When a Stone Facade is Not a Stone Facade

Suppose a developer promises a "stone facade" on a structure he wants to build in your community. Sounds good, but do you really know what that means?  Over the last 10-15 years, a great deal of the "stone" applied to strip malls, big box stores, hotels, and homes all over the U.S. has been a manufactured product made of colored concrete rather than natural quarried stone. So what's wrong with manufactured stone? Well, every product has its advantages and disadvantages.  What's important is that your community has the opportunity to honestly weigh those factors in light of its vision and goals.

Beyond quality and durability concerns, planners should also be sensitive to inauthenticities that manufactured stone lends itself to. Obviously, it is an imitation product to begin with, but its thin veneer nature also encourages its use where heavy natural stone never would have been possible, like unsupported gables and dormers. The resulting look exposes the building as an imposter.

Questions to ask developers/builders who want to use "stone":

1. Is the stone in your proposal natural, or is it made from concrete?
2. Will the stone in your proposal be stacked upon the building's foundation for durability?
3. Will your building's facades utilize cavity-wall construction for water management?
4. How will the appearance of the stone product you propose change over time?  Will the pigments fade? Will the concrete aggregate be exposed by weathering?
5. What is the anticipated life span of your structure?

Questions to ask yourself (or your community):

1. How important is it that this project be truly authentic in its design, and not seem contrived in any way?
2. Will the public be happy with the look of this building the day after it is complete?  How about 30 years after it is complete?
3. Could the developer/builder do better with little to no extra cost? Has the builder considered the life cycle costs of maintenance and repair?
4. Does the developer/builder seem to have the same long-term interests as the community?

If you'd like more information about any of these issues, or about building materials in general, please contact one of our AICP planners for free assistance. 866.644.1293 or info@heartlandbrick.org.

Comments

[Natural Stone Flooring]

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