or manufactured thin veneer siding. According to a 2023 remodeling report, a homeowner stands to recoup 89% of the cost if using fiber cement, 95% of the cost when replacing vinyl siding, and a jaw-dropping 102% ROI for updating with stone veneer siding. 

Echo Ridge Country Ledgestone Crub Shot
Cultured Stone Echo Ridge Country Ledgestone

Windows and Doors:

Say goodbye to drafty windows and doors and hello to energy-efficient alternatives that can work wonders for both your home’s appearance and its value. Plus, you’ll be saving some serious bucks on your energy bills. Talk about a win-win.

Aura Misty Blue Marble and Blue Mist Granite
Aura Misty Blue Marble / Blue Mist Granite

Outdoor Living Spaces:

Whether it’s a deck, patio, porch, or pergola, having an inviting outdoor oasis can really make a difference. Realtors know that creating a space perfect for entertaining or just lounging around can add serious value to your humble abode. Exterior paver products like Aura Natural Stone are as beautiful as they are durable, adding serious value and a wow factor to outdoor spaces from patios to walkways to pools. 

Garage:

If you’ve got one, it’s time to spruce it up. Add some clever storage solutions, insulate it for all-season use, or even give that garage door a facelift – these can all work wonders. After all, a good-looking garage is like a cherry on top for potential buyers.

Introducing Your Curb Appeal Secret Weapon: Stone Veneer Siding

But what’s the real secret weapon for boosting your home’s value? Short answer: natural stone and manufactured stone veneer products for a quick exterior makeover.

Echo Ridge Southern Ledgestone Photo
Cultured Stone Echo Ridge Southern Ledgestone

A savvy real estate agent or buyer will have their eyes peeled for a few key things. Here’s what they’d typically be on the lookout for:

Pangaea Ledgestone Exterior
Pangaea® WestcCoast® Ledgestone

Rock-Solid Quality:

Let’s face it, the quality of the stone used in your exterior projects can make or break the value game. That’s why top-notch stone — like Pangaea Natural Stone®  — is a must. It’s got to be durable, visually appealing, and able to stand up to whatever Mother Nature throws its way.

Design that Rocks:

When it comes to stonework, the design is where the magic happens. Those jaw-dropping, head-turning designs that take a home’s aesthetic appeal to a whole new level can take your offers sky-high, too. Sleek stone veneer accents offer a more budget-friendly option or splurging on an all-natural stone façade really delivers that upscale, “wow” factor.

Cultured Stone Gray Cobblefield Veneer shot
Cultured Stone Gray Cobblefield

Low Maintenance, High Style:

Manufactured stone veneer like Cultured Stone® can be a low-maintenance superhero for your exterior projects. But not all stones are created equal when it comes to upkeep. So keep an eye out for stone options that are a breeze to clean and maintain – it’s an attractive feature for potential buyers.

Shades of Stone: 

The color of your stone veneer panels can pack a punch when it comes to value. Select colors that harmonize with your home’s style and color scheme. Neutral hues like sophisticated gray and versatile beige tend to steal the show and win over hearts (and wallets). 

Right Place, Right Stone:

Placement is key. Consider where that stone veneer is going to shine the brightest. Evaluate which exterior projects – whether it’s stone walkways, retaining walls, or outdoor fireplaces – will add that extra oomph and value to your home. 

Not quite sure how your new stone siding will look on your home? Or maybe you want to compare two different stones. No problem. The Instone visualizer is the place to start when you want to go from imagining the difference stone will make, to seeing how it changes the look of your house.

Contact Instone today to learn more about products and services that can increase your home’s value with stone.

Ensuring Longevity: Why ASTM C1670 Matters in Manufactured Stone Veneer

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ASTM c1670 photo
ASTM c1670 photo

Ensuring Longevity: Why ASTM C1670 Matters in Manufactured Stone Veneer

The New Bar For Quality

When the ASTM C1670 standard was established for adhered manufactured stone a 5 years ago it set a new bar for the quality, consistency and longevity of products used in residential and commercial projects around the world. Today a growing number of state and local governments in the U.S. are catching on, adopting this standard and enforcing its use.

One of the leaders in the push to develop ASTM C1670 was Westlake Royal Stone Solutions, the producer of Instone’s manufactured stone veneer (MSV) lines Cultured Stone and Dutch Quality Stone. According to Jeff Tew, Westlake’s director of technical and training, created the standard was essential for establishing trust in a relatively young and rapidly expanding industry. Many manufacturers offer warranties of 50 years.

