Real Stone Thin Veneer Workforce Numbers and the Speed ​​of Work: Mason and Customer Perspectives

From a glance at the title, one might think that what is good for the mason is contrary to, or in conflict with, what is good for the client. In this article I am going to try to rationalize why that is NOT true: why one side’s win is NOT the other side’s loss.

In reality, the dynamics throughout the real stone and real stone fine coating market have changed, and life can be a win-win for all involved.

This is what I’m talking about…

First of all, it’s hard for me to understand why the labor cost to install a real stone veneer would be any different than the cost of laying a manufactured stone veneer (but there seems to be some margin). If you break stone made to fit, you have trouble hiding the cut end; whereas if you cut a thin veneer of real stone you don’t have that problem. Guys who are good at it tell me they can lay 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 to put on stone-thin siding because of the “perceived value” of the finished job. Obviously, real stone thin veneer (especially high quality; with natural tops, bottoms and ends) will look like a full bed depth job in real stone. There is no comparison between that look and the fake one. Since customers generally pay a little more for a real stone thin veneer than a fake one, I guess some contractors will try to get what the market will take. My prediction is that when the number of people who are used to and experienced in laying fine tile like stone equals the number of people who are experienced in laying faux, I think we will definitely see labor rates go down.

I think a lot of it has to do with just understanding reality, and it mostly comes down to education. What needs to happen is a paradigm shift in people’s thinking. Once the experienced masons know that the philosophy I am trying to impart to them is a win/win/win/win situation, I hope a light bulb will go off and we will all live happily ever after.

This is what I’m talking about in real numbers. The day your average bricklayer realizes the following facts and turns the numbers into acceptable logic, we will see labor rates fall.

Installation time for real stone veneer is about the same as for manufactured (fake) stone veneer.

The average mason can place approximately (4) times more thin veneer in one day than full bed depth stone. Typically this equates to 160 feet per day vs. 40. As a bonus, the customer is elated that the labor “mess” is in their home or place of business for only 1/4 of the above period.
Logic says that if a drywall installer wanted to make exactly the same amount of money per day installing thin veneer as he used to make installing a full bed depth shelf, he could (should) charge ¼ the price.

Just a little deeper: If a mason laid 40 square feet. real stone ledge foot full bed depth in one day and is charged $25 per square meter. foot the labor bill for the day would be $1,000.

Similarly, if that same mason is ugly (4) times as much sheet metal in a day (real or fake), and charges ¼ of his normal rate, or $6.25 per square foot. foot per labor, your labor bill for the day would be the same $1,000.

If $1,000 a day was acceptable earnings to install a full bed, why wouldn’t $1,000 a day be acceptable to install thin veneer? And why should there be any difference whether the thin veneer was real stone or fake stone? The question is why would a painter charge differently for painting with green paint than for painting with red paint?

Does the mason want more?: he charges 1/3 of the previous rate, $8.33 per square meter. foot and earns $1,332.80 per day of work.

As a disclaimer: the numbers above are for illustrative purposes only. Labor rates are diverse throughout the United States, with certain locations costing more than others due to many factors.

Also, I am the first to agree and say that not all masons are created equal, and you more or less get what you pay for. The final look of the job is up to the installer, not the stone, not the architect, not the person paying the bill. All three variables and later may be well-intentioned, but the same stone will look different depending on the experience of the installer.

Just as I am trying to share my thoughts and knowledge, I believe that if stone quarries, stone manufacturers, stone wholesalers and retailers work together, we can also teach people in the installation trade how to better analyze this equation. .

First, they need to understand, accept, and be satisfied with the logic of numbers. Carefully phrased, it’s easy, not offensive. I hope I’m achieving that goal here because I have a goal of having that group read this message. The group (masons and sheet metal installers) is important to the very core of what I do for a living. Even though some do-it-yourselfers will install real stone thin veneers, most of the work is still done by professionals.

Second, they need to know how to install real stone veneer. I imagine “How To” classes by the stone patios that take the initiative to be instrumental. Anything that is well understood is perceived as easier to do, and is actually easier to do.

Third, everyone must understand the concept that everyone wins.

I want the mason to understand that he is winning. He will make the same amount of money, or more, installing real stone veneer than anything else he does.

I want the mason to understand that if he is running a crew, his crew can do more jobs in a year because each job is done 2-4 times faster. In reality, this means that his company could double, triple or quadruple the gross income. This logic is the same for the installer running by itself.

I want the mason to realize and remember that he will get more work if his rates are more reasonable. The cost of the job is materials plus labor. When labor decreases, the total cost of the job decreases. The lower the total cost of the job, the more jobs will be done due to the more people who can afford to hire the job. With budgets tighter than ever, a larger pool of leads is obviously a big plus in today’s economy.

The quadruple win?

The end consumer is paying less and getting more value for money, and more customers are buying stone.

Positive “word of mouth” publicity is created – the best kind! The mason is actually making more money than before.

With more work done, Stone Yards and Building Material companies are selling more sheet metal to their contracting customers.

And my selfish reason for educating: we, the stonemason and the manufacturer, will sell more stone to our merchants.

If my philosophy (and the philosophy shared by many pillars I respect) is not understood or accepted by the current masonry contractors’ workforce, then my prediction is that we, as a group, will be teaching a whole new group of people how to install.

I believe that “if real stone veneer installers don’t become more competitive, other people will enter the job market, learn their trade and take the business away from them.” People move to jobs. So if masons in the premium markets don’t catch on, I’m warning you: beware!

Build with real stone and build forever…

There is no doubt that the market is moving from a tolerance for fake stone to a preference for real stone. Also, my opinion is that some people, like tile setters, for example, will learn the trade and lay down a really rock-thin tile for less money than the guys who control the market today. Also, with the weak economy and the desperation of other dealers, perhaps several other types of contractors will consider putting up some really rock-thin siding at a rate of $5 to $10 per foot and be happy with the money they are getting. winning.

This is all positive news, if you didn’t get that feeling when you first read this article… read it again! (please)