Blog

Thinking of Building a Retaining Wall? Check Out This Comprehensive FAQ Guide

September 20, 2023 by Grand River Natural Stone

Building a retaining wall doesn’t have to be complicated. While they must be practical, they can also be stylish and durable. Thinking of putting one up? Check out our FAQ guide below for all you need to know.  What’s the Purpose of a Retaining Wall?   The primary purpose of a retaining wall is to

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Your Complete Guide to Installing Brick Veneer

April 10, 2023 by Grand River Natural Stone

As Beautiful as Full-size Brick Considering the aesthetics, durability and affordability of brick veneer siding as compared to real brick, veneer siding is often a winner. In terms of appearance, anyone would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between full-size brick and brick veneer once installed and pointed with mortar. Also, It lasts as long

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How Do I Choose The Right Ledgestone Veneer Product For My Project?

February 22, 2023 by Grand River Natural Stone

Ledgestone veneer offers a cost-effective and attractive option, both indoors and outdoors. This guide will help you understand the key factors to consider when choosing ledgestone for your project, explore common applications, and provide tips for maintaining your ledgestone features. How to Choose Ledgestone Veneer When choosing a product for your project, it’s important to

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Cement vs. Clay Bricks: Which Should You Use?

December 1, 2022 by Grand River Natural Stone

Masonry buildings are the oldest in existence. We can travel all around the world to see how they’ve held up against the test of time. It’s an attestation to their incredible strength and adaptability in modern times. Although much of the world looks for the cheapest alternative, there’s no denying that the resilience of masonry

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5 FAQs About Mortar: Everything You Need to Know

October 3, 2022 by Grand River Natural Stone

Whether you’re an avid DIY-er or someone seeking professional services for your landscaping project, chances are you may need mortar to put together a brick wall or stone walkway. In this post, we go over what you need to know about mortar before choosing the right products for your project. What is Mortar?  Mortar is

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6 Exciting Exterior Home Designs with Stone and Brick

October 1, 2021 by Grand River Natural Stone

New exteriors are one of the best ways to radically alter your home’s appearance and value. Whether you have brick and want to add some stone or are thinking of adding both materials to the front of your house, there is a whole world of exciting possibilities to explore in mixing these two materials. If

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What is the Difference Between Brick and Brick Veneer?

January 23, 2019 by Grand River Natural Stone

A common question that we hear all the time is: “What is the difference between brick and brick veneer?” Brick (also known as full bed veneer) and thin brick veneer often look identical. However, there are key differences. Mainly, thin veneer products are not real stone or brick. Instead, they are often cement-based and shaped in

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Benefits of Brick Veneer Installation Over Clay Bricks

January 9, 2019 by Grand River Natural Stone

Firstly, everyone at the four Grand River Natural Stone locations (Kitchener, Stoney Creek, London & Fergus) would like to wish you all the best for the New Year. Speaking of the New Year, January has always been a popular time to install brick veneer. This blog takes a closer look at the benefits of  veneer

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How to repair or restore your landscaping brickwork

January 14, 2015 by Grand River Natural Stone

If you have bricks around your home or business, you know how much they add to the appearance of the property. But part of keeping up the area is making sure the bricks look nice and are in the best shape possible. While bricks are durable and long lasting, there may come at time when

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Brick and Brick Veneer R-Values Compared

December 12, 2013 by Grand River Natural Stone

What Does R-Value Mean? The insulation property of building materials can be expressed as its per-inch R-Value, which indicates its degree of thermal resistance per inch of thickness. However, it is common practice for products, such as fiberglass insulation, to list their total thermal resistance as a single R-Value on the package. For example, regular

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