“I think it’s important because there are so many companies making manufactured stone right now that it can be difficult to know which ones are making a code-compliant, quality product. Stone can look really good on a sample board, but how is it going to look years down the road?”

Jeff Tew, Westlake’s Director of Technical and Training

5 Essential Tests

To find out, MSV products are subjected to a rigorous set of tests devised by a group of scientists, engineers and industry experts assembled by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials). Stone products are evaluated in five critical areas: compressive strength, freeze-thaw durability, shear bond, water absorption and density, and dimensional tolerance.

Tew said some of the test methods can be entertaining to witness. For the compressive strength test, a sample of the veneer mix is added to a cylinder form, left in place to cure, removed from the form and then placed under a round plate that pushes down on it until it explodes. The material must withstand 2,100 pounds per square inch (PSI) to earn ASTM C1670 certification.

For the shear bond test, a sample piece of the veneer is adhered to a concrete block and exposed to downward pressure until it snaps off. It must achieve at least 50 PSI.

Cultured Stone Black Rundle Alpine Pro Fit
Cultured Stone Black Rundle Alpine Pro-Fit Ledgestone

Any and all mixes of a product must be tested to earn certification. If there is even the slightest difference in the physical composition of Cultured Stone’s Black Rundle and Chardonnay Country Ledgestone veneer styles, both must be submitted for separate testing. Once they pass, they must be retested.  Three of the tests are done every 12 months while the other two are done every 24 months.

“It’s not just a one and done process,” Tew said. “It takes an investment of time and money to prove your product through third-party testing.” 

The Path to a Standard

The movement toward a unified quality standard for MSV reached an important milestone in 2008, when they were covered in the acceptance criteria (AC) known as AC 51. For the first time, msv manufacturers could test their material to a recognized standard in AC 51. But industry members recognized that manufactured stone needed to face its own, tougher benchmarks.

2013 saw the development of ASTM C1780 to address the installation methods for msv.  Followed in 2018 by the addition of ASTM C1670 to address msv manufacturing.  Tew pointed to the more stringent freeze thaw threshold as one significant difference.

Under AC 51, materials were exposed to 50 freeze-thaw cycles and could only lose 3 percent of their weight to crumbling or flaking. ASTM C1670 demanded no more than 1.5 percent loss. The tougher product will be more likely to survive the extremes of America’s cold northern and hot southern climates.

Stone veneer installation

Participation in the ASTM C1670 is voluntary for manufacturers, and the standard is not enforced evenly throughout the country. However, with its 2018 inclusion in the International Residential Code (IRC), which applies to home building, and the International Building Code (IBC), which covers commercial projects, that is now changing.

The periodically updated IRC and IBC are go-to standards for governments seeking consistent parameters for all of the construction materials used in their jurisdictions. According to Tew, it typically takes a few years for states to examine and adopt the changes (in fact, revised versions of the IRC and IBC were since issued in 2021).  Over the last few years, most states have adopted the 2018 version of the I-Codes or newer. That means local code inspectors in these jurisdictions are actively checking to ensure manufactured stone products are compliant and rejecting those that aren’t, he said.

Long Term Impact

ASTM C1670 should not be dismissed as another bothersome government code to meet, but embraced as a tool for businesses to protect their investments and reputations, Tew said. When you choose a manufactured stone veneer that’s compliant, you lower the odds of material failures and a costly return trip to the job site to redo the work, he said.

“I believe owners of buildings, architects and builders all in their cores want to use products that will stand the test of time because their names are attached to them,”

Jeff Tew

“I believe owners of buildings, architects and builders all in their cores want to use products that will stand the test of time because their names are attached to them,” Tew said. “Using a product that meets the standard is one way to do it. Being able to test to a clear criteria makes it easy for them to make their selections, and they don’t have to do a lot of research.”

Introducing Game-Changing Stone Veneer Enhancements

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Introducing Game-Changing Stone Veneer Enhancements

Tradition Meets Innovation:
Undeniable Impacts & Benefits for Instone Customers

A trio of innovations pioneered by Instone stone veneer producers are bringing a new level of convenience, durability, and sustainability to the industry. With reimagined packaging solutions, a patented water management system, and a modular wall system, these Instone products are creating exceptional experiences for masonry professionals and their clients.  

Be.on, Interloc and Pangaea value propositions

Scroll below for a tour of these remarkable features and their benefits.

