When it comes to the home exterior, the options available are as varied as the architectural styles themselves. Across the country, our diverse regional climates, cultures, and traditions also influence our homes’ facades—from the rustic charm of a New England stone cottage to adobe-inspired facades of the Southwest. Among the choices, four popular exterior styles stand out: traditional siding, brick, stone veneer, and stucco.
Manufactured stone veneer and stucco are two options often considered together. So which is the better option for your project?
Overview of Manufactured Stone Veneer
Stone veneer mimics the look of authentic stone but is thinner and lighter. Most people choose stone veneer to enhance the curb appeal of their homes since the aesthetic appeal is a gorgeous, timeless, and rustic look. Stone veneer is suitable for houses throughout various regions, especially in areas where natural stone might be too expensive or impractical, and can add a touch of sophistication and charm to nearly any architectural style.
Overview of Stucco
Stucco is a versatile exterior finish made from a combination of cement, sand, and water, serving as a durable and weather-resistant coating for buildings. It can have a smooth or textured surface. Stucco is often found in warm and dry climates, prevalent in the Southwest, where the exterior insulation helps keep homes cool during hot months. It’s also popular in other parts of the country where homeowners are looking for that sleek aesthetic appeal and durability.
So which is better? Choosing stucco or stone veneer will depend on cost, durability, and your personal aesthetic preference.
Cost of Manufactured Stone Veneer vs. Stucco
Regarding cost between the two, stone veneer tends to have a broader price range, ranging from $13 to $22 per square foot for professional installation; stucco typically averages around $14.50 per square foot. That said, it’s important to note that these costs can vary depending on factors like region, house size, and even special finishes. While stucco may appear slightly cheaper on average, stone veneer offers the advantage of mimicking the upscale look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost, which makes it an excellent option for homeowners looking for a sophisticated appearance without breaking the bank. In fact, manufactured stone veneer was found to have a 153% return on investment, according to the 2024 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report
Durability of Manufactured Stone Veneer vs. Stucco
While stucco and manufactured stone veneer both offer impressive durability, stone veneer is superior. Stucco offers fire resistance, color versatility, and a lifespan of more than 50 years with proper care. But stone veneer surpasses stucco in terms of durability, withstanding extreme weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, heavy rain, and snow while remaining resistant to rot, insects, and other damage. Requiring only occasional cleaning and minimal repairs, stone veneer maintains its structural integrity effortlessly. Its ability to endure for generations without extensive maintenance makes stone veneer the perfect choice for homeowners prioritizing durability.
Style & Aesthetics of Manufactured Stone Veneer vs. Stucco
When it comes to style and curb appeal, stucco and stone veneer have distinct advantages. Stone veneer exudes timeless elegance and luxurious aesthetics, perfect for homeowners seeking a classic yet inviting look. Stucco offers design versatility, ranging from modern and sophisticated to simple and rustic, making it adaptable to various architectural styles. For aesthetics, the choice ultimately depends on taste.
Whatever the choice, consider factors like cost, durability, and personal style when making selections. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance between aesthetics and practicality for home and lifestyle.
One of the many benefits of using manufactured stone veneer (MSV) versus natural stone is the broad array of color options, no matter your project’s location and geography. But how do you go about choosing manufactured stone colors that best fit the needs of the home’s exterior?
We checked in with Chad Riley, marketing director for stone at Westlake Royal Building Products, to gather a few do’s and don’ts for narrowing down the color options
Tips for Choosing Manufactured Stone Colors
The vast array of color and texture options can be overwhelming, but there are a few easy steps to follow when you’re looking to whittle them down.
Start with the architectural style: Certain colors complement specific architectural and historical styles better than others. For instance, earth tones may be more suitable for a Craftsman-style home, while a modern home might benefit from a monochromatic scheme.
Consider the environment: The landscape and natural surroundings can provide useful cues, helping you select colors that harmonize with the local environment and create a cohesive look.
Look to the roof and other parts of the exterior: Particularly when you’re remodeling the exterior for greater curb appeal, you should prioritize manufactured stone veneer options that will complement the color of the roof and any existing siding or trim.
Use color theory: Basic color theory can help in selecting a palette that’s either analogous for a harmonious effect or complementary for more contrast.
Consider a balance with surrounding homes: Though you want the home to stand out from others around it, it’s also important not to clash.
Factor in lighting conditions: Before deciding, you may want to consider how a color will look in various lighting conditions throughout the day and across the seasons. Don’t just look at samples in the showroom—take them to the home to observe on different sides of the facade at different times of day.
Understand climate: The local climate may play a factor in color choice: Lighter colors may be preferable in hot climates because they reflect heat, while darker colors can be more suitable for cooler climates.
