What Is Stone Veneer Siding? Here's Everything You Should Know
Stunning curb appeal without breaking the bank
Highlights
Stone siding is likely to increase curb appeal.
It's difficult to discern stone veneer from real stone.
Stone veneer is nearly four times less expensive than real stone.
Homeowners who love the look of a stone exterior may wonder: what is stone veneer siding? Stone veneer is a synthetic siding material that has the potential to be just as beautiful as natural stone without the high price tag, making it popular with homeowners. Stone siding on a home offers fantastic curb appeal, but using natural stone can be rather expensive. To make the best choice for siding your home, read on for everything you need to know.
What Is Stone Veneer?
Stone veneer is designed to mimic the appearance of natural stone and is utilized for a variety of architectural designs—from statement walls to façades. Stone veneer is popular with homeowners because it is difficult for the untrained eye to notice the difference between it and natural stone.
Architectural stone veneer dates back to the late 19th century when it was first created with thick-cut slabs of natural stone. It was not until the 1950s that Portland cement was added to its composition, adding stability to the product, yet unable to provide structural support like that of its natural predecessor.
Stone veneer is used for decorative purposes and is designed to protect against wear and weather. Thinly-cut pieces from real stone create a truly natural look, without the weight of full-bed rock, as they are not intended to be load-bearing.
Types of Stone Veneer Siding
Homeowners can choose from three different stone veneer siding options: manufactured stone, natural thin stone veneer, or full bed veneer. Each type of stone veneer varies in thickness and materials used to create the siding.
Manufactured Stone
Manufactured stone is entirely human-made to reflect the appearance of real stone. This type of stone veneer usually consists of cement, natural minerals, and colorant. Manufactured stone can be remarkably hard-wearing and attractive. It closely resembles the original, but certain producers may utilize a kind of strong artificial polymer instead, referred to as faux stone, which leads to feather-light claddings.
Natural Thin Stone Veneer
Natural thin stone veneer is a genuine material derived from mountain rocks, riverbeds, and stone quarries. It is expertly sliced into one-inch thick sections and can be shaped to lend a smoother, yet elegant and rustic appearance. This veneer is essentially a thinner cut of building stone, which is composed entirely of quarried stone, unlike composite concrete. A superior quality material, a natural thin stone veneer can be applied to the interiors and exteriors of walls, chimneys, fire pits, and fireplace façades.
Full Bed Veneer
Full bed veneer is made similarly to natural thin stone veneer in that it's created from the same real stone materials. The significant difference is its thickness. Full bed veneer is typically between 3 and 5 inches thick.
Stone Veneer Pros and Cons
Homeowners have long appreciated the organic appeal of natural materials when constructing or improving their homes. Real rock siding is one such feature, but its high price tag and installation complexities may be prohibitive. Luckily, stone veneer offers a great alternative.
The stone veneer installation cost is considerably more affordable than real stone, costing nearly four times less. As a lightweight option, there are no costly structural reinforcements and it is exceptionally durable, fire-resistant, and requires minimal maintenance. The long-term investment of adding these elements to a property will be well worth the initial purchase.
As a popular siding, stone veneer is easy to obtain, so you don't have to worry about waiting for the product you want. Plus, the product is doable for DIY homeowners to install on their own.
One of the downfalls of using stone veneer is that the color loses its luster over time. The best way to combat this is to be cautious when purchasing lower-cost manufactured varieties. Such products often lack in appearance due to their lack of detail or color depth, and in many cases are a mere inch in thickness.
The reason stone veneer is strictly for decorative purposes is because the material is too brittle. While it does deliver the appearance you're looking for from stone, it's not going to provide any support for your home.
Stone Veneer Siding Cost
Stone veneer siding typically ranges from $11 to $18 per square foot and is generally sold in sheets. When you hire a local siding contractor, the installation costs add between $2 to $4 per square foot for labor. Compared to natural stone siding cost, the difference is quite significant with the average cost being $42 per square foot, just for materials.
The type of stone siding you choose will factor into the cost as well. Manufactured stone is less expensive, ranging in price between $5 to $8 per square foot. Faux stone, which can have a rather artificial appearance, costs between $6 to $9 per square foot.
There are other cost factors to consider, specifically when it comes to installation. The existing underlayment may need to be replaced to properly install the stone veneer siding. For an area of 1,000 square feet, the cost ranges between $440 and $520. You'll also need a moisture barrier to prevent water vapor from seeping under your wall and damaging the foundation. This typically costs between $2 to $4 per square foot.