Choosing Efficiency First

If you've always wanted your own stone cottage (but are planning to spend the foreseeable future in your cozy lumber-built home instead), you may be wondering whether natural stone veneer is a viable option to help you achieve the look of solid stone. While this veneer can be a much less pricey option than moving or building a new home, it may not be structurally or aesthetically right for every home. Read on to learn more about what you'll need to install true stone veneer, as well as a less expensive way to transform your home into your dream cottage.

Is stone veneer right for your home?

Stone veneer is a type of siding composed of cross-sections of natural stone cemented together. These stones can be used to make a variety of patterns -- everything from neat and orderly bricks to large, flat sections of shale or slate connected with mortar. This veneer is applied over the outer wall of your home in place of existing vinyl, metal, or wood siding, and is durable enough to last decades with little maintenance. 

Although it's thin, this veneer can be quite heavy. Not all homes have the proper structural support to withstand the constant weight and pressure of stone veneer panels, and applying these panels to a home that isn't sufficiently reinforced could cause major foundation or other architectural problems. Before ordering stone veneer, you'll want to have your home inspected by a contractor to ensure your walls are sufficiently thick and well-supported to easily handle this extra weight. If your home's walls are a bit too flimsy, you'll need to either pay to reinforce them yourself or investigate one of your other siding alternatives. 

What are your other options?

Fortunately, there are other ways to achieve the look of stone without the inevitable weight. Manufactured or vinyl stone veneer is one option that is essentially indistinguishable from true stone but weighs no more than other types of vinyl or PVC siding. Because of its light weight and assembly-line manufacturing process, this stone can be easily lifted and installed by the enterprising homeowner over the course of a long weekend. Before being molded into artificial stone, the vinyl or PVC is often treated with ultraviolet-resistant chemicals to help resist fading, chipping, or cracking after years of exposure to the sun's harsh rays. For those on a tight budget or whose homes won't stand up to the weight of stone, manufactured stone may be a much better option.

For more information, consider contacting a professional like those at Blue Springs Siding and Windows.