Tools for Choosing Manufactured Stone Colors
Your MSV manufacturer is a great resource for helping to choose colors. Along with leveraging samples, many companies offer a range of tools to help you find the perfect option for your project. These include design guides, ebooks, and pre-designed color blends. There also are an array of manufacturer-provided online visualizer tools that allow you to experiment with different colors on a virtual model of the home.
Ultimately, you want to land on a selection that not only works in context but also feels like an appropriate reflection of the homeowner’s personal taste. From a longevity perspective, this means choosing a color and texture that they’ll be pleased with for years to come while also bearing in mind the future resale value of the home.
Last but not least, don’t let cost be the only deciding factor. Higher-quality products with better colorfastness can be worth the investment.
One of the biggest benefits of manufactured stone veneer is the sheer number of styles, profiles, and colors. With seemingly endless options replicating what’s found in nature, there’s a look for every home and every taste. However, this can make the selection process a little overwhelming. So how do you go about choosing a manufactured stone veneer?
Consider these questions as you narrow the choices.
What Is the Style of the Home?
Like any cladding material, it’s important to choose a stone profile that meshes well with the exterior house style. For example, profiles with a more linear layout and clean edges, such as Ledgestone, are often ideal for transitional or contemporary homes. Fieldstone and brick profiles are well-suited to more traditional exterior styles. And irregular, rounded profiles, like River Rock, offer a perfect finish for country homes and cabins. (Learn more about common profile types here.) That said, there’s no one end-all-be-all solution—leverage manufacturers’ design tools to try different profiles on your home to see what works best.
What Is the Home’s Exterior Color Palette?
With a host of colors from earthy browns to dark grays, it’s easy to find a hue that suits the tone of your home. If the stone is being used as an accent, such as for a vertical bump-out or a half wall, consider the colors of the other cladding materials. Stone colors can complement the other siding in a slightly lighter or darker shade. In contrast, if the primary cladding is lighter in tone, a bolder stone choice could create a dramatic, eye-catching accent. Another consideration is the siding material’s undertone; if it has gray or red undertones, for example, the stone color could reflect that (or vice versa).
What Does the Rest of the Neighborhood Look Like?
Differentiating your home from others down the block is important—but standing out too much might create an eyesore. As you’re weighing colors and styles, consider how the finished façade will look alongside others in the community, especially if the homes are close together.
Where on the Home Will the Stone Be Used?
The application of manufactured stone may, though it doesn’t have to, play a role in the visual weight of the stone you choose. Larger stones and visually “heavier” profiles, such irregular looks like River Rock, may feel overwhelming to the eye across an expansive façade. Leveraging design programs can help you gauge the way the finished product will look all together versus a few samples.
What Is Your Taste?
Above all, it really does come down to your personal preference. If you like a particular look, go with your gut. Ultimately, it’s your home and should reflect what you love and enjoy. Unlike painting your house pink, there are few ways to go wrong with manufactured stone because it replicates what’s found in nature so it’s appealing across the board.
What Is Your Budget?
Like any building material, there are cost differences from brand to brand, depending on materials and other factors. Though there isn’t as much variation from company to company, it’s still something to think about if you’re on a tighter budget.
Where Are You Located?
Though manufactured stone veneer is widely available across the U.S., there may be some limitations on availability for all profiles and colors depending on location. Work with your local dealer or use manufacturers’ online dealer locators to determine what’s available before falling in love with one particular product.
Some manufactured stone manufacturers offer online design tools that allow you to experiment with different looks on an image of your home. Leverage those tools to try different colors and profiles in combination with other materials to see what works best for you.
Find an MSV Producer near you today. Learn how you can hire a contractor that holds a CMHA certificate in MSV installation here!
Manufactured Stone Veneer VS Siding: How Do They Compare?
The exterior of the home offers the ultimate first impression, and cladding plays a prominent roles. Choosing the right material can make the difference aesthetically as well as in the home’s long-term performance. But what is the best option when comparing manufactured stone veneer vs. siding? Manufactured stone is one of numerous options for the façade—and one of the soundest investments. But how does it compare to other cladding materials?
Cost & Return on Investment
When placing manufactured stone veneer vs. siding side by side, manufactured stone is often the more premium-priced option when it comes to first cost, especially compared to traditional vinyl siding. But the price tag is only part of the story.
Manufactured stone veneer offers the highest return on investment of any cladding material – by a significant percentage. According to the Remodeling 2024 Cost vs. Value Report, manufactured stone veneer recoups 153% of its cost. This dramatically greater than all other cladding materials, including fiber cement siding replacement (88.4%) and vinyl siding replacement (80.2%).
Aesthetics
Manufactured stone veneer directly replicates stone found in nature – typically using actual stones to craft molds – typically at a lower price point than the real thing. Vinyl and fiber cement siding surfaces often are designed to replicate wood grain, but authenticity can vary greatly from brand to brand and is often reflected in the cost.
