Real Stone Thin Veneer Workmanship Numbers and Speed of Work – Mason and Customer Insights
Real EstateJust looking at the title, you might think that what is good for the bricklayer is contrary to, or is in conflict with, what is good for the client. In this article I will try to rationalize why this is NOT true, why the part that wins for one is NOT the loss for the other.
In reality, the dynamics across the real stone and fine veneer real stone market have changed, and life can be beneficial to everyone involved.
This is what I’m talking about …
First of all, I find it difficult to understand why the cost of labor to install a real stone veneer would be different than the cost of placing a fabricated stone veneer (but there seems to be some margin). If you break the manufactured stone to fit, you have trouble hiding the cut end; Whereas if you cut a thin veneer from real stone, you don’t have that problem. Guys who are good at it tell me they can fit an equivalent amount of real or fake stone veneer in a day. The only thing I can think of is that some contractors may charge more for a thin layer of siding due to the “perceived value” of the final job. Obviously fine real stone veneer (especially high quality; with natural tops, bottoms and ends) will look like full bed depth work in real stone. There is no comparison between that appearance and the fake. Since customers generally pay a little more for stone-thin veneer than for fake, I suppose some contractors will try to get what the market can handle. My prediction is that when the number of people used and experienced in laying a thin layer of real wood equals the number of people experienced in laying fakes, I think we will definitely see the labor rates go down.
I think a lot of this has to do simply with understanding reality and it comes down mainly to education. What must happen is a paradigm shift in people’s thinking. Once seasoned masons know that the philosophy I’m trying to impart to them is a win / win / win / win situation, I hope a lightbulb lights up and we will all live happily ever after.
This is what I am talking about in real numbers. The day your average bricklayer realizes the following facts and turns the numbers into acceptable logic, we’ll see labor rates drop.
The installation time for the real stone thin veneer is almost the same as for the fabricated (faux) thin stone veneer.
The average mason can place approximately (4) times more veneer in one day than full bed depth stone. Typically this equates to 160 feet per day versus 40. As an added benefit, the client is elated that the labor “clutter” is in their home or workplace for only 1/4 of the above time period. .
Logic says that if a masonry installer wanted to earn exactly the same amount of money per day installing thin veneer compared to what they used to earn installing full bed depth shelving, they could (should) charge ¼ of the price.
Just a little deeper: If a mason laid 40 square feet. real stone foot with full bed depth ledge in one day and is charged $ 25 per square foot. foot the day’s labor bill would be $ 1,000.
Along the same lines, if that same bricklayer applied (4) times as much fine varnish in one day (real or fake), and charged ¼ of his normal rate, or $ 6.25 per square meter. walk for work, your labor bill for the day would be the same $ 1,000.
If $ 1,000 per day was acceptable income for installing a full bed, why wouldn’t $ 1,000 per day for installing thin veneer be acceptable? And why should there be any difference between whether the thin veneer was real stone or fake stone? The question is why would a painter be charged differently for painting with green paint as opposed to painting with red paint?
Does the bricklayer want more ?: He charges 1/3 of the above rate, $ 8.33 per square meter. He stands tall and earns $ 1,332.80 for work days.
As a disclaimer: the numbers above are for illustration purposes only. Labor rates are diverse across the United States, and certain locations cost more than others due to many factors.
Also, I’m the first to agree and say that not all masons are created equal, and you get more or less what you pay for. The final look of the work depends on the installer, not the stone, the architect, or the person who pays the bill. The last three variables and pieces may have good intentions, but the same stone will look different depending on the experience of the installer.
Just like I am trying to share my thoughts and knowledge, I believe that if stone quarryers, stone makers, stone wholesalers and stone retailers work together, we can teach people in the installation trade how to analyze better this equation too.
First, they must understand, accept, and be satisfied with the logic of numbers. Said carefully, it’s easy, not offensive. Hopefully I am achieving that goal here because I am aiming for this message to be read by that group. The group – bricklayers and sheet metal installers – is important at the very core of what I do for a living. Despite the fact that some do-it-yourselfers will install a fine facing of real stone, most of the work is still done by professionals.
Second, they need to know how to actually install a real stone thin veneer. I imagine the “How To” classes around stone patios taking the lead will be instrumental. Anything that is well understood is perceived to be easier to do, and actually easier to do.
Third, everyone must understand the concept that everyone wins.
I want the bricklayer to understand that he is winning. He will earn as much money, or more, installing stone-thin siding, like anything else he does.
I want the bricklayer to understand that if he is leading a team, his team can do more jobs in a year because each job goes 2-4 times faster. In reality, this means that your business could double, triple, or quadruple gross revenue. This logic is the same for the installer that runs alone.
I want the bricklayer to realize and remember that he will get more jobs if his rates are more reasonable. The cost of the work is the materials plus the labor. When labor decreases, the total cost of labor decreases. The lower the total cost of the job, the more jobs will be done due to the greater number of people who will be able to afford to hire the job. With tighter budgets than ever, more leads is obviously a huge advantage in today’s economy.
The quadruple victory?
The end consumer pays less and gets more value for their expenses, and more clients get stone work.
Positive “word of mouth” publicity is created – the best kind! In reality, the bricklayer is making more money than before.
With more work done, Stone Yards and Building Material companies are selling thinner veneer to their contractor clients.
And my selfish reason for educating: we, the stonemason and the manufacturer, will sell more stone to our distributors.
If the current working group of masonry contractors does not understand or accept my philosophy (and the philosophy shared by many pillars that I respect), then my prediction is that, as a group, we will be teaching a new group of people to install.
I believe that “if thin veneer installers don’t become more competitive, other people will enter the job market, learn their trade, and take their business.” People move to work. So if the bricklayers in the premium markets don’t notice, I warn you: beware!
Build with real stone and build forever …
There is no question that the market is moving from a tolerance for faux stone to a preference for real stone. Also, my take is that some folks, like tile installers for example, will learn the trade and lay a thin layer of real stone for less money than the guys who control the market today. Plus, with the economy weak and other traders desperate, perhaps several other types of contractors will consider laying a thin layer of real lumber at a rate of $ 5 to $ 10 per foot and are happy with the money they are making. .
This is all positive news, if you didn’t get that sentiment on the first reading of this article … read it again! (please)