Stone Veneer

Stone siding is something than can vastly improve the exterior of your home in terms of visual impact, and often with additional structural strength, too. With spring being right around the corner it is a great time to make improvement to the whole house, including the exterior.

Stone siding is a great way to make a impact without a lot of time, effort, or money. Some of the supplies are light weight, and can be installed in a quick manner, while other might take more skill, but the outcome is a beautiful upgrade to your home. Here are a few options for stone siding to consider.

Solid stone siding

This product is a heavy weight piece of solid stone. The process of installation is like a puzzle, much like the others, and the result is a beautiful surface that can cover the entire facade of your home. Because the product is solid stone, there are no concerns about an underside showing through the material.

Stone veneer siding

This product is stamped concrete that is stained and shaped to look like natural stone. Stone veneer siding is very durable and fits together in a inter-locking fashion. Another advantage is that stone veneers are more lightweight than solid natural stone.

Manufactured stone

Manufactured stone siding is produced in an individual manner so that it is like actual rocks as opposed to pieces that lock together. This too is produced as stamped and colored concrete, and can come in many different shapes and sizes.

Clad stone

Foam siding

Foam siding is an immensely lightweight and durable product that imitates actual stone. These “stones” are made to mimic stack stone, coming in many different colors and offered in large panels. The panels cover a large area, and an entire corner of a house can be completed in a day. The material is quite dense so that it can withstand weather, moisture, heat, and cold.

What kind of stone siding is best for me?

When considering what types of stone side are best for you, you should think about installation. Here are some of the items to answer before making a final decision:

• Will I have help to install it?
• How quickly do I need to install?
• How much weight will my chosen exterior support?
• How much time am I willing to spend on maintenance?
• What type of surface would work best for the area in question?
• How big is my job – an entire exterior, or a single surface?

If you are looking to update your home, but you want to remain conservative, consider a stack stone look with either the veneer or foam. This will allow you to cover a small area without dealing with the weight, or annual sealing. This is something that you could easily complete in a day, requiring no grouting. and little upkeep.

If you’re looking to add structural strength to your home, solid stone or manufactured stone, and the related upkeep involved in both of those options may be the way to go.

Getting ready to install stone siding

Once you have all of the pieces for your stone siding, make sure you also get the right adhesives. Depending on the surface that you are apply the product to, such as stucco or wood, you will need to have the proper setting. This would include a thin set, heavy weight construction adhesive, like Liquid Nails, or another type of recommended product.

Make sure to read the manufacturers suggestions before applying anything to your home. And of course, seek out professional advice whenever you’re unsure, specifically professional installers, and your local retailers of related stone siding accessories or installation products.

Get ready for spring, and get ready to breathe new life into your home with a new look that mirrors the look of ages past – stone siding.