Stone Siding Gutters Stop Water Damage

Be.on installation photo
Vince Frassinone and Seal Tight Exteriors used Be.on Stone for this home facade in Illinois.

Be.on D.Rain

With Be.on Stone exterior veneers, any water that sneaks through the joints goes down the D.Rain. The patented and inventive D.Rain system collects and channels rainwater down through a gutter-like system affixed to the back of each stone panel, releasing it into the ground at the bottom of the building. The system was specially designed to protect building exteriors from damage that can be suffered over time from continued moisture exposure.

D.Rain system graphic
See D.Rain in Action.

Vince Frassinone, president and owner of Seal Tight Exteriors, based in Steger, Illinois, recently tried Be.on Stone for two home builds. It was recommended to him by a local supplier who praised it for both its innovation and simplicity.

“A lot of other stone products absorb water, and when they do, it gets behind them and starts rotting the structure,” Frassinone said. “With Be.on Stone, everything is being captured with a rain-screening system, so if something does get behind it, it gets out fast and dries up.”

Be.on stone installation photo

Streamlined Installation

Be.on Stone, a mechanically fastened veneer panel, also known as “screw-on stone veneer” or “stone veneer siding,” is also known for its ease of installation. The installation process is estimated to move as much as four times faster than a conventional veneer project thanks to Be.on Stone’s mortarless stone panels, which can be screwed directly into the studs or substrate. All an installer basically needs is a screw gun, a saw, a grinder, and a level.

Be.on Exterior shot
Contractor: Vince Frassinone of Seal Tight Roofing & Exteriors of IN, Inc FB: @sealtightroofinginc

Frassinone said there was a brief learning curve when his team started its first installation project, but once they got the hang of it, the rest of the project and his second one went quick and easy. Over a year after both installs, he said both homes look brand new and the Be.on Stone has done its job to perfection.

Be.on Stone comes in a variety of colors, distinctive styles, and finishes that can transform a home or building’s exterior to create curb appeal. Customers can use the Be.on Stone Visualizer to create an instant virtual rendering of what their home would look like with its various colors and patterns.

Check out our Inbuilding Design Video Featuring Be.On stone below!

Eliminate Slippage During Stone Veneer Installation

Pangaea Gripset®

Through its patented Gripset technology, Pangaea pre-scores grooves onto the back of each stone during manufacturing. When applying the stone, the grooves allow stones to quickly and effectively grip onto mortar, expediting the installation process and ensuring the work will hold up well for many years. 

Prefit Leads to Less Waste

Pangaea’s thin stone veneer is pre-cut, tooled, trimmed, and fitted, providing a mason with simpler installation and increased quality control. Each pallet layer is pre-blended for optimal color variance and size ratio, saving time and money before installation.

In addition, the company’s packing crates are specially designed to thwart the spread of invasive pest species. The pine used is inspected to ensure that its moisture levels are too low to harbor insects and each crate is International Plant Convention (IPC) certified and stamped.

Kevin and Rob Pangaea box photo
Pangaea fireplace design in living room

Check out our Inbuilding Design video featuring Pangaea Natural Stone below!

Install Natural Stone 8x Faster With Predesigned Interloc Panels

Interloc natural stone veneer panel
Interloc New England Panels

As the name implies, Interloc natural stone veneer panels are engineered to interlock seamlessly. Each panel contains several pieces of stone, allowing installers to cover a surface up to eight times faster than it would take for a typical stone-by-stone job.   

The corner pieces of the Interloc Panel System provide a smooth transition between wall sections. These shapes of the corner pieces match the profile of the Interloc panels, and are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate different wall heights and thicknesses.

Interloc installation along facade of home

Made from the same high-quality concrete as the Interloc panels themselves, the corner pieces ensure that they provide the same strength and durability as the rest of the wall. They interlock with the adjacent panels, providing a tight and secure fit that prevents shifting or movement over time.

Interloc Natural Stone Veneer Corner Panels from Instone
Interloc New England Corner Panels
Interloc natural stone veneer panel
Interloc New England Panels
Interloc Berkshire Panels

Learn More: Find out what these innovations can contribute to your home and commercial property projects. Contact Instone today at customerservice@instoneco.com or (708) 371-0660 to consult one of our experts on Be.on Stone, Pangaea Natural Stone and Interloc Natural Stone Panels products.

