Winter is coming. With the chilly temperatures driving us indoors more, wouldn’t it be nice to visually warm up your home so you can feel extra cozy in the months ahead? Cultured Stone is a manufactured stone veneer (MSV) product that looks like natural stone at a fraction of the price and with a lighter weight for easier and faster installation.

Not only is Cultured Stone the longest running MSV maker on the market, they are leading innovators when it comes to their production process and selection of design styles.

“A big part of their success is their constant innovation of colors and textures,” says Tim Wood, Stone Division Manager at Best Block Company. “And they do a very good job with consistency. If you want to put an addition on your home that was built 10 years ago and you want to use the same stone, chances are very good it will match.”

Cultured Stone Has More Varieties of Colors and Textures Than Any Other Stone Product

For Wood, the key selling point of Cultured Stone is that they always have something new to offer. “They really drive the industry forward as far as their colors. When they come out with a new color, everybody else scrambles to make something similar,” he says. “Their whole design team really keeps up on trends for shapes and textures and colors, which no other company does. As a supplier, we really like that because having something new gives us an opportunity to get out in the market and update people.”

Take a look for yourself at some of the options of Cultured Stone:

Cultured Stone Is Readily Available

Like many products during the pandemic, supply chain issues slowed availability and extended lead times. But Wood says that these days everything is pretty much back to normal. 

“Cultured Stone inventory levels are good, freight availability is good,” he says. “We’re able to get Cultured Stone within a few days of lead time.”

The trusted name in manufactured stone veneer is back and better than ever and we just had to show our appreciation.

Cultured Stone is Eco-friendly

When it comes to being environmentally aware about products for a home, natural stone just sounds like it would be an obvious choice. However, a big part of going down a more environmentally-friendly path is looking at how products are made and sourced. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that natural stone is a finite resource that is extracted from the earth, resulting in damage to our landscapes during acquisition and damage to the environment in processing the raw materials.

It also requires more energy to transport because of its weight.

With manufactured Cultured Stone veneer products, architects, builders, and homeowners can reduce their energy and sourcing footprint without compromising strength, durability or aesthetics. Cultured Stone products contain an average of 58% pre-consumer recycled content. The company also uses low-emitting materials and manufacturing processes in the production of its products, including a closed-loop system for water consumption.

Unlike much heavier natural stone, manufactured stone may not require concrete footings for support. Cultured Stone products can weigh as little as eight to 12 pounds per square foot.

Because of its sustainable manufacturing footprint, architects and builders using Cultured Stone can earn LEED® credits for indoor air quality and recycled content.

As a dealer, Wood says he always tries to mention the environmental aspect. “We try to throw it out there to our builders and their clients. It’s another added bonus. And homeowners can mention at their dinner parties that their house uses green products. It’s kind of a cool thing to be able to say.”

Uses for Interior Design With Cultured Stone 

Fireplace surrounds: If your fireplace is out of date with tired brick or tile, give it a natural stacked stone look without building a whole new fireplace.

Accent feature wall: Warm up a plain space with the natural charm of stone. The rich colors and textures add interest and create a cozy environment.

Home office Zoom wall: Make your office setting reflect your personality with the color and texture of natural stone, delivering the perfect background wall for your Zoom meetings.

Kitchen backsplash: You look at your kitchen backsplash every day when you make meals. Make it aesthetically pleasing with the look of natural stone in a color and texture that speaks to you.

Wine cellar: Create some old-world character in a room where slowing down and enjoying a good glass wine means living the good life.

Cultured Stone Home Exterior Ideas 

If you’re planning your summer project ahead of time during the winter months (which we highly recommend), consider Cultured Stone for the following areas:

• Outdoor kitchens
• Outdoor fireplace surrounds
• Entryways
• Posts, pillars and lampposts
• Wainscot siding

Cultured Stone Is Easy to Maintain

One of the biggest tests of Cultured Stone versus natural stone is durability. Yes, it’s true, natural stone is extremely durable because it comes from the earth and can withstand extreme conditions for exterior use. But it turns out that Cultured Stone is no slouch in the durability department either, especially for interior use. The only caution is not to chip it because the color is only on the surface and not all the way through the cement interior. However, even if you accidentally bump something against it hard enough to chip it, you can check with your dealer to assess the damage. They have tint kits for an easy fix.

Keeping it clean is simple and easy. For interior use, you only need to do occasional dusting as you would any surface. If it really needs a clean, such as on exterior uses, a mild detergent with some water and a stiff bristle brush is all you need. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to get off any soap residue.

You should never use chemicals or power washing on Cultured Stone since the color is on the surface; it may take the color off. Sealants are also not needed.

The look of natural stone can bring a little bit of Mother Nature’s beauty into your home, add interest and aesthetic appeal, and make your home feel more warm and inviting as you snuggle in for the winter months ahead.

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