Natural Stone for House Exteriors: 11 Types of Stone to Transform Your Home

Want to turn your Cincinnati or Columbus home into a head-turning masterpiece? Look no further than natural stone for house exteriors. At Stone Center, we offer an incredible selection of natural stones and exterior house stones that can elevate your home from ordinary to extraordinary.

From elegant facades to eye-catching pathways, natural stone for house exteriors opens up a world of design possibilities. Ready to explore nature's palette and revolutionize your home's curb appeal? Let's dive into 11 breathtaking options that will transform your house into a work of art.

Natural Stone Exterior for Houses: Factors to Consider

When considering natural stone for your house exterior, there are a few factors to keep in mind. From cost and durability to climate resistance, understanding these elements will help you make an informed decision when choosing the right stone type(s) for your home.

• Cost: The natural stone for house exterior cost is one of the most important factors to consider when shopping around. While natural stones may be more expensive than wood or vinyl options, they often offer greater aesthetic value, durability, and a longer life expectancy. Plus, with access to some of the best natural wall stones from Stone Center’s large selection of 11 different types of stone, it is easy to find something that fits within your budget.
• Durability: The last thing anyone wants is for their house exterior siding to succumb easily to wear and tear. Natural stones are renowned for their toughness and ability to resist weather conditions better than other materials like wood and vinyl.
• Ability to Withstand Strong Climate: Depending on where you live in Cincinnati or Columbus, the climate can have big effects on some materials used as exterior building materials. In regions with strong winds or heavy rainfalls throughout the year, it might not be wise to use products such as wood siding that tend to be less resistant than natural stones.
• Stone Type: Finally, it's important not to overlook how certain types of stone might fit into your architectural plans better than others. Natural stones can come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.

The Main Types of Natural Stone Siding

When it comes to choosing a type of natural stone siding for your house exterior, there are several options available. From natural stone cladding and solid stone siding to engineered or faux stone siding and polyurethane foam panel stone siding – here is an overview of the main types of natural stone you can choose from:

• Natural Stone Cladding: Large cut stone pieces fixed to walls. These offer exceptional aesthetics and durability. Ideal for long-lasting exterior designs.
• Solid Stone Siding: Made of solid stones split into flat surfaces. They are low maintenance and suitable for both interior and exterior use. Adds rustic appeal.
• Natural Stone Veneer Panel Siding: Lightweight alternative to solid stones. Offers texture and color variations without the heavy weight or high cost.
• Engineered Stone Siding: This is also known as faux stone panel siding or manufactured stone siding. Replicates natural stone look and feel using lightweight concrete. These are budget-friendly alternatives to manufactured stone units that offer accurate stone appearance at a lower cost.
• Polyurethane Foam Panel Stone Siding: Combines insulation foam layer with natural stone surface. It’s an affordable option for exterior stone application with added insulation benefits.

Common Types of Natural Stone for House Exteriors

In this section, we will explore some of the most common types of natural stone available for exterior siding and discuss their individual features.

#1. Limestone

Avg. Cost: $15 - $30 per square foot, installed

Limestone is a sedimentary rock that can be used in the exterior siding of homes. Its texture and color variations provide an attractive appearance and durability, making it a popular choice for exterior natural stone for houses. The presence of calcite makes limestone highly resistant to weather conditions, ensuring it's a long-lasting material that requires minimal maintenance over time.

Pros:

• Wide range of colors and textures
• Excellent durability and weather resistance
• Relatively affordable compared to some other stones

Cons:

• Can be susceptible to acid rain in some environments
• May need periodic sealing to maintain appearance

#2. Travertine

Avg. Cost: $25 - $45 per square foot, installed

Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock with versatile uses within construction projects. It has excellent technical characteristics such as extremely low water absorption and high resistance to abrasion which make it an ideal option for rock exterior siding. Furthermore, its unique color variations allow homeowners to create stunning visual effects on their home exteriors when using natural stone home exterior panels or tiles.

Pros:

• Unique, natural pitted appearance
• Good heat and cold resistance
• Available in various earthy tones

Cons:

• Porous nature may require more frequent sealing
• Can be more expensive than some other options

#3. Sandstone

Avg. Cost: $15–$30 per square foot, installed

Sandstone is formed from cemented sand grains that come together naturally over time. Because of its high porosity, it is best used in areas with little to no rainfall due to its lack of water resistance properties. If installed correctly though, sandstone can provide a beautiful and unique aesthetic when used as part of your natural stone facade for homes - perfect if you’re looking for something different!

Pros:

• Wide range of colors and patterns
• Natural, rustic appearance
• Generally affordable

Cons:

• More porous, may absorb water easily
• Can be prone to erosion in harsh weather conditions

#4. Granite

Avg. Cost: $15–$35 per square foot, installed

Granite is one of the most popular choices when it comes to choosing exterior wall cladding materials because of its hardness and superior physical properties - making it an extremely reliable option. In addition, granite offers plenty of design options with its array of colors so you can easily find something that fits your needs without compromising on quality – perfect for creating gorgeous granite stone siding designs! This is also a great option for exterior stone veneer and solid stone siding. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative, consider manufactured stone siding that replicates the look of natural stone.