The Power of Curb Appeal: How Your Home’s Exterior Impacts Its Value

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Dutch Quality Home Exterior
Dutch Quality Home Exterior

The Power of Curb Appeal: How Your Home’s Exterior Impacts Its Value

Dutch Quality stone veneer on the exterior of this home
Instone offers hundreds of stone veneer options, including this Dutch Quality® Sagewood Weather Ledgestone, ideal for traditional style home renovations to new home constructions.  

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions matter. Time and time again, Bridget McCann, a broker associate with Baird & Warner, has seen homes with more attractive exteriors sell faster and for more money than those with superior interiors. She recently sold a home in an upscale, competitive Illinois neighborhood, and the one feature that really stood out to buyers was the stunning stonework around its pillars.

“The buyers’ first reaction was, ‘Wow, this entranceway is stunning,’” McCann recalled. “As you walked up the staircase, you felt like you were at a million-dollar home because of how pretty the stonework was.”

This is the power of curb appeal.

Simply put, curb appeal is how attractive your home looks from the street. A well-manicured lawn,  quality landscape stone, and a good paint job are just a few things that can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal.

Curb appeal is a property’s attractiveness when viewed from the street and the impression it leaves on a passerby or first-time visitor. It can be driven by factors both simple and structural, including a nice lawn, quality landscape stone, a good paint job, the cleanliness of the property, and the architecture and construction quality of the home.

And it’s not just about aesthetics. Research shows that homes with good curb appeal sell for more money and spend less time on the market. A study published in The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics found that curb appeal can account for up to 7 percent of a home’s sale value.

“The curb appeal premium is more pronounced during times of housing market weakness and greater in neighborhoods with high average curb appeal,” said lead author Sriram Villupuram, of the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business.

Cultured Stone Vellum Modera Pro-Fit Ledgestone on home exterior
For a modern aesthetic, Instone offers a variety of exterior stone siding selections, including this Cultured Stone® Vellum Modera Pro-Fit Ledgestone

With a decade of experience in both the real estate and construction industries, McCann knows that stone veneers on a home’s facade, natural stone walkways, and pavers flanking a driveway can all add an upscale feel to a property.

And in today’s digital age, the first impression buyers get of a property is often through its online listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). That’s why it’s crucial to make sure that the property’s front porch and overall image is compelling enough to draw them in for a closer look.

“You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression and the exterior of a house is always your first impression,” McCann said. “If it doesn’t have a nice exterior, you won’t want to step inside the house and check it out.”

Pangaea® Ledgstone Copper Canyon Stone Veneer on Home Exterior
Instone’s Pangaea® veneer products offer over 40 natural stone patterns and colors. Pictured here is Ledgestone Copper Canyon.

McCann emphasized that the use of neutral-tone stonework, such as light grays and off-whites, has been quite successful in selling homes in her suburban Chicago market. She suggested steering clear of exotic colors that cater to too specific of tastes but emphasized that well-installed and tastefully designed stones are always a plus for your curb appeal.

While stone veneer siding is not a search criteria listed on the MLS, McCann stressed that it could set your home apart from others in the subdivision and give you an edge. As buyers tend to spend more on renovating the interior, having an attractive exterior that doesn’t require further renovation is crucial. When clients ask her for advice on boosting their curb appeal for a sale, McCann doesn’t recommend making pricey investments. Instead, the focus should be on maintaining the home and avoiding letting any features fall into disrepair.

Forbes suggests three simple steps for improving curb appeal, including making sure that any stone or brick work looks clean through professional power washing to remove stains and grime and “reveals a clean, fresh look that adds to the attractive ambiance the home should display.”

“Make sure you’re keeping up with the exterior of the house – there’s no peeling paint anywhere, there’s no shingles missing on your roof, there’s no siding hanging off, or anything like that,” she said. “Get all of your ducks in a row on the exterior because poor curb appeal will cause buyers to stray.”

So if you’re looking to sell your home, don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal. Invest in quality materials, like natural stone veneer, keep your property clean and well-maintained, and you’ll be sure to make a great first impression on potential buyers.

Contact Instone today to learn more about products and services that can help enhance your home’s curb appeal.

Precut Irregular Flagging Shakes Up The Industry

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Precut Irregular Flagging Shakes Up The Industry

Aura Natural Landscapes revolutionary new product wows installers and homeowners

This seasons’ most sought-after product for backyard patios bring a rustic, natural look that standard backyard pavers can’t beat. Thanks to consistent cuts, and stone pavers that fit together like pieces of a puzzle, irregular flagging is in high demand. Irregular flagging is showing up in backyard patios, walkways, and poolside hardscaping. 

