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Surface Shop Natural Stone Veneer Manufacturer
Surface Shop Natural Stone Veneer Manufacturer

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7 Stone Veneer Siding Ideas

Harvest Gold Exterior Stone Veneer Siding on a Modern Home with Stone Siding on Walls Throughout
Harvest Gold Random Ashlar Stone Veneer Siding

Stone veneer siding can make your home exterior look good if it seems a little flat. It gives the exterior actual texture, depth, and the high-end style that people normally associate with custom constructions. This article has seven Stone Veneer Siding Ideas that you can apply, whether you want a full front elevation or just tidy accent zones around your garage or entryway. 

We’ll also talk about what Stone Veneer Siding is, how it differs from full bed stone, and when Natural Stone Veneer Siding is the best choice. Let’s design your home exterior upgrade in a way that is simple, useful, and doesn’t waste time.

Why Choose Stone Veneer Siding for Your Home Exterior

Let’s make things easy: Stone veneer siding is a thin layer of stone that goes on the outside of your house to make it look like actual stone without the weight of full-thickness masonry. You can acquire it as natural veneer, which is thin pieces of real stone, or as produced veneer, which is man made products designed to look like real stone. So why do people love Stone Veneer Siding? Because it gives depth, texture and shadow to a home’s exterior greatly elevating the look and design when done well.

Thin stone veneer generally will weigh less than 15 pounds per square foot, but full building stone can weigh 40 to 60 pounds per square foot. That decreased weight makes installation easier and causes fewer problems with the structure. And yes, Natural Stone Veneer Siding is the “real deal” look. You get the random changes in color and texture that happen in nature.

7 Stone Veneer Siding Ideas

This is the fun part. These ideas for natural stone veneer siding range from “small upgrade, big difference” to “wow, did you build a new house?” You can use them to fit your style, budget, and how daring you want to be from subtle accents to bold, full-elevation designs.

1. Full Front Elevation in Stone Veneer Siding

Platinum PLANC Lavastone adorns a modern home with a black base and garage entryway
Custom Platinum Linear Lavastone

Stone Veneer Siding all over the front of the house will give it the most curb appeal. This is the “main character energy” choice.

  • Best For: Modern farmhouse, contemporary, cabin-inspired, and craftsman homes.
  • Why It Works: People view the front elevation first and judge your home immediately. Stone embodies a high-end luxe look.
  • Design Tip: Keep trim and fascia simple so the stone texture stays the star.

If you use Stone Veneer Siding, embrace its inherent differences. The small blend of colors or the natural veining present in the Platinum Planc Large Format Tile on this exterior, is part of the beauty of natural stone that can’t be replicated by manmade products.

2. Stone Veneer Siding on the Lower Half of Exterior Walls

Ochre Stacked Stone 3D Panels For Siding
Ochre Stacked Stone 3D Panels For Siding

Stone on the bottom half of a wall with another material on top is the typical “wainscoting” style. It’s useful and smart.

  • Why Homeowners Like It: It gives the look of a sturdy base and keeps places that get a lot of use safe from bumps, splashes, and other things that happen in life.
  • Why Designers Like It: It gives lofty walls a base and creates contrast without covering everything.
  • Budget Win: You get the stone effect without having to buy as much material as a full façade.

This is one of the Natural Stone Veneer Siding Ideas that costs the least, especially when you use stone with fiber cement, lap siding, or board-and-batten above. Stacked Stone Wall Panels are an excellent choice for a wainscoting application as they add tremendous texture to the base to contrast with smoother surfaces above.

3. Stone Veneer Siding Accents Around Entryways and Garages

Limestone Strip Veneer on Modern Home with wood siding
Sun Valley STRATA™ Limestone is the Perfect Compliment on this Modern Home

Think of your entryway as a picture frame. Stone veneer siding can be that frame.

  • Wrap the space around the entrance door to make it feel warm and fancy.
  • Put stone around the garage door to make it look more planned and less like a big blank panel.
  • Use the same kind of stone in both places to make the house feel “tied together.”

A lot of curb appeal posts forget this: you don’t have to stone everything. Just stone the places where your eyes land first like we see with this stunning Texas lake home that has used Sun Valley Strata Large Format Tile around the door and garage.

4. Stone Veneer Columns, Pillars, and Porch Bases

Ivory Quartz Rock Panels Used as Stone Columns on this Coastal home in Fort Myers Florida
Ivory Quartz Rock Panels Used as Stone Columns on this Coastal home in Fort Myers Florida

Porch posts that are plain can look incomplete. Stone Veneer Siding is a quick remedy to class up porch columns or bases.

  • Where It Shines: Front porches, carports, and covered patios.
  • What It Adds: A stronger look and a more “built-in” feel.
  • Pro Tip: To make it look like it was planned, match the stone on the columns with a little part of the home base.

