HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Cultured Stone products originated in 1962 when brothers Garrett and Floyd Brown of Vallejo, California saw the need for a new kind of building material. The entrepreneurial pair of plasterers developed manufactured stone veneer-a concrete mixture cast in flexible molds and hand-colored with iron oxide pigments to resemble natural stone. Made of lightweight aggregate materials, the veneers were approximately one-quarter the weight of natural stone and easily adhered to most wall surfaces.

The Browns’ small, regional company began selling to dealers in Northern California, but grew quickly as it added new products with broader geographic appeal. Soon, Cultured Stone products were distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Increased sales eventually established Cultured Stone as the undisputed brand leader and preferred name in the MSV category.