Stone and Synthetic Stone

A Traditional Look That Requires a Drainage Mat and Vapor-Impermeable Sheathing

Wood-frame walls can be veneered with stone

Stone veneer that is 8 inches thick weighs 6 tons or more per 100 square feet. Stone veneers must be set on a solid masonry ledge built into the concrete footing, which means more concrete than for an unveneered foundation. Setting stone is labor-intensive, and skilled masons may not be as easy to find as carpenters who can install other types of siding.

Manufactured stone is lightweight concrete that has been molded and colored to look like building stone. It costs one-third to one-half as much as real stone veneer, and it’s light enough to adhere to a wall without any special footing for support. Manufactured stone is made ...