How Much Does Stone Veneer Siding Cost?

Stone Veneer Siding Installation

Want the stunning look of natural stone siding without the high cost? Stone veneer siding offers a budget-friendly alternative at $25 to $30 per square foot less than natural stone. It’s customizable, lightweight, and easy to install, reducing labor costs. Plus, the 2021 Cost vs. Value Report shows it can deliver a 90% or higher return on investment when selling your home.

What is Stone Veneer Siding?

Stone veneer is a type of siding created to imitate natural stones at a lower cost. Part of the reason for the lower cost is that stone veneer is built with affordable and more lightweight materials than real stone.

Stone veneers are placed over materials such as fiber cement or wood timber. Like brick veneer siding, it is more energy efficient than its natural siding counterpart. It can help you keep your home insulated and lower your electricity bills. Bear in mind that stone veneer is not as strong or durable as natural stone, and may need repairs if it becomes damaged over the years.

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Natural Stone Siding Cost

Stone veneer is also lightweight and faster to install, reducing labor costs. Total costs vary based on home size, design, labor rates, and whether it’s a full or partial installation. It also offers a strong ROI, up to 90%, making it a cost-effective alternative for homeowners seeking a natural stone look.

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Stone Veneer Siding vs. Faux Stone

While exploring alternatives to natural stone, you may often hear faux stone and manufactured stone veneers used interchangeably. Although the look created by both can be similar, there is a difference.

Faux stone siding comes in lightweight and durable panels. These have a remarkably realistic stone look that comes from a unique coating, which is chemically bonded to the molded surface of the panel.

Unlike manufactured stone, the molds which make faux stone panels are cast from real stone and rock patterns. If you are interested in a DIY project, faux stone siding panels can be cut using common woodworking tools and are relatively simple to install.

Stone Veneer Siding vs. Manufactured Stone

Another stone siding alternative term you will run across is manufactured stone, which is slightly different than a veneer stone siding.

Manufactured stone siding is simply a concrete mix that imitates siding types like natural stone. Manufactured stone is less able to withstand the extremities of weather overtime compared to natural stone. However, it is significantly cheaper than real stone at $6 to $12 per square foot of installed material.

The best way to decide which type of faux stone is best for your home – stone veneers, faux stone, or manufactured stone – is to have a conversation with contractors. Your local contractor will help you make a decision based on your siding budget, climate and weather conditions, your home’s structure and design, and more.

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Benefits of Stone Veneer

In addition to providing you with the stunning color and pattern options of more expensive natural stone, veneer stone siding panels have other great benefits.

1. Lightweight

Natural stone is very heavy. You’ll need to hire a professional contractor to handle the complicated installation process. Since stone veneer is much lighter than real stone, the installation process becomes quicker, easier, and more affordable.

Additionally, the heavy weight of natural stone can potentially damage your home’s foundation. You should have a professional assess your home before installing natural stone to ensure the structure can handle the added weight.

In contrast, veneer stone siding weighs as little as one pound per square foot, reducing the strain on your home’s foundation without adding unnecessary weight.

2. Better Insulation

Stone veneer’s polyurethane composition offers superior home insulation when compared to other types of stone siding.

The R-value (used to measure thermal resistance) of stone veneer siding helps prevent your home from losing heat in the winter and keeps the cool air inside during the summer. This level of insulation can help save you money on your monthly energy bills, since heating and cooling your home accounts for the largest portion of your utility bills – approximately 54 percent.

3. Impact Resistant

Stone veneer siding panels are constructed of high-density polyurethane. They are not only heat resistant, but they are also impact resistant. If you live in an area that tends to experience inclement weather like hail or high winds, you can rest assured that your home will be protected by your stone veneer siding.

Downsides of Stone Veneer Siding

Veneer siding is a strong siding choice, similar in many ways to the benefits and drawbacks of a vinyl siding installation. In terms of drawbacks, they are really only “cons” when comparing veneer stone siding directly with natural stone.

For instance, compared to natural stone, synthetic stone veneer has a smaller lifespan – about 20 to 75 years. This is actually superior when it comes to the lifespan of other siding types, like vinyl or wood. But in contrast, an investment in natural stone will last the lifetime of your home – about 100 or more years. Additionally, stone veneer siding will not provide the same level of fire protection as natural stone.

Stone Veneer Siding Maintenance Tips

Stone veneer is easy to clean and maintain. This type of siding is fairly resistant to moisture, mold, mildew, and most environmental conditions. A simple rinse with your garden hose will remove any loose dirt or problem areas that may develop due to proximity to moist vegetation and lack of direct sunlight.

Check your manufacturer’s recommendations as to not void your warranty. You can typically use a power washer at least once a year to get rid of any grime. If you have stubborn dirt, use a mild detergent with a soft bristle brush as to not scratch your synthetic stone siding.

It is recommend that in terms of landscaping that you keep bushes, hedges, and flowers at least 6 inches away from the stone paneling to prevent it from being hit by weed whackers and other landscaping hardware.

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