Installers commonly assume that irregular flagging projects take more time and money than standard ones. This is because the stones used have different thicknesses and shapes. However, Aura Natural Landscapes is turning this notion on its head by producing precut, consistent stones. They are 10 times faster to install than other irregular flagging products. . 

Irregular flagging, sometimes called irregular pavers, are flat pieces of stone that are not uniform in shape and size. Arranged together, they create attractive mosaics that can call other patterns in nature to mind, like the turtle shell or rocks scattered along a brook. Irregular stones are often also spread apart as stepping stones. They can form a paver walkway on surfaces like grass lawns, gravel paths, or mulch bedding.

 

Paver walkway ideas - Aura Natural Landscapes Irregular Flagging

Eliminate Joint Pains in Paver Installations

 

Instones VP of Natural Stone Products

“Irregular flagging is most attractive when masons can work the stone and create consistent joints throughout the whole patio or surface,” Instone’s Vice President of Natural Stone Products Justin Alicandro said. He noted that many irregular flagging applications aren’t completed this way, though, due to the cost of installation. With most products on the market, achieving consistent joints requires the mason to shape each stone so it fits smoothly next to the other irregular shapes. This is a process that can be laborious and lead to waste. 

“Just in a 2-foot stretch of one joint, you’ll see some installers go from 3 inches to a half-inch wide,” Alicandro said. “They just shape it quickly and throw it down, even though it looks sloppy.” 

Aura’s irregular flagging solves this issue thanks to its signature precut, repeating pattern of seven stones that fit easily together. The eye sees an irregular pattern, but for the installer, it’s a no-hassle job. 

 

Aura Natural Landscapes Irregular Pattern

Consistent Thickness Reduces Time and Waste

Another challenge with installing the majority of irregular flagging products is their varying thickness. Most are extremely inconsistent in thickness which creates installation issues. This forces the mason to either shape or cut the stone to a routine width in order to lay the pavers. Or, they need to  add/remove subbase material beneath every stone to ensure they don’t bulge or dip.

Aura eliminated the need for that work by producing its irregular flagging stones at a consistent 1.5” thickness. Installers can simply screed the sub-base and start laying stones one after another. Installing Aura irregular pavers proceeds at a pace no different than regular pavers. 

“With most install jobs, the cost is 70 percent labor and 30 percent material,” Alicandro said. “Because Aura is precut and the thickness is gauged, it saves a tremendous amount of labor.”

Landscape designer Cysilia Schaub chose Aura irregular flagging when she needed hardscaping materials for an extensive lakefront backyard project. The job called for materials that accentuated the property’s natural environment and were durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic and could be delivered and installed on a tight deadline.

“The way this product came – precut, premeasured in each pallet to fit the pattern, the material was gauged, thermaled on the top, the joints were perfect – the installation was really quick,” Schaub said.

Versatile for Outdoor Living Designs

Aura has two attractive colors of standard stock irregular stones available for a quick order: Blue Mist and Silver Ridge granite. For projects with lead times greater than about four months, Aura can make just about any other color in its stone catalog available for order, Alicandro said.

The stones can be cut easily with a regular masonry saw to fit them against a house, steps, or other structures. Instone’s in-house fabrication and design service is available to assist with any special cuts needed for your project. Coordinating treads, coping and widestock are also available for a cohesive outdoor space. 

Irregular flagging projects have been especially hot in markets like the Midwest and northern New England, where people tend to have larger properties that can showcase the sizable stones. Although they are commonly used in projects 1,000 square feet and larger, Alicandro said it ultimately comes down to the taste and vision of the property owner.

To learn more about the possibilities for a property you own or are working on with irregular pattern products, visit our Aura Natural Landscapes page.

A Model for Minimizing Environmental Impacts in Stone Veneer Production: Pangaea® Natural Stone

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Pangaea team
Pangaea team

A Model for Minimizing Environmental Impacts in Stone Veneer Production: Pangaea® Natural Stone

Pangaea® Natural Stone was named after a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, when all of Earth’s lands were united. So it makes sense that while its industrial base is in India, Pangaea operates with environmental standards that recognize it’s part of one connected world.

“I don’t think there’s a finish line to sustainability,” said Pangaea President Sanjay Nikhanj. “There’s no goal you end up crossing and say, oh wow, I’m officially sustainable. It’s a goal that we continually work towards as a company and simply try to get better every year.”

