Stone Siding and Stone Veneer Siding: Advantages and Disadvantages

Stone siding and stone veneer siding are types of protective and decorative coverings for both interior and exterior walls of a home. They offer a more natural look to a home’s exterior than other siding options such as bricks and plastic sidings made from PVC resin. It was initially manufactured from real stone, slabs of flagstone, or cut from quarried stone or fieldstone to a standard thickness. However, stone veneer siding made from other materials is currently much more common due to the enormous expenses associated with mining, cutting, transporting, and hiring a mason to install the real stone siding.

Stone houses are the most durable of the homes ever built in history. They are also more appealing when suitably blended with the environment, such as building on a hill, near a forest or closer to a flowing stream.

Stone homes, therefore, portray some sense of permanence. This is because the stone is hardly affected by rain or bad weather and is quite resistant to rodents and other elements. Apart from the toughness, stone siding also provides a sense of appeal that makes them one of the most treasured, among other building materials in history.

Real stone siding

Advantages

1. The real stone siding stands the test of time. They are durable and will provide your home with reliable, appealing looks.
2. Real stone siding is considered a more natural and sustainable building material, as the stone is the most abundant material on earth. It is also an environmentally friendly material to use on your home exterior.
3. Real stone siding can be reused in case a home is destroyed or torn down. This makes it one of the natural materials that can be recycled in modern homes.

Disadvantages

1. The cost of real stone siding is higher than stone veneer made from other materials such as plastic.
2. The mining process of real stone siding may result in irreversible environmental damages that may impact animals and human generations negatively.
3. Cracks may develop in them. These cracks may be difficult to repair, leading to moisture seepage into your home. These leakages may also destroy the stone siding itself, leading to deformations on the wall.

Stone veneer siding

Stone veneer siding is a mix of lightweight concrete or clay, polymers that are added for strength and weatherproof wear, as well as pigments that give the finished product the desired appearance. However, some stone veneers are painted instead of pigments.

The two main types of stone veneers are; individual veneer pieces, which are in the form of smaller pieces of different sizes and coloration but made in the same style. The other variation is the panels, which are easier to install as each panel is attached to the home with screws.

Advantages

1. They are less expensive and lasts for many years when properly installed.
2. It creates the look of natural beauty on any home exterior.
3. More ideal for non-load bearing walls that do not require additional support.
4. Easy installation, because they are lightweight and come in larger panels making them easier to install within a shorter time.
5. They require little maintenance.
6. Like real stone siding, they can be reused.
7. They are available in all colours and styles, such as fieldstone, ledgestone, stack stone, cut stone, river stone, limestone, castle stone, and many more.
8. They are usable on a wider variety of surfaces, including stone, metal, and wood.
9. It’s a brilliant choice for tight areas where it might be challenging to work with natural stone.

Disadvantages

1. Siding can allow moisture to seep through the joints causing mould issues.
2. Some varieties may not be suitable for swimming pools, showers, and applications that come into constant contact with water and moisture.
3. The product is not sustainable as it is not made from sustainable materials.
4. Wrong installation may lead to breaking and chipping.
5. The use of strong cleaners may easily damage the surface and wear down the tint.
6. Tremors and earthquakes or vibrations from close heavy traffic can cause mortar to fissure.
7. When moisture penetrates the veneer and freezes, it may result in cracks in the siding.

Stone veneers are very enduring and call for minimal maintenance. However, the quality of installation greatly affects their performance and durability. You should prepare their surface area properly and follow local building codes, which may determine the installation process as this will ensure the success of your project.