An Artisan's Touch: Using Cast Stone Instead of Quarried Stone by EP Henry
WOODBURY, N.J., Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- When it comes down to it, home improvements shouldn't break the bank. While homeowners want a lifestyle boost and an upgrade to their home's aesthetics, the bottom line is always resale value. Completing improvements on time and in an affordable manner is the priority.
Cost-effective doesn't mean cheap. Manufactured stone veneers, as opposed to quarry stone, are cost-effective and beautiful. The stones so closely resemble quarried rock that only the most seasoned professionals can detect the difference. The secret is in the manufacturing process.
"In our stone, we look to achieve 3 different things: making it easy to install; having excellent color consistency; and portraying quarried stone realistically," said Tom Zebrowski, General Manager of EP Henry's facility in Wrightstown, NJ. "We're replicating real stone."
John Poignard of Jamestown NY, a stone design consultant and former EP Henry executive, agrees. "We start with real stone. We go out into the quarries. We look for what's regionally available for its size, shape, and color. The molds are actual replicas." Mr. Poignard stresses the need to know what types of natural stones are available in each geographical region. "The color palette, when it comes to Cast Veneer Stone, changes from region to region," he said. "People buy what is typical in their region. They don't want a pastel-colored stone from Arizona if they are up north. It wouldn't look natural."
Mr. Zebrowski is proud of his company's stone-design process. "We did our homework. We make molds from real stones. We have a series of artisans that will hand craft the stone. We've gone through trial and error and now the product looks authentic," he said.
"The materials we use to manufacture the cast veneer stone are all-natural materials. We take it and put a little pizzazz into it, added Mr. Poignard. "The materials may come from the same place as the quarried stone. It's crushed and processed. We're adding color and concrete. We start with the natural product. We shape it and form it."
Homeowners' budgets are saved with lower labor costs. "Ease of installation," Mr. Zebrowski said, "is key. Unlike real stone, [EPHenry's] stone goes up a lot easier, is more cost-effective, and it looks the same. If you saw a stone mason from years ago doing a job, he would use a hammer to make different shapes. We mold different shapes in the manufacturing process to help in the ease of installation. This means less waste overall."
About EP Henry®
EP Henry®, the oldest American family-owned and operated manufacturer of unit concrete products in North America, provides the highest quality and broadest product offerings in Hardscaping((TM)). Based in Woodbury, New Jersey, EP Henry manufactures a wide range of paving stone and retaining wall products, including permeable pavers which are a best management practice (BMP) for stormwater management. EP Henry also offers beautiful patio pavers, outdoor kitchen kits, garden wall solutions and more. For more information on EP Henry Hardscaping products, visit EPHenry.com or call 800-44-HENRY (800-444-3679).
EPHenry.com: https://www.ephenry.com/
stone veneers: https://www.ephenry.com/product_category/cast-veneer-stone/
Cast Veneer Stone: https://www.ephenry.com/design-ideas/cast-veneer-stone/
SOURCE EP Henry