Instone customers may know Pangaea for its pre-cut, tooled and trimmed stones that seamlessly fit together, making life easy for masons. They may know Pangaea for pallets that come pre-arranged with an optimal balance of colors and sizes, saving time and money before the first stone is even installed. Fewer would know the lengths the company goes to ensure its work leaves the environment in as good a condition as they found it.

Long Term Sustainable Development

Nikhanj said Pangaea is demonstrating that sustainability is not just the right thing to do, but a profitable exercise. The greening measures taken at its plant could be considered a model for the industry globally, but are especially above and beyond for Jaipur, the northern Indian natural stone industry hub where it’s located.

A solar array on the facility’s roof produces 530 KW of energy, enough to cover 50 percent of its manufacturing needs. Pangaea hopes to bump that number up in the future to further reduce energy consumption, but for now is constrained by the local infrastructure, as the power grid can’t handle any more input from the site. 

Pangaea Natural Stone employees ribbon cutting ceremony

Covering 35,000 square feet, it’s India’s largest building-integrated InRoof system to date! The 530 kWp InRoof solar panel system, designed by @ornatesolar, is powered by microinverters from @enphase.

With this revolutionary InRoof system, we have saved 124,968 kg of CO2 that would have been emitted in the production of the 35,000 square foot steel roof. Our installation will help us meet our sustainability goals by offsetting 18,346 tons of CO2 emissions! You can be confident your stone veneers are being manufactured sustainably and responsibly.

Further, Pangaea is the first company in India to install an in-roof solar array. These solar panels aren’t mounted to the roof – they are the roof. Nikhanj notes that this building method reduced Pangaea’s carbon footprint by eliminating the need to produce steel or other building materials.

A Recycling Innovator 

The solar roof requires a significant amount of water to keep it clean and produce power at an optimal level. However, Pangaea has faced this problem by instituting an innovative water recycling system. Water that runs off the roof is quickly captured and filtered by three on-site water treatment plants. 

“Saving water is the right thing to do, but in this case, it’s not profitable,” Nikhanj said. “It would be cheaper to waste that water and fill up the tanks again, but not recycling and wasting millions of liters weekly doesn’t make any sense. Where we are is a desert environment and water is a challenge.”

Even its manufacturing byproducts are recycled adding to their environmentally friendly processes.. The leftover chips from cut stones are donated to communities to use for the foundations of buildings and infrastructure projects. Wood shavings leftover from assembling the shipping crates are compacted and made available to families to burn for home heating and cooking. This has the added impact of saving trees that would have been cut down to fulfill their needs, Nikhanj said. 

Pangaea employee running tests

The packing crates are specially designed to thwart the spread of invasive pest species. The pine used is inspected to ensure that its moisture levels are too low to harbor any insects that would bore into the wood. Each crate is International Plant Convention (IPC) certified and stamped. 

“We’ve had huge problems globally as a result of foreign species that have no natural predators attacking vegetation,” Nikhanj said. “It’s devastating forests. I live in British Columbia and when you drive up north, there are places where it literally looks like there’s been a forest fire.”

An Infinite Mindset

Nikhanj said Pangaea’s leadership takes all of these steps because it subscribes to an “infinite mindset” – a belief that a business can serve a higher purpose than just making money. It extends to how it treats employees and the communities that surround it. 

Pangaea Natural Stone employees rescuing a dog

Pangaea is a generous donor to charities that rescue stray dogs and provide educational resources for children, especially young girls. Nikhanj said many female students in the region are underprivileged and don’t have access to the same opportunities as their male counterparts. 

The company’s website asserts its commitment to safe working conditions, fair wages and equality for workers. It seeks to promote women in the workplace, even though in India, they’re still few in number in the industry. 

To Nikhanj, the key to making an infinite mindset yield tangible results is surrounding yourself with people who see the big picture. He said business leaders too often see themselves as sports coaches obsessed with winning and losing rather than as value creators. 

“We’ve never had a sales goal in our last 20 years of existence,” he said. “I don’t even know what a sales goal looks like. We are constantly competing against ourselves. I couldn’t tell you what the competition is doing. I hope whatever they’re doing is right by the environment, right by the community and right by the people.”

Learn more about Pangaea’s natural stone products available through Instone and watch them our interview with Sanjay here on InBuilding Design. 