Not only does it look natural, MSV brings stone profiles and colors that consumers may not otherwise be able to get because quarried stone (and clay for brick) is usually sourced locally. Manufactured stone veneer allows buyers to choose a stone look that may be difficult (or impossible) to get at their location due to supply, distance, or cost.
Appearance
Beyond just authentic looks, manufactured stone veneer delivers a solid look on the wall, with blends and shapes limited only to the installers imagination. Vinyl siding can appear wavy on the wall if not fastened properly and shows visible seams.
Durability
Cement-based products are known for their durability, reliability, and longevity, and manufactured stone is no exception. Manufactured stone veneer and fiber cement siding are durable through all types of extreme weather, including wind, heat, and fire. Manufactured stone colors weather in similar ways to natural stone.
Installation
With panelized installation, vinyl siding has a lower learning curve and can be hung by siding contractors and experienced DIYers. Manufactured stone veneer is installed by masons and does take time to develop expertise. CMHA offers an MSV Installer program that provides fundamental MSV installation guidelines and industry best practices. This helps ensure better quality work as well as highly valued credentials.
Longevity
Lifespans and warranties for all three cladding types can vary greatly depending on quality, though all three outperform wood. Manufactured stone veneer lasts a minimum of 25 to 50 years, though its life expectancy is likely much greater as evidenced by the existence of concrete going back centuries. According to Today’s Homeowner, stone siding has a lifespan of more than 100 years, fiber cement siding can last up to 60 years with proper care, and vinyl siding lasts 30-40 years.
Maintenance Manufactured stone veneer, vinyl, and fiber cement all boast low-maintenance properties, with each requiring just occasional cleaning. Depending on the brand and the paint, fiber cement siding will eventually need to be repainted and recaulked, which MSV and vinyl will not require. Ultimately, choosing a cladding material comes down to a balance of preferences and priorities—first and foremost being what overall aesthetics is the buyer seeking and what is their budget. From there, weigh options for lifespan, maintenance, performance, and more before making final selections.
Building materials face deterioration from a variety of threats, the most serious and persistent being water and moisture. Although masonry is known for its durability of relative ease of maintenance, all building materials require proper installation—especially when it comes to moisture management.
It’s impossible to control all moisture entering a building, but there are many tactics to manage the moisture so that damp materials dry out quickly and water can exit quickly. Architects and installers must take a holistic look at the building envelope, including sheathing, weather resistant barriers (WRBs), drainage planes, and attachment systems that will help keep moisture out of the assembly, as well as important details such as flashing, transitions between materials, and sealants to ensure as much water as possible is being shed from the building.
Root Causes of Water Damage
Moisture-related problems in building enclosures have three root causes:
• External sources of moisture such as humidity, rainwater, and groundwater • Internal sources of moisture such as plumbing leaks, cooking, bathing, and even perspiration and respiration • Construction moisture that is present in building materials such as concrete and lumber.
Bulk water, capillary water, and water vapor are the three types of moisture that pose the most threat to building envelopes and must be mitigated through moisture management strategies. Bulk water from rain, snow, or groundwater can be the most damaging and enters the building from an opening in the envelope or a driving force such as air pressure or gravity.1 Bulk water can be controlled with proper flashing, sealants, and rain screens that work to drain any incidental water that does get behind the façade despite other waterproofing measures.
Capillary action is the movement of water and vapor through porous materials such as stone and brick due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension. Water wicks through these materials against the pull of gravity — think of rising damp in concrete or masonry. Two nonporous materials placed closely together can also provide a channel for capillary action to occur. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy notes, “Capillary action can best be controlled by providing a capillary ‘break’ such as plastic, metal, damp-proofing compound, or another impermeable material, or by leaving air spaces that are too large for capillarity to occur.”2
Moisture can be transported on air and enter a building through uncontrolled pressure sources such as the wind stack effect or controlled sources such as air handlers that move moist air past the building envelope and through even the tiniest of holes.
Water vapor can also pass through a building through vapor diffusion, which is dependent on the driving forces that push it into the building as well as how permeable the building materials are. Vapor barriers are used to slow down the movement of water vapor into a building. There are very specific guidelines for the permeability rating of these barriers and where they should be placed based on the climate where a specific project is located.3
Dangers of Moisture Intrusion
When water is not properly managed, it can be detrimental to the durability of the building as well as occupants and property inside the building.
Moisture intrusion can cause condensation within the walls, which ultimately deteriorates wood materials, causing sheathing and framing to rot. When insulation inside walls becomes wet, there is a significant reduction in thermal values. Metal components such as structural fasteners may rust and corrode, and adhesives will ultimately fail in the presence of excess moisture. Efflorescence, a white deposit of surface salt on the exterior of a building, can occur on masonry, which can also be damaged during freeze/thaw cycles as moisture within the masonry expands and contracts. Water-soluble materials such as gypsum can even return to solution.