An excellent outside corner solution like the finger jointed corner units available in Surface Shop’s Stone Panel Systems are an important part of any column installation to make the install look complete and seamless.

5. Chimneys, Gable Ends and Peak Accents in Natural Stone Veneer Siding

Ochre Stacked Stone Panel- and Stucco Wainscot
Ochre Blend Stacked Stone Wrap around Base of Home in Colorado

Want a strong detail without covering everything in stone? Place Natural Stone Veneer Siding on the chimney, gables, peaks, or upper-story accent areas of a residential exterior.

  • Why It Works: Chimneys, gables and peaks are already a “feature zone,” so stone there looks natural.
  • How To Keep It Modern: Choose cleaner stone profiles and limit extra trim lines.
  • Where Else To Try It: Dormers, bump-outs, second-story accent panels.

These types of Stone Veneer Siding Ideas often get overlooked as they are above the roof line, but are a great opportunity to change the look of a home from multiple angles as the height of these spaces allows them to be seen from multiple angles.

6. Mixed-Material Exteriors with Stone Veneer Siding and Wood or Metal

Soldier Stacked Lavastone Strips Adorn Garage on this two story transitional style home in West LA
Soldier Stacked Coursing of Platinum PLANC Lavastone Strips used on this two story transitional style home in West LA

To create that custom-architect look, you need to mix materials such as wood and stone, stone and metal or textured stone and smooth stone panels. It is contrast done right.

Here’s what to look for:

  • Choose one “main” material and let the others complement it.
  • Use stone where you wish to add weight, including on base walls, entryways, and chimneys.
  • Use wood or metal on gables, contemporary boxes, and accent bands where you want clean lines.

Combining various textures and colors is a key element of modern design. Scale is also important, which is why Linear Large Format Stone Veneer as we see in this residential facade works so well on this modern inspired California home.

7. Backyard and Outdoor Living Walls with Stone Veneer Siding

Costa Ledge Outdoor Fireplace on Veranda
Costa Dry Stack Ledgestone used on an Outdoor Fireplace on Veranda

The front of the house is where most people stop. But your backyard should have wonderful stuff too.

Use Stone Veneer Siding on:

  • A patio privacy or seating wall
  • A fireplace on a covered patio surround
  • An outdoor kitchen backdrop for continuity

This is when your outside area and the outside of your house start to look like one “whole design”, even seamlessly flowing into interior design elements as well. Costa Drystack Ledgestone on this outdoor fireplace makes it the perfect addition to a nice covered patio.

Pros and Cons of Stone Veneer Siding

Cons

  • Cost: It’s usually more pricey than conventional siding choices like stucco and fiber cement board.
  • Installation Complexity: It’s not just “nail it and go.” Details and installation guidelines are important.
  • Moisture Risk If Installed Incorrectly: Incorrect substrates, poor drainage and flashing details can lead to water damage behind the veneer.

Pros

  • Upscale Appearance: A style and feel that is more upscale than most sidings can match
  • Durabilty: Compared to traditional wood siding and many other siding choices, it is more resistant to the weather and needs less upkeep.

Design Versatility: Stone veneer offers a myriad of choices to consider and make your project unique, from stone type, color, size, and installation technique. Not to mention where you put the stone siding, from subtle accents to a complete facade.

Cost and Longevity of Stone Veneer Siding

Origin TerraForm Irregular Stone Veneer used around stunning coastal modern home
Origin TerraForm Irregular Stone Veneer used around stunning coastal modern home

A world of design choices await for a stone veneer siding project, ranging from entire façades, columns, gables, and improvements to your backyard. Define your style, coverage area, and budget to get started and reach out to one of the stone experts at Surface Shop to help guide you through the world of stone veneer products they’ve curated, from panelized, outdoor-rated veneer systems that give you a high end without the hassle of traditional masonry, to more bespoke loose masonry options like Ashlar and Terraform for truly exceptional projects.  Put Surface Shop’s 20 years of experience in the stone veneer industry to work for your next project today!

Design and Aesthetics: Nature's Artistry at Play

Luna Brushed Limestone Paving Exterior Living
Luna Brushed Limestone Paving

Natural patterns, colors, and textures formed by the elements distinguish limestone from quartz in terms of attractiveness. These stones improve the overall appearance of any room by adding a distinctive visual appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stone veneer siding can cost more than basic siding materials, requires proper installation to avoid moisture issues, and may need structural considerations depending on the wall system and coverage area.

It depends on the project. Vinyl siding is typically cheaper, while natural stone veneer siding offers a more premium, timeless look and can increase perceived home value.

When correctly installed and maintained, quality stone veneer siding is designed to last for decades, maintaining its texture and color over the long term.

Stone veneer siding usually costs more than vinyl or basic lap siding, but less than full-depth stone. Many homeowners use it strategically on key elevations or accent areas to maximize impact without covering the entire home.

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