7 Ways Instone Makes It Easy for Dealers to Succeed

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Instone team
Instone team

7 Ways Instone Makes It Easy for Dealers to Succeed

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instone

“We Make It Easy” isn’t just our motto, it’s the very foundation that Instone was built on. But we’re going to let you in on a little secret – making it easy for our dealers to get the products they need for their customers faster than other outlets isn’t actually easy. We’ve spent the past 30 years building a nationwide network of warehouses and distribution centers, creating a digital system for faster service, and helping dealers build their businesses.

For the first time, our Chief Operating and Marketing Officer Rob McKay shares the secrets behind Instone’s success in delivering for our dealers – and their customers.

Secret #1. What You Need When You Need It

It all started in the mid-1980s when Instone founder Gordon Strout started buying Cultured Stone and realized how difficult it was to get it from where it was manufactured in California to the East Coast. He designed a truck routing system that’s still in place to this day. 

“The dealers tell us what they want, and we get it to them,” says McKay. “That way, they’re not sitting on inventory, taking up space, and tying up cash. They just buy what they need when they need it,”

The route trucks take the guesswork out of deliveries with pre-scheduled weekly lanes servicing customers from Instone’s distribution centers. Dealers get their product within days, not weeks.

Secret #2. What You See Is What We’ve Got

Every company these days has a website. But it’s what’s on Instone’s website that makes the difference: inventory information.

“We show our inventory availability without having to log in. So, when a sales rep gets a request from a customer, they can look at our website and see what we have in stock. They can order it today and get it tomorrow. It’s super easy,” says McKay.

And an upcoming site update will tell dealers when the next shipment of a particular product is coming in. “If we don’t have enough of something in stock that day, you will know when we will,” he says.

Secret #3. A Digital Organization System

We know that the faster a dealer can get a product, the quicker an entire project can go. That comes down to knowing where the product is in the first place. And that’s why all of Instone’s products are barcoded and entered into a digital system.

“We can put anything anywhere, and the system will tell us where it is,” says McKay. “We can utilize space differently and store more materials and diverse products to serve our customers better.”

Nothing is more annoying than wasting time looking for something, other than not finding it at all. And companies without a robust digital system like Instone’s run the risk of losing track of what they have, where it is, making it impossible to get it to you.

ARTEPISO
Aura Natural Landscape Products by Instone
Aura Natural Landscapes
BEON STONE
Echo Ridge Country Ledgestone Cultured Stone by Boral - Installed on teh front of a beautiful home
CULTURED STONE
Dutch Quality
Dutch Quality
Interloc
ISOKERN FIREPLACES
PANGAEA NATURAL STONE

Secret #4. Offering Way More Than Thin Veneer

As a product fulfillment company, inventory in multiple locations across the service area is key for fast delivery. Instone recently expanded the number of its warehouses by acquiring sites in the Ohio and New England areas to allow for more diversification of products.

“We started as a strictly thin veneer company. Now we’ve become more valuable to our dealers by having a broader offering of products,” says McKay. “And we’re always looking for new products within those product lines and the next big product itself.”

Secret #5. Information At Your Fingertips

Instone is proud to offer support that goes the extra mile to dealers. One of the ways we do that is through the information we include on our website.

“The dealers don’t have to be experts on every product,” says McKay. “They can sit at the counter, have our website up and know everything there is to know about the product. They have all the technical information and what’s in stock.”

We know that if people don’t feel knowledgeable about a product, they can’t sell it. “You can feel comfortable selling our products compared to other products that you’re not as familiar with and shy away from. We’ll make you look like a stud!”

Secret #6. Here to Help You Sell More

We believe customer service isn’t just about getting the dealer what they need; we want to help them build their business. Our competitors have a lot of inventory, but it’s just a pile of goods and that’s it. We’re here to provide any training, education, or support that you need to take your business to the next level.

“We want to help dealers sell the product,” says McKay. “We want to educate them so they can get more business. We want to bring them leads, get them involved and trained. We’re always doing training sessions. Our sales team partners with the manufacturers. We want to ensure everyone who comes in contact with the product is comfortable knowing how to sell it.”

McKay says the next step is teaching the businesses we work with to market themselves. A lot of these businesses have been family-owned for decades, and the dealers are great at what they do. But they’re not marketers. They want to do more, but they don’t know how. We’re here to teach them how to do marketing so they can grow their business.

The Instone Team Having Fun

Secret #7. We’re Not All Business

The Instone team enjoys coming to work because of the environment we’ve created.

“We’re very inclusive, and we treat everyone like a winner,” says McKay, who stresses that we value everyone’s ideas because we’re all part of the team. Even the idea for our brand of beer came from an employee. “That came from one of our customer service reps. He said, ‘Hey man, we should have a beer!” And we made it happen.”