Pros:

• Extremely durable and long-lasting
• Resistant to scratches and stains
• Low maintenance requirements

Cons:

• Can be one of the more expensive options
• Limited color palette compared to some other stones

#5. Quartzite

Avg. Cost: $15 - $39 per square foot, installed

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock with outstanding structural properties and an incredibly low absorption rate that makes it perfect for use in exterior natural stone cladding. Its unique crystal structure ensures it stands up to harsh weather conditions, making it a great option for outdoor projects. In addition, the presence of quartz in the material guarantees a luxurious look that can be further enhanced by its wide range of colors – perfect for elevating your home's exterior aesthetic to the next level!

Pros:

• Highly durable and resistant to weathering
• Available in a variety of colors
• Low maintenance requirements

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than some other options
• May be challenging to cut and shape

#6. Flint

Avg. Cost: $20 - $40 per square foot, installed

Flint is a sedimentary rock made from silica-rich fossils, offering homeowners flexible design options. It's known for its rugged texture and distinctive color variations that provide unique visual effects when used in rock facade siding. Additionally, flint has superior durability properties and is moisture resistant - making it an ideal choice for any outdoor project looking to stay intact throughout even the roughest weather conditions.

Pros:

• Unique, distinctive appearance
• Extremely hard and durable
• Resistant to weathering

Cons:

• Limited color options
• Can be difficult to work with due to its hardness

#7. Marble

Avg. Cost: $40 - $65 per square foot, installed

Marble is a classic type of metamorphosed limestone with a smooth and elegant appearance that never goes out of style. It has excellent water resistance characteristics which make it an excellent option for use on exteriors such as floors and walls due to its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. Furthermore, marble’s timeless beauty makes it an ideal choice if you want to add elegance and sophistication to your home’s exterior natural stone facade​!

Pros:

• Elegant and luxurious appearance
• Wide range of colors and patterns
• Can increase property value

Cons:

• More susceptible to staining and etching
• Requires regular maintenance and sealing
• One of the more expensive options

#8. Slate

Avg. Cost: $20 - $50 per square foot, installed

Slate is another popular type of sedimentary rock that can be used for modern-day construction projects due to its attractive graining and attractive color variations. Its extremely low water absorption rate makes it a great choice for creating durable exterior designs while its beautiful veining allows homeowners to create stunning visuals when used in natural stone home exteriors.

Pros:

• Natural, rustic appearance
• Excellent durability and weather resistance
• Low water absorption rate

Cons:

• Limited color options
• Can be brittle and prone to chipping

#9. Onyx

Avg. Cost: $50 - $120 per square foot, installed

Onyx is a sedimentary rock formed from calcite layers. Its unique color variations provide homeowners with design options that can easily add an elegant touch to any outdoor project such as natural stone for exterior walls or flooring. In addition, onyx’s low water absorption rate makes it perfect for use in wet environments – perfect if you’re looking to make your home stand out!

Pros:

• Unique, translucent appearance
• Available in a wide range of colors
• Can create stunning visual effects

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Softer and more delicate than other stones
• Requires careful maintenance

#10. Gneiss

Avg. Cost: $25 - $50 per square foot, installed

Gneiss is a metamorphic rock composed of alternating dark and light bands of minerals. It is extremely resistant to weather conditions and has superior durability properties which make it ideal for creating strong and long-lasting designs outdoors. In addition, its unique texture provides a beautiful visual effect when used in rock exterior siding or other architectural projects - perfect if you’re looking for something special!

Pros:

• Extremely durable and weather-resistant
• Unique banded appearance
• Low maintenance requirements

Cons:

• Limited availability compared to other stones
• Can be challenging to cut and shape

#11. Steatite

Avg. Cost: $30 - $60 per square foot, installed

Steatite is a soft metamorphic rock with superior water resistance characteristics that make it suitable for outdoor areas where rainfall is frequent. It has superb physical properties, making it highly durable and reliable when used in the natural stone facade for homes and other architectural projects. Furthermore, it provides attractive veining patterns and color variations which can create stunning combinations when combined with other materials – great if you're looking to add some flair to your home's exterior​!

Pros:

• Excellent heat retention properties
• Resistant to acids and chemicals
• Low maintenance requirements

Cons:

• Limited color options (usually shades of gray or green)
• Can be softer than some other stone options

Where to Buy Stone for Your House Exterior

Looking for the perfect natural stone to elevate your home's exterior? Look no further than Stone Center in Cincinnati and Columbus. We offer a wide selection of beautifully quarried stone from around the world, perfect for any project, from classic stone cladding to modern designs.

Our expert team can help you choose the right stone and ensure your project looks its best. Contact us to learn more about how we can bring your vision to life.