Uncontrolled moisture allows mold and mildew to grow within walls, and eventually it will take hold inside the building and HVAC systems, posing a significant danger to the health of occupants. Damage to paints, coatings, furnishings, and interior components will eventually ensue.
Moisture Management Strategies
To avoid the negative effects of water intrusion, there are important building practices to follow when designing wall assemblies and specifying materials. Working from the inside to the outside of a wall assembly, specifying an appropriate type of sheathing and a compatible weather resistant barrier is the first layer of moisture management. If appropriate, a rainscreen system and weep screed can also be designed into the wall assembly to further drain incidental water. For example, manufactured stone veneer uses a rainscreen product in conjunction with a weather resistant barrier, or in some cases as the sole WRB, for installation.
Proper sealing is the next line of defense and includes meticulous attention to flashing and caulking details. Flashing should be installed around windows and doors, at all penetrations, and in various areas throughout the roof such as step flashing and roof diverters. Next, appropriate fasteners and sealants must be applied that are compatible with the material substrate. It’s vital to know how different materials interact and separate dissimilar materials if they may cause moisture penetration, corrosion, or another reaction that could compromise the structural integrity of materials and the building itself when improperly handled. Material connections are supremely important, as well, particularly when they are two very different products.
MSV Specifications for Water Management
Moisture issues can arise from rain or rain that is driven by wind into a wall assembly and by inward vapor drive. Bulk water intrusion and vapor drive can lead to damage and rot in sheathing and structural members in both wood- and steel-framed structures. Inward vapor drive can occur because WRBs are vapor-permeable, and moisture stored within the MSV or mortars can be driven by the sun and heated through the WRBs directly into the sheathing and stud bays. If the cladding is in contact with the barrier, water can linger in those locations, causing them to remain wet for extended periods of time. This can happen in both hot and cold climates.
In MSV installations, a two-layer WRB system provides a drainage plane to protect against capillary draw. Including a rain screen system between the WRB and stone veneer creates a drainage space that better prevents water intrusion. This ventilated air space allows bulk water to drain out, but also serves as a capillary break, meaning water penetrating behind the cladding is intercepted. The use of other fundamentally sound design details, such as rough opening protection and sill flashing beneath windows and doors, is particularly effective against water intrusion. Including diverter flashing at the roof/wall intersections, saddle flashing at low-to-high walls, flashing at floor lines, and deck flashing can all help to prevent moisture-related issues.
To avoid the negative effects caused by humidity, rain, and wind, it is crucial that trained professionals install MSV products. Improper installation — most often stemming from transitions around windows, penetrations, and exterior light fixtures — coupled with the fact that improper installation is not immediately evident, can lead to severe damage and increased costs. Defective installations cause more obvious damage in wetter climates, but in areas with less rainfall, moisture can stay hidden for years until it manifests as a much larger issue.
In general, to avoid the negative effects of water intrusion, the following top six building practices should be done correctly:
• Weather-resistant barriers • Flashing around windows and doors • Step flashing and roof diverters • Detail flashing • Flashing at all penetrations • Weep screed
CMHA offers an MSV Installer program. The course teaches installers fundamental MSV installation guidelines and industry best practices. Not only will it ensure better quality work, but the certificate is a highly valued credential by consumers and the broader marketplace.
With the Instone Visualizer, you can complete a wall-to-wall virtual home makeover in a matter of minutes. The free online tool allows you to simulate what a home or property would look like after a renovation with any combination of stone products from Instone’s expansive catalog.
Powerful yet simple, the Visualizer offers installers and dealers a way to show clients renderings of projects that can be used to assist with sales, and homeowners a way to browse their options for veneers, pavers and other stone products. Users can upload photos of a job site and redo a wall or patio area with new masonry in a couple of clicks.
Instone Vice President of Natural Stone Products Justin Alicandro said the Visualizer has made the need to assemble stone samples or create mockups for clients obsolete.
“This is so much more efficient than the way we used to do things,” Alicandro said. “Homeowners can come out of a session knowing pretty much what they want, and if they don’t like the products once they see real samples, they can tweak the project again in the Visualizer and try a plan B. The Visualizer is such a great tool.”
Visit the Instone Visualizer Page for More Tips & Techniques To Create The Perfect Rendering.
How It Works
To get started, find or snap a digital photo of your project area and add it to the Visualizer. (If you don’t have an image available, you can browse our samples for one that resembles your property.) Photos should be at least 1600 pixels wide and not exceed 16 MB. A standard camera phone pic will do nicely.
With the photo now online, the Visualizer’s AI will scan its features and automatically identify areas most likely for stonework. The technology will also recognize features like windows and doors and omit them. If it misses a wall or ground section you’re interested in, don’t worry – you can draw a polygon to highlight the area manually.
