| During the design phase of a project our | | | | feels cool in summer and radiates gentle warmth |
| customers will often ask the difference between | | | | over winter months. Perhaps this is why |
| cultured or real stone fireplaces. There are | | | | people tend to congregate around real stone |
| several we will highlight here. | | | | fireplaces and often lean against them. Real |
| For those who may not be familiar with cultured | | | | stone connects with us on a deeper level |
| stone, it is a man-made composite. Individual | | | | providing comfort and warmth. |
| pieces are thinner and size is predetermined. | | | | 4. There is a sense of longevity with natural |
| Therefore costs can be two to three times less | | | | stone that cultured stone doesn't offer. Real |
| than going with natural stone. | | | | stone has an enduring quality to it. Even if the |
| In the past cultured stone was not what it is | | | | cabin burned to the grouned physically, a natural |
| today. When customers think about cultured | | | | fireplace will survive and be standing for |
| stone often their reaction against this product is | | | | generations to come. It is the basis for the |
| "it looks fake". While this used to be true, | | | | entire structure. The backbone, if you will. |
| cultured stone has made great strides in recent | | | | 5. There is an heirloom quality instilled into the |
| years. Color, size and shapes now more | | | | project when using natural stone. Nobody |
| closely resemble the real thing. But there are | | | | expects cultured stone to stand for generations. |
| still differences to consider. | | | | But there is an instictive feeling that real stone will |
| 1. Real stone fireplaces take more of a | | | | last and last. Building something that we can |
| craftsman to create that "Wow" factor. They | | | | pass down to our children and our children's |
| are more skilled at dealing with stone size and | | | | children has an appeal. |
| shape irregularies and know how to bring out the | | | | 6. Real stone often supplies a sense of history. |
| best look. | | | | Some want to use stone that resembles what |
| 2. It takes more planning and forethought to | | | | can be found onsite. Others bring in stone from |
| construct a natural stone fireplace. Footings are | | | | other places that remind them of significant |
| larger to handle greater weights associated | | | | memories and places from times past. Still |
| with real stone. Many times these fireplaces | | | | others like the story that goes along with a |
| bear live loads and become an integral part of | | | | particular stone or stones and incorporate them |
| structural integrity. Roof and floor truss | | | | into their cabin project. That way they can |
| placement must be considered if fireplace will | | | | always say, "I dug this out of the ground myself |
| serve as a load bearing point. | | | | a long time ago." |
| 3. Natural stone has much greater thermal | | | | Whatever motivations customers may have, |
| characteristics. Larger thermal mass means | | | | stone sets the tone and feel of a home. It helps |
| more heat is stored to be released over longer | | | | us connect with our surroundings and our past on |
| periods of time. Cultured stone has comparitively | | | | a deeper level. I would say stone captures the |
| little thermal capacity. For example, natural stone | | | | essense of what it means to live at the lake. |