Stone Veneer Siding & Installation

The Smart Alternative to Full Stone Construction

Stone veneer gives you the stunning look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost and weight. These thin stone pieces attach directly to your home's exterior walls without requiring expensive foundation reinforcement. The result looks exactly like solid stone construction, but installs faster and costs 50 to 70 percent less.

Modern stone veneer products come in two types. Natural stone veneer is real stone cut into thin pieces. Manufactured stone veneer is cast from molds using concrete and pigments. Both look great from the street. Natural stone costs more but offers authentic texture and color variations. Manufactured stone provides consistent colors and shapes at lower prices.

We work with homeowners across Salem to select stone veneer that matches their home's style and budget. Whether you want to cover an entire facade or add accent walls around entries and chimneys, stone veneer creates dramatic improvements. Your local masonry experts can show you samples and help visualize how different stones will look on your specific home.

Popular Stone Veneer Applications

Best Places for Stone Veneer:

• Front facade accent walls that create stunning curb appeal
• Around entry doors to create grand, welcoming entrances
• Chimney exteriors that turn eyesores into focal points
• Foundation walls to hide concrete and add visual weight
• Column wraps for porches and covered entries
• Interior accent walls in living rooms and dining areas
• Outdoor kitchen surrounds and patio features
• Fireplace surrounds both inside and outside

Most homeowners choose to stone veneer high-visibility areas rather than entire houses. A full stone exterior on a typical Salem home costs $40,000 to $80,000. Strategic accent walls run $3,000 to $12,000 and create just as much visual impact. We help you identify the areas that give you the most bang for your buck.

Stone veneer works on almost any stable exterior wall. Wood siding, stucco, concrete block, and even old brick can serve as backing. We prepare surfaces properly, install moisture barriers, and attach metal lath before setting stones. This ensures stones stay firmly attached through Oregon's wet winters and occasional freezes.

Combining stone veneer with other materials creates interesting designs. Stone accents on lower portions with siding above balance visual weight. Mixing stone types in patterns adds depth and character. Our brick and stone masonry experience helps create designs that look intentional rather than random.

How Professional Installation Makes the Difference

Poor stone veneer installation looks fake and falls off within years. Professional installation creates results that last decades and fool even other masons. The difference is in the details that homeowners never see.

We start by inspecting your wall structure and making any needed repairs. Rotten sheathing gets replaced. Loose siding gets secured. The wall must provide solid backing before we add stone weight. Next comes weather-resistant barriers that protect your home from moisture. Stone veneer isn't waterproof, so proper moisture management prevents problems behind the stones.

Metal lath gets fastened to the wall to create a mechanical grip for mortar. We mix mortar to the right consistency for weather conditions and apply it in layers. Each stone gets coated with mortar on the back before pressing into place. Mortar joints get tooled to shed water. The mortar color and joint style dramatically affect the final appearance.

Quality installations take time because stones must be laid thoughtfully. We vary sizes, avoid repetitive patterns, and stagger joints like real stone construction. Color blending ensures even distribution of light and dark stones. Corner pieces wrap properly so there are no obvious manufactured edges showing. Proper installation typically adds 150 to 300 square feet per day depending on stone type and wall complexity.

Choosing the Right Stone Veneer Style

The stone veneer market offers hundreds of options, which makes choosing overwhelming. Here's what actually matters. First, decide between natural and manufactured stone based on budget and authenticity preferences. Natural stone costs more but offers genuine appeal. Manufactured stone saves money and provides consistent results.

Stone profiles make huge differences in appearance. Ledgestone creates horizontal layered looks perfect for craftsman and contemporary homes. Fieldstone offers rounded, organic appearances suited to traditional styles. River rock provides smooth, water-worn textures. Ashlar patterns mimic cut stone for formal, elegant looks. We carry samples of popular profiles and can order specialty options.

Color selection matters more than most people realize. Stone colors should complement your roof, trim, and existing materials rather than match exactly. Earth tones work with most Salem homes. Grays suit modern architecture. Warm browns and tans complement traditional homes. Mixing multiple colors from the same stone line creates natural variation.

We recommend brands like Cultured Stone, Eldorado Stone, and Coronado Stone for manufactured products. These companies offer superior color consistency, realistic textures, and pieces designed to fit together naturally. Cheap manufactured stone looks obviously fake with repetitive patterns and unnatural colors. Premium products cost slightly more but make dramatic differences in final appearance. Quality stone veneer from reputable manufacturers lasts 50-plus years with minimal maintenance.

Stone Veneer Questions We Hear Often