There are more options for your home’s exterior than you might think. While siding, shakes, and brick are popular and fantastic options, sometimes those just aren’t the style you’re trying to achieve. Luckily, stone options come in a wide range of colors and patterns. Just remember that these are all likely more expensive than traditional siding, and most need a professional with stone exterior experience to install them correctly.
Natural Stone Cladding
This is a type of stone exterior that can use a variety of stone types. Its layers of natural stone are stacked on top of each other, giving your home a multi-dimensional aesthetic. It’s one of the most popular options for exterior stone siding, and its pleasing appearance and durability make it easy to see why.
Usually, stone cladding is built on top of a concrete base or on top of an older brick exterior.
Solid Stone Siding
Natural solid stone siding is a very natural and organic option. Natural stone pieces are installed onto the home using a mortar, and these pieces can be left untouched, or sometimes they are cut. It’s one of the heaviest options for stone exteriors, and it’s challenging to install. Therefore, the labor cost, in addition to the cost of the stone, means this is an expensive option.
Natural Stone Veneer
The veneer is made of thin pieces of natural stone applied to a panel system that can be much more easily installed. This saves time and money and is not nearly as heavy as other stone exterior options. This is a fantastic option if you want something between real stone and faux stone.
Faux Stone Siding
Made with cement and natural stone aggregates that are colored and molded, faux stone is durable, affordable, and easy to install. It’s aesthetically pleasing and the perfect option for those looking to upgrade the look of their home without spending a small fortune on natural stone.
In addition, its lightweight feature means you don’t have to worry about adding weight to your home’s walls.
Polyurethane Foam Panels
Polyurethane foam panels are very similar to the faux siding option, except there’s no real stone used in the foam panels. As a result, they are very lightweight, easy to install, and affordable. Unfortunately, the lightweight foam isn’t durable and wouldn’t hold up under intense storms, excessive moisture, or other harsh elements.
Other Stone Options
Natural stone siding comes in all different types of stone; depending on the stone, this can be a costly option not only for materials and installation but also for maintenance. You might want to consider stone as an accent wall option but be sure to consider the weather and other elements before choosing one of these options.
Granite
You might think of granite countertops when you think of this stone, or maybe the granite walls of museums and other historical buildings. Granite is a fantastic option for home stone exteriors because of its durability. It can last a lifetime under even harsh weather conditions.
It’s sleek, and its one-of-a-kind nature is appealing to homeowners. You can find it in a wide range of colors and veining; just know that it is a natural substance, so there’s no control over the variation within the stone. Unfortunately, it’s expensive and requires a significant amount of maintenance to keep it healthy.
Marble
You’ve probably seen marble floors in an art museum or a high-end bank, but you can also use marble as a home exterior option. It’s an attractive option with loads of visual appeal. However, marble is very fragile, and its heavy weight makes installing it a complicated process that should only be done by experts with experience. It would be an expensive and possibly dangerous mistake if the slabs were dropped or installed incorrectly. Marble comes in a few colors like white, grays, browns, and even pink and purple tones.
Slate
Crack resistant, staining resistant, and durable to withstand all types of weather conditions, slate is a fantastic option for a home’s exterior.
The durability, combined with its easy-care nature, makes slate a popular choice for homeowners. It’s also very aesthetically pleasing and gives a home a stunning modern look. However, if you’re looking for options when it comes to colors, you won’t get that with slate. All you get with slate is a small range of grays and blacks. It’s also one of the most expensive options on this list.
Onyx
This is a rare option for home exterior siding, and that is due to its excessively high price tag and its rarity in nature. Typically when used as an exterior stone, it’s a veneer panel. But if you love the look of onyx, just not the cost, you can find fantastic faux onyx options that look great and won’t hurt your wallet.
Quartzite
Often compared to marble in durability, quartzite is a dense stone with a bit of sparkle. Sometimes this stone even looks like it’s shining from within. It’s resistant to temperature changes and is often used on home exteriors and as outdoor kitchen countertops. It’s usually made as stone cladding and can bring a stunning rustic look to a home.
Sandstone
Sandstone is notoriously soft and is a popular material used in all sorts of building projects. It’s easy to cut, shape, and chisel, which makes it ideal for custom home exteriors. It can be found in whites, browns, oranges, and even pinks and purples. Sandstone is also a reflective stone that can shimmer and change colors when the sun hits it just right.
Travertine
If you experience hot summers, this is the option for you. Travertine is a very heat-resistant material with small cavities due to its formation process. These small cavities give it an iconic and desirable flower pattern on home exteriors. However, for St. Louis homes that endure cold winters, it’s not a recommended option.
Limestone
Limestone might be your best option if you’re looking for a stone that will age over time and develop a stunning patina. It’s known for weathering with age, and its porous nature means it will stain and damage more easily. However, this is often a good thing for those looking for the aged limestone aesthetic. It can be found in a wide range of colors and patterns, and you can also find it in cladding options.
Flint
You’ve likely seen flint used in older buildings, giving homes a unique look. It’s most commonly used in cladding, bricks, or cobblestone and is durable. It’s budget-friendly for those looking to save money while still getting authentic stone on the exterior of their home.
Stone is a beautiful and natural home exterior option that can bring your home’s curb appeal to the next level. Just be sure to hire a professional and take plenty of time to consider the possibilities and your weather conditions before choosing.
