FOR ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS
Specify with confidence.
Michigan stone, backed by data.
Everything you need to specify, detail, and install natural Michigan thin stone veneer — product data, independent ASTM test results, NSI installation standards, and a direct line to the people who cut the stone.
Independent laboratory testing by Driesenga & Associates, August 2023. Absorption, density, flexural and compressive strength. Onaway and Manistique quarry stone.
Installation details follow NSI recommendations. We reference NSI technical manuals in all spec guidance.
All stone quarried and processed in Michigan. Depending on your project’s distance from our quarry and mill, the stone may qualify for LEED regional sourcing valuation — ask us and we will confirm the locations for your blend.
WHY SPECIFY NATURAL MICHIGAN STONE
The material that earns its place
in the specification.
Natural stone is the only exterior cladding material that improves with time. For architects and designers specifying for clients who expect permanence, it is the material that never needs to be re-specified.
Color all the way through
Natural stone carries its color through the full depth of the material. There is no surface coating to weather, fade, or delaminate. A stone specified today looks the same — or better — in thirty years. That is a maintenance conversation you will not have with your client.
Cut to your specification
We do not ship from generic stock. Each order is cut to the dimensions your project requires — custom coursing heights, non-standard widths, specific blend selections. The stone works to your drawings, not the other way around.
Michigan-quarried, Michigan-accountable
Quarry to job site within the same state means one phone call resolves any question. No international supply chain. No layers of distribution. When you need stone mid-project, we can respond.
PRODUCT DATA
15 blends. All Michigan-quarried.
All cut to order.
Specifications below reflect typical values. Contact us for blend-specific data sheets, ASTM test results, and project-specific cut tolerances.
| Blend | Available Cuts | Stone Type | Nominal Thickness | Approx. Weight | Finish | Primary Applications | Quarry Origin & Test Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⚑ Thickness and weight shown are thin veneer specs. Cobble and Split products vary — contact us for project-specific data. Quarry origin is listed per blend. ASTM results are from Black River (Onaway), Old Mission (Manistique) and Ionia granite; a blend drawing on an untested quarry is flagged. | |||||||
| Beach Blend | AshlarField LedgeLedge | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, fireplace, foundation | Manistique · Onaway · Alpena C97 · C170 · C880 Alpena untested |
| Black River Ashlar | AshlarField LedgeLedge | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, civic, statement features | Onaway C97 · C170 · C880 — tested directly |
| Copper Point | AshlarLedge | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, fireplace | Manistique · Onaway C97 · C170 · C880 |
| Grand Sable | AshlarField LedgeLedge | Dolomite Limestone / Sandstone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, accent walls | Onaway · Manistique · Sault Ste. Marie C97 · C170 · C880 Sault Ste. Marie untested |
| Great Lakes Ashlar | AshlarLedge | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, lakefront, contemporary | Onaway · Manistique C97 · C170 · C880 |
| Hemlock | AshlarLedge | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, traditional | Manistique · Alpena C97 · C170 · C880 Alpena untested |
| Hiawatha Castle | Castle | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Entry pillars, statement features | Manistique C97 · C170 · C880 |
| Huron | AshlarField LedgeLedge | Dolomite Limestone / Sandstone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, traditional, foundation | Onaway · Sault Ste. Marie C97 · C170 · C880 Sault Ste. Marie untested |
| Iron Mountain | AshlarField Ledge | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Contemporary exterior, statement | Onaway · Alpena C97 · C170 · C880 Alpena untested |
| Michigan Granite Cobble | CobbleSplit | Granite / Basalt | Natural shape, 6″–12″ dia. | Contact for project data | Natural rounded | Foundation, landscape, fieldstone | Ionia C97 · C170 · C880 — tested directly |
| Michigan Split Granite | Split | Granite | Natural shape, 6″–12″ dia. | Contact for project data | Split | Foundation, landscape, fieldstone | Ionia C97 · C170 · C880 — tested directly |
| Old Mission Ashlar | Ashlar | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Exterior, Northern Michigan | Manistique C97 · C170 · C880 — tested directly |
| Saint Clare Castle | Castle | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Chimney, pillars, statement walls | Onaway C97 · C170 · C880 |
| Silver Lake Ashlar | Ashlar | Dolomite Limestone | ½” – 1½” | 10-14 lbs/sq ft | Natural and split face | Contemporary, large facades | Manistique C97 · C170 · C880 |
| Wolf Creek Cobble | Cobble | Dolomite Limestone / Mixed Fieldstone | Natural gathered shape | Contact for project data | Natural rounded | Foundation, landscape, rustic | Onaway C97 · C170 · C880 |
COVERAGE & ESTIMATING
What your estimator
will ask for first.
Thin veneer is sold by the square foot; corners are sold by the linear foot. Full bed stone is sold by the ton.
| Thin veneer coverage | Sold by the square foot. Nominal thickness ½" – 1½", 10–14 lbs per square foot. |
| Corners | Sold by the linear foot. Return length varies, minimum 3". |
| Full bed stone | 35–40 square feet per ton. Bed depth 3½" – 4½". |
| Waste factor | Start at 10%. Increase for heavily patterned coursing, extensive cutting, or irregular field shapes. |
| Lead time | Varies seasonally. Call for current lead time before writing a schedule around delivery. |
BUILT WORK
The material, at scale,
on a real building.
