F2 Home Improvement offers stone veneer installation for homeowners in Greater Philadelphia, Delaware and northeastern Maryland. Stone veneer is a smaller part of our work than bathrooms and tile floors. Our completed stone work includes a stacked-stone fireplace surround, and we take on veneer projects that fit the skills our crew uses every day: surface prep, layout, mortar work and clean cuts.
Stone veneer is thin stone, either manufactured from cast concrete or cut from natural stone, applied to a wall instead of building a full-thickness masonry wall. It gives you the look of stone at a fraction of the weight, but it depends completely on what is behind it. Indoors, that means a sound, properly prepared substrate. Outdoors, it means a drainage plane and water-resistive barrier so moisture that gets behind the stone can get out.
The crew has more than ten years in the trade, starting as F Tile in 2019. We give free in-home estimates and a written scope, and we will tell you plainly if a project is outside what we should take on.
When stone veneer makes sense
- A brick or painted fireplace surround that dates the room and that you want to refresh without rebuilding the firebox.
- A plain living room, basement or entry wall that needs a focal point.
- An exposed concrete or parged foundation along the front of the house.
- Exterior columns, porch piers or a chimney chase you want to finish in stone.
- Existing veneer that is loose, cracked or staining the wall below, which usually points to a moisture problem behind it.
What our stone veneer installation covers
Fireplace surrounds
Stacked-stone and ledgestone surrounds over masonry or a prepared substrate, with clearances to the firebox kept to the manufacturer's requirements.
Interior accent walls
Stone on living room, basement or entry walls, over cement board or metal lath depending on the wall.
Exterior foundation bases
Veneer wainscot along foundations and front elevations, with the drainage details exterior stone needs.
Columns and piers
Wrapping porch posts, piers and similar features in stone.
Surface preparation
Removing old finishes, installing lath or backer board, and applying a scratch coat so the stone bonds properly.
Trim and caps
Sills, caps and hearth or mantel coordination so the stone finishes cleanly at the top, sides and bottom.
Stone veneer materials
Manufactured stone veneer
Cast concrete shaped and colored to look like stone. Lighter than natural stone, consistent in size and generally lower in cost.
Natural thin stone veneer
Real stone sawn thin. Each piece is different and it weathers like stone because it is stone. Heavier and usually more expensive.
Stacked-stone panels
Pre-assembled panels of ledgestone that go up faster and give a tight, dry-stacked look, often used on fireplaces.
Metal lath and scratch coat
Galvanized lath fastened to the wall and covered with a mortar scratch coat, giving the stone a surface to bond to.
Water-resistive barrier and weep screed
On exteriors, a barrier behind the lath and a weep screed at the bottom so water can drain out instead of soaking the sheathing.
Mortar
Mortar suited to veneer, used to set each stone and, for grouted styles, to fill the joints.
How the project runs
Walkthrough and estimate
We look at the wall or fireplace, what it is made of and what is behind it, and talk through stone style, color and layout.
Stone selection
You choose manufactured or natural stone. We lay out samples so you can see the color range before ordering the full amount.
Surface prep
Old finishes come off, then barrier, lath and scratch coat go on as the wall requires, with cure time before stone is set.
Stone installation
Stones are set from the bottom up, with corners placed first and pieces mixed from several boxes so color stays balanced.
Joints, cleanup and walkthrough
Joints are finished to the style you chose, the area is cleaned and we walk the finished work with you.
Planning a stone veneer project
For an interior fireplace, the existing surround, the firebox type and any mantel all affect the approach, and clearances around a firebox must follow the manufacturer's instructions. Chester County homeowners can read our article on stone veneer fireplaces in Chester County homes or visit stone veneer in West Chester.
Exterior veneer is where installation details matter most. Water gets behind stone, so the wall needs a drainage path: a water-resistive barrier, lath, and a weep screed kept clear of the ground and paving. Bucks County is known for its fieldstone farmhouses, and veneer is one way to bring that look to a newer house; see exterior stone veneer for Bucks County homes and stone veneer in Doylestown. We also serve northern Delaware; see stone veneer in Newark, DE.
Layout is what separates good veneer from a wall that looks like wallpaper. We open several boxes at once and mix pieces so no color or shape repeats in a visible pattern, place corner pieces first, and keep joint widths consistent for the style you chose. Stacked stone needs tight, level courses; a more rustic look needs varied stone sizes spread across the whole wall rather than grouped in one area.
Cost depends on the square footage, manufactured versus natural stone, the amount of prep, corners and cuts, and access, especially for exterior work above ground level. We do not publish prices. F2 is a registered home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania; for Delaware and Maryland projects, permit and licensing requirements are confirmed with the local jurisdiction for each project.
Stone Veneer FAQ
How much stone veneer work have you done?
Stone veneer is a smaller part of our business than bathrooms and tile. Our completed work includes a stacked-stone fireplace. We can show you photos of that project and explain how we would approach yours.
Can stone veneer go over my brick fireplace?
Often, yes. Clean, sound brick can take veneer after proper surface prep, sometimes with lath and a scratch coat. Painted or sealed brick needs extra prep so the mortar can bond.
Manufactured or natural stone?
Manufactured stone is lighter, more uniform and usually less expensive. Natural thin stone has more variation and weathers like real stone. Both can look good; the choice comes down to look, budget and the wall.
Can stone veneer be installed directly on drywall?
We do not recommend setting stone directly on painted drywall. The wall is usually prepared with cement board or metal lath and a scratch coat first, depending on the product and location.
How do I get an estimate?
Call (856) 895-8791 or contact us for a free in-home estimate.
Related reading
Stone Veneer Fireplaces for Chester County Homes
Stone veneer can turn a plain brick or drywall fireplace into a room's focal point. Here is how to choose the stone and what the installation requires.
Exterior Stone Veneer on Bucks County Homes: What to Know
Natural or manufactured stone, the drainage layers behind it, and the details that decide whether exterior veneer on a Bucks County house lasts through freeze-thaw winters.