I recently ceramic tiled my bathroom myself (floor, wainscot, tub/shower enclosure). I now have intimate knowledge of why tile installers charge what they charge. Sometimes it helps to ask yourself, "What would I have to charge me to install it myself?"

Cost/SF can be a misleading metric. The cost to install stone--natural or cultured--will depend on local market rates for stone masons and site-specific installation requirements. Installing stone in a high gable that might require scaffolding to be erected on a roof, for example, is going to be priced differently from installing veneer on a foundation only. If stone masons are readily available in your market (they are not in mine) then seek bids from others. Just keep in mind that the difference between a nice stone installation and a poor one can be the result of a couple of dollars per square foot lower price.

If you are in S NH, why are you using a fake stone?

You have to get pricing for the same product from other masons. Ask the stone yard for a couple guys they know. Keep in mind your builder may be adding a markup.

Pretty cheap actually, because labor is usually 4/5-9/10 of the cost. For someone skilled.

Your material estimate is missing

1. sales tax

2. delivery (either a fee or the mason's time)

3. overages (usu 10-15%)

4. corners (approx 22-25 per lineal)

5. edge metal if needed

6. mortar

7. backing materials/waterproofing

Are we grouting? Don't take this for granted with cultured type stone work

All depends on size of the project also.

@cpartist, we are using cultured because real stone is exponentially more expensive (was told difficult to cut so adds even more to the cost).

Thank you all for weighing in. My husband and I have always done work to our house (including masonry) ourselves…but with a lot of young kids now we cannot. So just having sticker shock.

I told my builder I should be a mason. My husband is a nurse and doesn’t make as much as this is costing us per hour 😜

Just wait until you realize that the plumber, electrician, and HVAC specialist make 3x that. And none are under 40. Send your kids to trade schools!

I had real hardwood floors installed and the labor was 6 times the cost of the wood.

Our masons worked through winter. So in single digit temps, they set up a tarp and a heater and worked all winter long. Even with the heaters, etc., it was incredibly hard work and I wouldn't begrudge them a cent for how hard their jobs are.

Yes, trade school all the way! I told my husband that recently actually. I have all the respect for them, I don’t undermine their job. But this stone project is not real stone, from my understanding cultured is easier to cut. There are no scaffolds required and it will be applied in the fall. But I love doing work myself and wish I had the time. I wanted versetta stone and that is in panels like siding (thought it would be cheaper). The cost for versetta stone labor is the same as cultured individual stone per the builder. That feels like a rip off so I said I’ll just do cultured stone if versetta is the same price for install as I’ll have more choices. Appreciate all the insight!!!!

The panel systems should normally be slightly cheaper to install than individually set cultured stones. We got a quote where individually set was 15% higher.  But either way,  it was around $50/sq ft for materials and labor. I was similarly shocked at how expensive the labor was, since the material is generally under $15/sq ft.