GREAT LAKES ASHLAR
Exterior facade
BLACK RIVER FIELD LEDGE
Exterior facade
MICHIGAN COBBLE
Foundation and chimney
HIAWATHA CASTLE
Statement feature wall
LABORATORY RESULTS
Independent ASTM testing.
Driesenga & Associates.
Averaged results, five specimens per test. Project #1910368.4A. Full reports available in the downloads section.
| Property | Black River Onaway |
Old Mission Manistique |
Granite Ionia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption, C97 | 0.29% | 0.32% | 0.15% |
| Specific gravity, C97 | 2.68 | 2.78 | 2.65 |
| Density, C97 | 167.5 lbs/cu ft | 173.7 lbs/cu ft | 165.6 lbs/cu ft |
| Flexural strength, C880 | 2,470 psi | 3,130 psi | 2,857 psi |
| Compressive strength, C170 (dry) | 11,290 psi | 12,720 psi | 11,157 psi |
| Compressive strength, C170 (wet) | 13,460 psi | 18,550 psi | Not run |
| ⚑ Absorption below 0.5% is the practical indicator of freeze-thaw durability in this climate: water that cannot enter the stone cannot freeze inside it. Sample dates: limestone August 2023, granite May 2019. | |||
INSTALLATION GUIDE
Best practices for specifying
natural thin stone veneer.
The following guidance follows Natural Stone Institute (NSI) standards and is intended to support specification and detailing.
Substrate preparation
All substrates must be clean, structurally sound, and free of bond-breaking materials. For wood-frame construction, install a code-compliant weather-resistant barrier (WRB) followed by self-furring metal lath fastened to studs.
Refer to NSI Design Manual for substrate-specific requirements and ASTM C1063 for metal lath installation.
Scratch coat
Apply a scratch coat of Type S mortar at ⅜” minimum thickness over metal lath. Score horizontally while wet and allow to cure 24–48 hours before stone application.
ASTM C270 governs mortar specifications. Type S mortar is recommended for exterior applications.
Stone setting
Back-butter each stone with a minimum ½” bed of Type S mortar, ensuring full coverage of the stone’s bed face. Press firmly to achieve positive contact across the full surface.
For exterior installations in freeze-thaw climates (all of Michigan), full mortar coverage is critical. Voids trap water and cause spalling.
Jointing and grouting
Allow stone to set a minimum of 24 hours before pointing. Pack joints firmly with Type S mortar and tool to a concave or flush profile. Avoid raked joints on exterior applications in cold climates.
Flashing and drainage
Provide corrosion-resistant flashing at all horizontal ledges, shelf angles, window and door heads, and base conditions. A drainage plane and weep screed at the base of all exterior veneer applications is required.
NSI dimensional stone cladding details are available in the Downloads section.
Sealers and maintenance
Natural stone veneer does not require sealing. If a sealer is specified for aesthetic reasons, use a breathable, penetrating impregnator rated for exterior natural stone. Annual inspection is recommended.
Michigan climate considerations
Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycle is among the most demanding in North America. The following details are especially important:
- Full mortar coverage behind every stone
- No raked or open joints on exterior applications
- Proper flashing and drainage at all horizontal conditions
- Corrosion-resistant fasteners and accessories throughout
Referencing NSI standards
- NSI Dimensional Stone Design Manual
- NSI Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
- ASTM C1242 — Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of attachment systems
- ASTM C270 — Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
Wall assembly CAD details
MTI’s HyperSpecs library includes over 200 free wall assembly details — including specific thin stone veneer conditions with CAD drawings and installation animations.
Have a detail question?
Our team has installed and supplied stone on projects ranging from single-family custom homes to civic installations. Call us with your specific assembly question.
DOWNLOADS & RESOURCES
Everything you need
for the specification set.
All downloads are free and require no registration. Blend spec sheets carry dimensional and quarry data; ASTM laboratory results are a separate report.
PDF — PRODUCT DATA
Individual Blend Spec Sheets
One-page spec sheets for every blend and cut — geology, product weight, piece dimensions, corner returns, and typical piece description. Each blend page carries its own sheet.
PDF — LABORATORY DATA
ASTM Test Report
ASTM C97, C880 and C170 laboratory results. Independent testing by Driesenga & Associates, Project #1910368.4A. Limestone sampled August 2023; granite sampled May 2019.
Limestone report (Onaway & Manistique)
Granite report (Ionia)
IN DEVELOPMENT
Master Spec Language
MasterFormat Section 04 43 13, Stone Masonry Veneer — editable specification language formatted for inclusion in your project manual. Free when it publishes.
ALL DOCUMENTS
Email me the full set
Spec sheets, ASTM reports and dimensional data sent to your inbox in one message — useful when you are assembling a submittal package. No follow-up unless you ask for it.
REQUEST SAMPLES OR CONSULTATION
We support the project
from specification to site.
Request physical samples of any blend for your design presentation, or contact us to discuss a specific project. We work directly with architects and designers — no intermediary, no distributor. You talk to the people who cut the stone.
Physical samples available at no charge. Delivered to your office or job site.
Tell us the project, the blend you are considering, and what you need for the submittal. We will send physical samples and the document set. You will talk to the people who cut the stone.
Or call the mill directly: (616) 835-5289