Curb appeal is a term that’s been getting a lot of buzz over the past few years. If your home has good curb appeal, you’re very lucky. And if your home has less-than-stellar curb appeal, it may be time to do something about it.
What exactly is curb appeal? Simply stated, it’s the way your home looks on the outside. This includes your home’s entire exterior and how people perceive its appearance. Siding, wood, brick, paint colors, windows, porch design, lawn and landscaping, plus the condition of the garage and driveway are all factors that influence curb appeal. If one or more of these is showing signs of age or neglect, your curb appeal rating will start to decline.
And when curb appeal ratings begin to slide, so does your home’s value. This is why it’s critically important to keep your home’s exterior well-maintained. One way to greatly improve its outdoor appearance is to update worn-out wood or vinyl siding. External building materials are visibly noticeable from the street and significantly impact curb appeal.
Wondering what to do to increase your home’s curb appeal? If you replace old, outdated siding with manufactured stone veneer, your home will have a fresh, new look. And it will improve your home’s value in addition to helping its appearance.
Benefits of Updating Your Home's Exterior With Stone Veneer
When you update your home’s exterior with stone veneer siding, there are plenty of benefits. The most important ones, however, relate to your home’s curb appeal and its long-term value. Let’s take a closer look.
Reasons to Update Your Home’s Exterior
You may not be interested in selling your home now, but if and when that time comes, curb appeal will significantly influence your home’s selling power. Stone veneer siding gives home exteriors a timeless look that stands out when compared to other homes. Home buyers consider stone veneer a high-end building material, and quite often look for homes that have a stone exterior. And they’ll pay top dollar for a home that already has stone features throughout.
If you’re simply tired of the way your home looks, and how your wood panels or vinyl siding shows signs of deterioration, stone veneer’s durability will look like new for years to come. Stone veneer siding withstands the elements and maintains its appearance for a very long time, unlike wood or vinyl siding, which may become discolored or warped within a few years after installation.
Why Manufactured Stone is the Optimal Choice
When it comes time to shop for stone siding, you’ll notice two types of choices – natural or manufactured. More homeowners have been siding their properties with manufactured stone veneer for some very good reasons.
Appearance. Today’s manufactured stone products look almost indistinguishable from genuine stone. They’re made according to high-quality standards and feature all the characteristics and color variations that people love about natural stone.
Selection. Stone manufacturers can create more styles, shapes, and colors of stone than producers of naturally quarried stone products. This means you have more choices when you go with manufactured stone.
Cost. Manufactured stone veneers cost less than most natural products. When comparing similar-looking stone veneers, the manufactured product can cost up to 50% less than the natural one – this includes the installation cost, too.
Installation. Natural stone is much heavier than manufactured stone. It’s also more difficult to install. Because manufactured veneers are lightweight and easier to cut, the installation process is much faster and less labor-intensive.
Exterior Stone Veneer Design Ideas to Increase Curb Appeal
How can you increase your home’s curb appeal with stone veneer? Here are a few designer-inspired ideas that are proven curb appeal winners.
Entryways
Your home’s front entryway welcomes visitors into your home. Give it a more inviting appearance with stone accents that surround the front door, dormers and windows. Don’t forget about stone columns, or a stone veneer walkway, if your home has these architectural features.
Exterior Walls
Adding stone veneer siding to your home’s front exterior is the most popular way to improve its curb appeal and value. You don’t have to side the entire front with stone to get the best results. Installing stone to the top third or bottom half of your home are what most designers recommend, and choosing stone colors that coordinate with existing materials.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Front porches and back patios benefit greatly from stone siding makeovers. When it comes to curb appeal, your front porch will look more welcoming to guests, and become a highly desirable feature to potential home buyers after it’s renovated with stone.
Garage
Once you’ve updated your home’s front and side exterior with stone, don’t forget about your attached garage. Install similar stone details around the garage door to create a beautifully cohesive stone veneer garage design.
Updating Your Home with Casa di Sassi
Looking for a stone manufacturer you can trust? Casa di Sassi has your back, and can help you find the ideal stone veneer siding for your home. For over 20 years, we’ve been an industry leader, manufacturing top-quality stone veneer profiles and accessories.
Every stone we produce is inspired by a stone from nature, and must meet our critical standards before it’s shipped to one of our nationwide distributors. Plus, for peace of mind, we offer a 50-year warranty, something our competitors can’t match.
Ready to find the perfect stone for your home's curb appeal makeover? Browse Casa di Sassi's complete collection of manufactured stone veneer profiles.