Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar Corners" are the specialized L-shaped pieces of natural marble stone veneer designed to create seamless and aesthetically pleasing outside corners when installing Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar flats. They are crucial for achieving the refined and precise look characteristic of Sawn Ashlar stone.

Here's a breakdown:

What are they?

• L-Shaped Units: These are pre-formed pieces of Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar, cut and shaped into a 90-degree angle. They have two visible faces that meet at the corner, creating a clean wrap-around effect.

• Matching Aesthetics: They are designed to perfectly match the color, texture, and "sawn" finish of the flat Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar pieces. This ensures a consistent and high-quality appearance across your entire stone veneer project.

• Natural Marble: Like the flat pieces, the corners are made from natural marble, exhibiting the signature dark gray tones with subtle brown accents and unique veining.

Why are they essential for Sawn Ashlar?

• Preserving Clean Lines: Sawn Ashlar is chosen for its precise, straight edges and uniform courses. Using dedicated corner pieces maintains these clean lines around corners, which would be difficult and time-consuming to achieve by mitering flat pieces.

• Authentic Appearance: In traditional full-thickness Ashlar masonry, stones are laid to turn corners with alternating long and short returns. Veneer corner pieces emulate this authentic detail, giving the illusion of a solid stone wall.

• Easier Installation: While Sawn Ashlar is already easier to install due to its consistent sizing compared to irregular stone, corner pieces further simplify the process. They eliminate the need for complex, angled cuts on site, saving time and labor.

• Structural Integrity and Weather Protection: For exterior applications, proper corner installation is vital. Dedicated corner pieces help create a more secure and weather-tight system by reducing exposed seams where moisture could penetrate.

Key Features & Characteristics:

• Material: Natural Marble (ensuring durability and unique natural patterns).

• Finish: Sawn (providing clean, straight edges) and often "light tumbled" to soften the precise cuts slightly.

• Coloration: Consistent with the Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar flats – primarily dark gray with brown undertones.

• Profile: Ashlar (rectangular/square shapes, designed for coursed installation).

• Dimensions: Corner pieces are typically sold by the linear foot (LF). They have varying "long returns" and "short returns" to allow for a staggered, natural bond pattern as they go up the corner.

• Applications: Essential for any project using Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar where outside corners are present, including:

  • Fireplace surrounds and hearths

  • Exterior home facades, columns, and pillar wraps

  • Outdoor kitchen islands

  • Interior accent walls

• Sustainability: Often GREENGUARD Gold and USGBC/LEED certified, reflecting environmental considerations.

Installation Considerations:

• When calculating your material needs, measure the linear feet of all outside corners separately from the square footage of the flat walls.

• Corner pieces are typically installed first at the base of the corner, working upwards.

• Alternate the orientation of the corner pieces (long return on one side, then short return on that side for the next course) to create a natural, interlocked appearance.

• The sawn nature of the stone allows for very thin mortar joints, or even a dry-stacked appearance, which further emphasizes the clean Ashlar lines.

Using Avalon Bay Sawn Ashlar Corners is paramount for achieving a professional, durable, and visually appealing installation that truly captures the sophisticated essence of natural sawn ashlar masonry.