Most are exterior but we've done them inside also. In most instances we simply apply a stone veneer to either a framed chase or a cinder-blocked core that's been built by the contractor. But we've also built both from the ground up. If framed we apply a vapor barrier, followed by diamond metal lath to which the stone is applied.

Putting stone on fireplaces, building hearths and supplying mantels have all become specialties at P&W. As you can see from the pictures we can truly bring your imagination to reality whether we’re doing an entire wall or bringing the fireplace to the top of your cathedral ceiling. Hearths can be raised or fit flush with the floor and covered in either man-made or natural stone. Mantels can also be made of either man-made or natural stone but a very attractive alternative is a wooden mantel. We carry and can custom cut wood mantels of any local wood species and also have access to antique heart pine and the rarest of all - chestnut. All of our native species mantels are cut locally and slowly kiln dried to insure that the wood does not twist or crack.

Man-made or natural stone can be applied to any clean masonry surface, whether concrete or cinder-block. The key is for the surface to be clean, i.e., no sealer, parge or paint can be on the surface.

However, if the foundation has been covered with one of those materials stone can be applied but additional steps are required. Namely, a diamond metal lath must be attached and a scratch coat of mortar applied to which the stone is then laid.

Central VA area gateway and subdivision entry signs.Two Gateway Signs marking the entry into the Town of Altavista, Virginia. They are positioned on the North and South sides of State Route 29. The signs are each 14 feet long and about 9 feet high. They are covered with man-made Rubble stone from Alluriam. The color is Chatham. The signs themselves were designed and fabricated by Steve's SignWorx of Forest, Virginia. On the Walnut Hill Campbell County subdivision, all stone is man-made cut cobble stone from Quality Stone Veneer laid with grout lines. Falcon Ridge is a double cinder-block core subdivision sign covered in United Stone Veneer's Buckingham Fieldstone. Fabricated Falcon Ridge sign was done by Steve's SignWorks, Forest VA.

Here we're talking about retaining walls made from either cinder-block or a formed poured concrete wall to which a veneer stone is applied. These types of walls require a concrete footer dug at least the frost line which in our area is 18". Depending on the topology and height of the wall additional reinforcement (internal rebar and concrete poured in the cinder-block cores (or both) may be required. NOTE: Either way if the wall is 4' or higher a building permit is required along with a certified footer plan from a professional engineer. That footer plan will also have to be approved by the building inspector prior to a permit being issued.

In all instances we'll be using a natural stone to cover these three areas of our home or grounds (man-made veneer stone is not made to be walked on). Critical to the type of stone chosen is the amount of clefting (how much relief or texture) on the stone's face. Obviously a relatively flat or low clefted stone is preferred. We offer many such stone varieties but in 90+ percent of cases we install a Pennsylvania Bluestone on our walk-way, patio and porch projects. NOTE: PA Bluestone is not necessarily blue in color, although there is a blue variation. PA Bluestone comes in blue, lilac (reddish brown), and full-color which is a dull greenish gray with brown striations throughout. In the other 10% we use Buckingham Slate (black or mid-night blue as they say at the quarry) or one of a half dozen other stone types that lend themselves to this application Installation can be done either on top of concrete or done using a dry-lay technique where a crusher/run and Class-A sand is used for the foundation. In the case of installation on concrete spaces between the stones are mortared while in the dry-lay a polymeric sand is applied.