This attitude includes how we interact with dealers and customers.

“We have an openness here, and that makes people relaxed. They can be real. But we’re all working our tails off!” says McKay, who adds the company has a “Work Hard, Play Hard” approach.

We work at Instone… of course we had to do this trend!😅
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#stonesupplier #instone #instoneco #instoneteam #instonemakesiteasy #buildingproducts #funatwork

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We work at Instone… of course we had to do this trend!😅*****#stonesupplier #instone #instoneco #instoneteam #instonemakesiteasy #buildingproducts #funatwork

There’s nothing more natural than irregular flagging.

Jake Alicandro, Instone’s Territory Sales Manager, introduces you to irregular pavers and shares how they can be used to create unique patterns arranged in a variety of ways.

Dive into our Dealer Training series with Jake and our team of experts as we explore the stories behind different types of stones and uncover the beauty that lies beneath their surface.

Featured products: Blue Mist and Silver Ridge.
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#instone #instoneco #instonemakesiteasy #auranaturallandscapes #naturalstone #naturalstoneveneer #outdoorliving #buildingproducts #instoneteam #masons #masonryproducts #stonemason #stonework

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There’s nothing more natural than irregular flagging. Jake Alicandro, Instone’s Territory Sales Manager, introduces you to irregular pavers and shares how they can be used to create unique patterns arranged in a variety of ways.Dive into our Dealer Training series with Jake and our team of experts as we explore the stories behind different types of stones and uncover the beauty that lies beneath their surface.Featured products: Blue Mist and Silver Ridge.*****#instone #instoneco #instonemakesiteasy #auranaturallandscapes #naturalstone #naturalstoneveneer #outdoorliving #buildingproducts #instoneteam #masons #masonryproducts #stonemason #stonework

These guys from @indigital_media are the bomb!💣

A behind-the-scenes look at how we created our 2024 #InstoneBeer launch video. Tried it yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!👇

PS: send us a DM if you have a project you`d like Instone’s video team to capture.
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#instone #instoneco #indigital #videoproduction #buildingproducts #instonemakesiteasy #funatwork #instoneteam

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These guys from @indigital_media are the bomb!💣A behind-the-scenes look at how we created our 2024 #InstoneBeer launch video. Tried it yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!👇PS: send us a DM if you have a project you'd like Instone’s video team to capture. *****#instone #instoneco #indigital #videoproduction #buildingproducts #instonemakesiteasy #funatwork #instoneteam

I mean, look at this!

Truly believers, that what works doesn’t need to be changed. For more than 50 years, Cultured Stone® manufactured thin veneer has provided its users with process innovation and the development of quality manufactured stone veneer products to meet the latest design trends.

And the best part? It’s Rocky-approved!💪
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#instone #instoneco #instoneteam #funatwork #stonesupplier #culturedstone #culturedstoneveneer #stoneveneer #fauxstone #manufacturedstone #contractors #builders #masonry #mason #stonemason #stonemasonry

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I mean, look at this!Truly believers, that what works doesn’t need to be changed. For more than 50 years, Cultured Stone® manufactured thin veneer has provided its users with process innovation and the development of quality manufactured stone veneer products to meet the latest design trends. And the best part? It’s Rocky-approved!💪*****#instone #instoneco #instoneteam #funatwork #stonesupplier #culturedstone #culturedstoneveneer #stoneveneer #fauxstone #manufacturedstone #contractors #builders #masonry #mason #stonemason #stonemasonry

Alamo Stone?

But Ken`s creativity doesn`t stop there and he goes to… explore the basement? Can you guess why? Share your comments below!👇
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#stonesupplier #instone #instoneco #instoneteam #instonemakesiteasy #buildingproducts #guesstheinstone #alamo #alamo #texas

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Alamo Stone? But Ken's creativity doesn't stop there and he goes to… explore the basement? Can you guess why? Share your comments below!👇*****#stonesupplier #instone #instoneco #instoneteam #instonemakesiteasy #buildingproducts #guesstheinstone #alamo #alamo #texas

“We like to have fun. We have lunches together, and celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. And we invite customers to sit in with us at meetings and offer feedback. Those relationships are important to us. That’s just who we are.”

Partnering with Instone means having access to all these benefits and more, giving you and your business the tools you need to grow. So why wait? Contact Instone today and see how easy we can make it for you to succeed.