Home Trends - Spring 2016 | Page 86

s retice insider sec stone adv Q GET THE LOOK I am preparing to update the exterior of my home this spring. I love the look of stone but it’s a little out of my price range. I have been considering faux stone veneers. What are the benefits of choosing a faux stone veneer?– Stanley P. Benjamin Moore, www.benjaminmoore.ca White Ice, 2139-70 Hello Stanley, When it comes to your housing exterior, there’s nothing like stone to give your home a cool, earthy, yet modern vibe. But natural stone can be expensive and tricky to install without the help of professionals. A practical, yet aesthetically pleasing alternative to natural stone, is faux stone veneer.  What is Faux Stone Veneer? Faux stone veneer is a type of decorative exterior material generally half an inch thick and sold as individual stones or paneled pieces. Faux stone veneer is molded from real stone, manufactured from Portland cement and tested for durability and consistency. It weighs only a few pounds per panel and is available in a variety of colours, stone styles and cuts.  The Benefits Faux stone veneer is less expensive than natural stone and is environmentallyfriendly without sacrificing quality. To enforce the illusion of real stone, faux stone veneer comes with 90 degree corner pieces to create the illusion of real stone wrapping a corner as well as colourmatching accessories. Users can create a cohesive look by coordinating stone and various other building products like stucco or siding on exterior applications. Paint your trim with Aura Exterior by Benjamin Moore. It has a hard shell exterior, which protects against the elements along with a flexible inner core that prevents cracking. Add faux stone veneer by Stone Selex to the exterior of your home. It is more affordable than natural stone. Stone Selex, www.stoneselex.com Choose comfortable seating from Crate & Barr el. Accent the look with a large print pillow from The Bay to add interest to the sitting area. MARIMEKKO Printed Bottna Cushion, Hudson’s Bay, www.thebay. com It is engineered specifically for easy installation with minimal materials so you don’t necessarily need to enlist the help of a professional. Faux stone veneer can be applied to a variety of surfaces including concrete, stone, brick, plywood or drywall. (Refer to local building codes to ensure that there is a proper drainage system available behind the stone. Metal lathe is needed for adhering the faux stone veneer to plywood or drywall). It weighs less than full bed stone, meaning that structural reinforcements such as special footings or foundations should not be necessary. This means one less step in your installation! - Text by Zakiya Kassam, Photos and information provided by Stone Selex Canadian Tire, www. canadiantire.ca 86 CANADIANHOMETRENDS.COM Crate & Barrel, www.crateandbarrel.ca Finish off the look with a decorative tree from Canadian Tire.