You can then click on any of these areas and choose the interior or exterior Instone masonry product you’d like to see applied there. Once it appears, you can try different brands, profiles, and colors to see how they look, and even change the stone sizes on the fly. The images you create can be saved, shared, and easily edited later.
Fine-Tuning
The Visualizer has multiple editing tools to help fine-tune your renderings and make them more realistic. You can adjust the opacity of the masonry to totally block out the surface beneath it or to allow important features to peak through. Another tool allows you to adjust the perspective, which can realign the stone if it’s not quite level or doesn’t track the angle of the surface accurately.
For the best results, we recommend taking your photos facing straight ahead toward the surfaces that will be clad. If possible, it’s best to move any furniture or other obstructions out of the way.
The Visualizer will even help you simulate the appearance of non-stone upgrades. You can apply paint colors to your banisters and doors or try out new shingle styles and colors on the roof. These features can be combined with the stone improvements to give you a full picture of how all of the materials will look together.
Before and after using the Instone visualizer with Pangaea® 3 Course Ashlar Oxford
Share & Create a Report
The Visualizer offers a range of options for sharing before and after images with clients or anyone else who may be interested in giving feedback. You can quickly export the renderings as JPG and PNG files or use share buttons to email them or post them to Facebook, Twitter/X or Pinterest.
Of high value to masonry professionals, the system can generate attractively formatted reports showing the finished home and thumbnails identifying all of the products featured in the project.
“For a contractor trying to win a job, price is obviously important, but if you can demonstrate for a homeowner what their house is going to look like when it’s complete, that will definitely set you apart from others trying to quote the job,” Instone Chief Operating Officer Rob McKay said. “Ultimately, a lot of people will still want to see a sample and feel it in their hands, but the Visualizer is a great tool to help them narrow down their choices.”
Watch Our Full Tutorial
For a full demonstration of what’s possible with the Visualizer, watch our training video (“Pro Tips for Selling With The Instone Visualizer”) above. You can also check our Visualizer page for FAQs and a series of shorter videos with tips and demos focused on specific Visualizer questions.
Upgrade Your Stone Veneer Siding Game: Get Quick & Stunning Results
Fast-track Your Masonry Projects with Instone’s Solutions
Whether you’re a contractor or a weekend warrior do-it-yourselfer, you feel the need … The need for speed.
Installing a veneer one stone at a time is meticulous work that takes time. Time that could be spent on a family outing, crossing tasks off the to-do list, or doing the things you love. Or in the case of a masonry professional, time that holds you back from moving on to the next job.
Instone offers two high quality solutions that are easy to install and help you cruise through stone veneer siding installations. Interloc Natural Stone Panels and Be.on® Stone are three to eight times faster to install. And they work well on interior and exterior applications.
Both stone siding brands have their own unique features but share a common approach in producing panels made of multiple stones. The professionally designed panels can cover plenty of ground in a hurry. The veneer panels fit together seamlessly and are designed for stress-free installation, making projects simple enough for any moderately handy do-it-yourselfer to take on.
Using Interloc or Be.on Stone, a wall that looks like it’s clad with thousands stones will only actually require a few dozen stone veneer panels. Chris Camosse, general manager for Massachusetts-based Camosse Masonry Supply, said these creative products have been hot sellers and given his company an edge.
“With the proprietary products that Instone finds, it allows us to have something that our competitors in the area don’t have – for example, the Interloc interlocking panel systems,” Camosse said. “These have become a huge success not only with homeowners but with contractors. Everyone sees the value of the product and the time it saves.”
Interloc Natural Stone Veneer Panels – Real Stone 8x Faster
A Loc on Quality
Interloc panels feature thin natural stone pieces that are set into mortar and shaped to fit tightly together, hiding joints and giving the appearance of a stacked stone masonry wall. With Interloc, the hard work of selecting and arranging individual stones is already handled at the factory. Adding to the ease of installation, Interloc stone veneer panels have rough grooves on their backs that aid bonding.
Camosse first began carrying Interloc products about three years ago. Since then, he has held short how-to courses for contractors to introduce the product. During the courses, he demonstrates the panels’ consistency, time savings, and helps them become familiar with the product.
“The product we got on day one was the same quality as the product we got a year in, so that proved a lot to us as well.”
Chris Camosse, general manager for Massachusetts-based Camosse Masonry Supply
Interloc is available in two styles: New England, which features a blend of grey and warm, earthy colored stones, and Berkshire, a more consistent grey stone with sandy highlights. Use our online savings calculator to compare costs of Interloc vs. standard stone veneer siding.
Be.On Stone Veneer Panels – Mechanically Fastened
Above and Be.on for Simplicity
Instone President and CEO Kevin Grotke recently took on a DIY project of his own, adding wainscoting around the outside of a cottage he bought for family getaways. After giving some thought to his options, he determined Be.on Stone mortarless stone veneer siding was the ideal choice.
