Stone veneer has become a popular choice among conscientious homeowners. Why?
It’s beautiful, it’s cheaper than real stone and it’s a great investment.
LOOKS LOVELY
The look of stone is timeless, because stone itself is timeless. A house that incorporates stone into its exterior looks natural and strong. It shows a home that’s well cared for.
Stone veneer has been around for a while, but it’s really come a long way recently in terms of looks. Years ago, some of the “stone veneer” that was sold was more reminiscent of the Flintstones than Downton Abbey.
Today, stone veneers incorporate actual stone. Not all of it is made this way, however. Some manufactured varieties still use Portland cement and iron oxide to re-create the look of real stones. A lot of these can be fairly realistic looking, too.
IT’S ECONOMICAL
A bit of a higher-quality option, however, is the type that is made from thin slices of real stone. This is ingenious in a couple of ways: One, you get the look and beauty of real stone, and two, it costs a lot less.
The main reason for this is the slices are much lighter than whole stones. Plus, you don’t need as many. If a manufacturer can get 10 slices from one stone, you need lots fewer per project. Your facade will look just like your neighbor’s, but you’ll get it for a fraction of the cost.
HIGH ROI ON STONE VENEER
Remodeling magazine lists installation of stone veneer near the top of its list of projects with a high return on investment — 92.2 percent. Homeowners love the look, and it’s incredibly durable.
It’s also low-maintenance. In fact, cleaning solutions can damage some veneers, so if you want to clean yours, use only approved mild detergent and a sponge, and rinse thoroughly with water. Before you undertake a project like this, however, make sure you check for any cracks or breaches in the mortar or between panels. You don’t want water getting in there.
SKILLED INSTALLATION
And speaking of water getting in there, one critical part of installation is making sure to leave drainage space. Improperly installed stone veneer can lead to leaks, rot, mold and termite infestation.
Properly trained installers are key. You wouldn’t think that installing your veneer directly onto your home’s moisture barrier or wire mesh would be bad, but it’s just that absence of an air cushion that does the damage.
If you want to see how beautiful your home will look either partially or fully covered in stone veneer, come down and see the experts at Renovation by Burbach. We can use our Reno Works design tool to create an image of what your house remodeled would look like.
Call us today to find out more about how you can get stone veneer for your home.