“We’re only here on the weekends so I’ve only got a day and a half to get this done, which is why I decided to go with this rather than a mortar and a lath application.”
Kevin Grotke, Instone president and CEO
Be.on Stone, also known as “screw-on stone veneer” or “stone veneer siding,” requires no mortar. It requires few tools – if you have a screw gun, a tile saw, a level and a tape measure, you’re off to the races.
As Grotke demonstrates in this video, the key is applying a starter strip along the base of the wall at the beginning of the job and making sure it’s level.
Once you’ve screwed in the initial row of veneer panels, you can run the rest of your panels above them quickly and perfectly level. Whether you have a standard OSB or plywood wall, you only need two or three fasteners per panel and don’t need to hit a stud.
Best of all, you won’t need a confusing assortment of panels to form your corners. As explained in our InBuilding Design series, the same pieces are used for inside and outside corners.
“You don’t need to order inside corners, you don’t need outside corners. One panel does it all,” Hortigan said. “All you have to do is figure out what your square footage is.”
Plus, with Be.on Stone’s patented D.Rain water management system, any rain that makes it behind the stone veneer drains automatically to the bottom of the wall, preventing mold and other damage to the structure. The product also has a 50-year warranty.
Be.on Stone comes in four styles, ranging from the Element collection, with its old European flavor, to the more contemporary Horizon. Each has its own variety of color options. Try our Virtual Designer for an instant glimpse at what a Be.on Stone veneer would look like on your home.
We Make it Easy!
Contact Instone today to learn more about why Interloc and Be.on Stone products are the fast, easy solutions for your next stone veneer job or DIY home exterior and siding project.
A Model for Minimizing Environmental Impacts in Stone Veneer Production: Pangaea® Natural Stone
Pangaea® Natural Stone was named after a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, when all of Earth’s lands were united. So it makes sense that while its industrial base is in India, Pangaea operates with environmental standards that recognize it’s part of one connected world.
“I don’t think there’s a finish line to sustainability,” said Pangaea President Sanjay Nikhanj. “There’s no goal you end up crossing and say, oh wow, I’m officially sustainable. It’s a goal that we continually work towards as a company and simply try to get better every year.”
Instone customers may know Pangaea for its pre-cut, tooled and trimmed stones that seamlessly fit together, making life easy for masons. They may know Pangaea for pallets that come pre-arranged with an optimal balance of colors and sizes, saving time and money before the first stone is even installed. Fewer would know the lengths the company goes to ensure its work leaves the environment in as good a condition as they found it.
Long Term Sustainable Development
Nikhanj said Pangaea is demonstrating that sustainability is not just the right thing to do, but a profitable exercise. The greening measures taken at its plant could be considered a model for the industry globally, but are especially above and beyond for Jaipur, the northern Indian natural stone industry hub where it’s located.
A solar array on the facility’s roof produces 530 KW of energy, enough to cover 50 percent of its manufacturing needs. Pangaea hopes to bump that number up in the future to further reduce energy consumption, but for now is constrained by the local infrastructure, as the power grid can’t handle any more input from the site.
Covering 35,000 square feet, it’s India’s largest building-integrated InRoof system to date! The 530 kWp InRoof solar panel system, designed by @ornatesolar, is powered by microinverters from @enphase.
With this revolutionary InRoof system, we have saved 124,968 kg of CO2 that would have been emitted in the production of the 35,000 square foot steel roof. Our installation will help us meet our sustainability goals by offsetting 18,346 tons of CO2 emissions! You can be confident your stone veneers are being manufactured sustainably and responsibly.
Further, Pangaea is the first company in India to install an in-roof solar array. These solar panels aren’t mounted to the roof – they are the roof. Nikhanj notes that this building method reduced Pangaea’s carbon footprint by eliminating the need to produce steel or other building materials.
A Recycling Innovator
The solar roof requires a significant amount of water to keep it clean and produce power at an optimal level. However, Pangaea has faced this problem by instituting an innovative water recycling system. Water that runs off the roof is quickly captured and filtered by three on-site water treatment plants.
“Saving water is the right thing to do, but in this case, it’s not profitable,” Nikhanj said. “It would be cheaper to waste that water and fill up the tanks again, but not recycling and wasting millions of liters weekly doesn’t make any sense. Where we are is a desert environment and water is a challenge.”
Even its manufacturing byproducts are recycled adding to their environmentally friendly processes.. The leftover chips from cut stones are donated to communities to use for the foundations of buildings and infrastructure projects. Wood shavings leftover from assembling the shipping crates are compacted and made available to families to burn for home heating and cooking. This has the added impact of saving trees that would have been cut down to fulfill their needs, Nikhanj said.
The packing crates are specially designed to thwart the spread of invasive pest species. The pine used is inspected to ensure that its moisture levels are too low to harbor any insects that would bore into the wood. Each crate is International Plant Convention (IPC) certified and stamped.
“We’ve had huge problems globally as a result of foreign species that have no natural predators attacking vegetation,” Nikhanj said. “It’s devastating forests. I live in British Columbia and when you drive up north, there are places where it literally looks like there’s been a forest fire.”
An Infinite Mindset
Nikhanj said Pangaea’s leadership takes all of these steps because it subscribes to an “infinite mindset” – a belief that a business can serve a higher purpose than just making money. It extends to how it treats employees and the communities that surround it.
Pangaea is a generous donor to charities that rescue stray dogs and provide educational resources for children, especially young girls. Nikhanj said many female students in the region are underprivileged and don’t have access to the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
The company’s website asserts its commitment to safe working conditions, fair wages and equality for workers. It seeks to promote women in the workplace, even though in India, they’re still few in number in the industry.
To Nikhanj, the key to making an infinite mindset yield tangible results is surrounding yourself with people who see the big picture. He said business leaders too often see themselves as sports coaches obsessed with winning and losing rather than as value creators.
“We’ve never had a sales goal in our last 20 years of existence,” he said. “I don’t even know what a sales goal looks like. We are constantly competing against ourselves. I couldn’t tell you what the competition is doing. I hope whatever they’re doing is right by the environment, right by the community and right by the people.”
Guide to the Home’s Hottest Natural Stone Colors for 2023
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instone
The start of a new year is the ideal time to gather inspiration for those exciting outdoor living spaces and home exterior upgrades. In recent years, homeowners have claimed more outdoor space than ever before, transforming neglected square footage into thriving year-round outdoor spaces for entertaining and dining. Many homeowners also boosted their curb appeal and property value with easy exterior stone siding. But let us not forget those interior updates as well, where stone fireplaces and feature walls can make all the difference in your home’s wow factor. Make a resolution to update your home, inside and out, in 2023 with Instone’s hottest stone colors and styles on the market.
So what’s trending in stone colors and style? To find out, we spoke with Justin Alicandro, Instone’s VP of natural stone products, who shared the most popular stones from the Midwest to the East Coast.
Blues and Grays Dominate
Beautiful blue and gray tones and tints have been extremely popular along the East Coast for years. The demand has almost outpaced the availability, which is why Alicandro brought Aura’s Blue Mist Granite to Instone. It quickly became a best-selling product. The timeless elegance of the bluestone wash mixed with the grainy grays of granite makes this stone pleasing to the eye. The blue tones pair nicely with homes with a cooler color palette. Alicandro says the blue and gray colors will continue to dominate along the East Coast for years to come.
Looking to go with blues and grays for your home’s exterior siding or outdoor renovation project? Here are some complementary stone veneer colors, styles and brands available through Instone:
Make Way for the Buffs
Look out blues, there’s a new color in town! Alicandro says buff tones are gaining traction as a popular look for landscaping, with Aura’s Phoenician Buff leading the charge.
This stone features pale speckles and veins of gray and pink mixed with beige-buff coloring to create beautiful texture and movement with a gentle warmth.
Another buff stone is Aura’s Oxford Buff Sandstone, which Alicandro says is relatively new, but quickly gaining popularity. “It’s really catching the eye of homeowners,” he says. The taupe beige sandstone is speckled with darker tones of black and brown for a classic neutral that will go with warm color palettes.
When planning your project in buff tones, here are some complementary colors, styles and brands available at Instone:
Lighter Colors Are In
Lighten up! At least in your backyard space. That’s what Alicandro says is trending at the moment. “I see the lighter colors coming on strong. We have some travertines that are ideal for these palettes.”
Silver Travertine has become in high-demand for pool stone, says Alicandro. “It’s popular because it’s light, and doesn’t get as hot in the summer, so people won’t burn their feet on it.”
As for granites in lighter colors, Alicandro recommends Silver Ridge Granite. “This is really a nice, light granite with a lot of character and movement throughout. It’s very unique,” he says, adding that the product is exclusive to Instone and recommends placing orders this winter for those spring and summer patio and pool projects.
Alicandro says Gray Granite is in the same color range as Silver Ridge but without the movement. “This is a more formal-looking, light-colored granite.” Here are some complementary pairings for a light- color project palette:
Backyard entertainment – patios, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fire pits, pizza ovens
Water elements – pools, hot tubs, fountains
This winter, spend some time indoors planning your next home project thanks to a little inspiration from Justin and our wide variety of the hottest stone colors and styles of 2023.
Fill out the form below for access to our 2023 Color Guide!
We want to know your favorite stone color combination! Vote for one of the combos above in the comments below.
Warm Up The Indoors With Cultured Stone Manufactured Stone Veneer
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instone
Winter is coming. With the chilly temperatures driving us indoors more, wouldn’t it be nice to visually warm up your home so you can feel extra cozy in the months ahead? Cultured Stone is a manufactured stone veneer (MSV) product that looks like natural stone at a fraction of the price and with a lighter weight for easier and faster installation.
Not only is Cultured Stone the longest running MSV maker on the market, they are leading innovators when it comes to their production process and selection of design styles.
“A big part of their success is their constant innovation of colors and textures,” says Tim Wood, Stone Division Manager at Best Block Company. “And they do a very good job with consistency. If you want to put an addition on your home that was built 10 years ago and you want to use the same stone, chances are very good it will match.”
Cultured Stone Has More Varieties of Colors and Textures Than Any Other Stone Product
For Wood, the key selling point of Cultured Stone is that they always have something new to offer. “They really drive the industry forward as far as their colors. When they come out with a new color, everybody else scrambles to make something similar,” he says. “Their whole design team really keeps up on trends for shapes and textures and colors, which no other company does. As a supplier, we really like that because having something new gives us an opportunity to get out in the market and update people.”
Take a look for yourself at some of the options of Cultured Stone:
Cultured Stone Is Readily Available
Like many products during the pandemic, supply chain issues slowed availability and extended lead times. But Wood says that these days everything is pretty much back to normal.
“Cultured Stone inventory levels are good, freight availability is good,” he says. “We’re able to get Cultured Stone within a few days of lead time.”
The trusted name in manufactured stone veneer is back and better than ever and we just had to show our appreciation.
Cultured Stone is Eco-friendly
When it comes to being environmentally aware about products for a home, natural stone just sounds like it would be an obvious choice. However, a big part of going down a more environmentally-friendly path is looking at how products are made and sourced. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that natural stone is a finite resource that is extracted from the earth, resulting in damage to our landscapes during acquisition and damage to the environment in processing the raw materials.
It also requires more energy to transport because of its weight.
With manufactured Cultured Stone veneer products, architects, builders, and homeowners can reduce their energy and sourcing footprint without compromising strength, durability or aesthetics. Cultured Stone products contain an average of 58% pre-consumer recycled content. The company also uses low-emitting materials and manufacturing processes in the production of its products, including a closed-loop system for water consumption.
Unlike much heavier natural stone, manufactured stone may not require concrete footings for support. Cultured Stone products can weigh as little as eight to 12 pounds per square foot.
Because of its sustainable manufacturing footprint, architects and builders using Cultured Stone can earn LEED® credits for indoor air quality and recycled content.
As a dealer, Wood says he always tries to mention the environmental aspect. “We try to throw it out there to our builders and their clients. It’s another added bonus. And homeowners can mention at their dinner parties that their house uses green products. It’s kind of a cool thing to be able to say.”
Uses for Interior Design With Cultured Stone
Fireplace surrounds: If your fireplace is out of date with tired brick or tile, give it a natural stacked stone look without building a whole new fireplace.
Accent feature wall: Warm up a plain space with the natural charm of stone. The rich colors and textures add interest and create a cozy environment.
Home office Zoom wall: Make your office setting reflect your personality with the color and texture of natural stone, delivering the perfect background wall for your Zoom meetings.
Kitchen backsplash: You look at your kitchen backsplash every day when you make meals. Make it aesthetically pleasing with the look of natural stone in a color and texture that speaks to you.
Wine cellar: Create some old-world character in a room where slowing down and enjoying a good glass wine means living the good life.
Cultured Stone Home Exterior Ideas
If you’re planning your summer project ahead of time during the winter months (which we highly recommend), consider Cultured Stone for the following areas:
Outdoor kitchens
Outdoor fireplace surrounds
Entryways
Posts, pillars and lampposts
Wainscot siding
Cultured Stone Is Easy to Maintain
One of the biggest tests of Cultured Stone versus natural stone is durability. Yes, it’s true, natural stone is extremely durable because it comes from the earth and can withstand extreme conditions for exterior use. But it turns out that Cultured Stone is no slouch in the durability department either, especially for interior use. The only caution is not to chip it because the color is only on the surface and not all the way through the cement interior. However, even if you accidentally bump something against it hard enough to chip it, you can check with your dealer to assess the damage. They have tint kits for an easy fix.
Keeping it clean is simple and easy. For interior use, you only need to do occasional dusting as you would any surface. If it really needs a clean, such as on exterior uses, a mild detergent with some water and a stiff bristle brush is all you need. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to get off any soap residue.
You should never use chemicals or power washing on Cultured Stone since the color is on the surface; it may take the color off. Sealants are also not needed.
The look of natural stone can bring a little bit of Mother Nature’s beauty into your home, add interest and aesthetic appeal, and make your home feel more warm and inviting as you snuggle in for the winter months ahead.
Learn More About Cultured Stone on Our Product Page
