Transform your home's exterior with beautiful stone veneer that combines timeless elegance with modern convenience.
Stone veneer siding gives your home the rich, textured look of natural stone without the weight, cost, or installation challenges of full-thickness stone walls. At DEM Des Moines Masonry, we install both natural stone veneer and high-quality manufactured stone that transforms ordinary houses into stunning showpieces.
Whether you want to update your entire exterior, create an eye-catching accent wall, or add stone details around your entryway, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life. Stone veneer works on almost any surface including existing siding, concrete block, brick, and wood framing. The result is a dramatic upgrade that boosts curb appeal and increases your home's value. We work with premium brands like Cultured Stone and Eldorado Stone to deliver results that look authentic and last for decades.
When you decide to add stone to your home's exterior, you face an important choice between natural stone veneer and manufactured stone veneer. Both create beautiful results, but they have different characteristics, costs, and installation requirements.
Natural stone veneer uses real stone cut into thin pieces, typically one to two inches thick. Each piece is unique with its own color variations, textures, and character. You get authentic stone with all its natural beauty and imperfections. Natural stone veneer never fades or changes color over time, and it can last the entire lifetime of your home with virtually no maintenance.
Common natural stone options include limestone, sandstone, bluestone, and fieldstone. The trade-off is higher material cost and more labor-intensive installation. Natural stone weighs more than manufactured options, which sometimes requires additional structural support. But for homeowners who want the real thing and plan to stay in their homes long-term, natural stone delivers unmatched authenticity.
Manufactured stone veneer, also called faux stone or cultured stone, is made from concrete molded and colored to look like natural stone. Modern manufacturing has become incredibly sophisticated. High-end manufactured stone is nearly indistinguishable from natural stone at normal viewing distances.
We help you weigh these factors based on your budget, home style, and long-term goals. Many customers choose manufactured stone for most of the project and use natural stone accents for the best of both worlds. Similar to our brick restoration work, material selection makes a huge difference in the final result.
Proper installation is everything with stone veneer. We see too many DIY disasters and contractor shortcuts that result in failing veneer within just a few years. When stone veneer falls off your house or develops moisture problems behind it, the repair costs far exceed what proper installation would have cost in the first place.
We start by assessing your existing wall structure and ensuring it can support the veneer weight. If you have wood framing, we install a weather-resistant barrier followed by metal lath that gives the mortar something to grip. This creates a drainage plane that allows any moisture to escape rather than getting trapped behind your stone.
For concrete or masonry walls, we clean the surface thoroughly and sometimes apply a bonding agent. Every installation is different, and we follow manufacturer specifications exactly to maintain warranty coverage. We also install weep screeds at the bottom to allow water drainage and maintain the required gap above grade.
Before we mix a single batch of mortar, we lay out the stone pattern on the ground. This lets us arrange colors and shapes for the best visual balance. We make sure large and small pieces are distributed naturally, and we plan where corners and edges will fall.
Then we start at the bottom and work our way up, applying mortar to both the wall and the back of each stone. We firmly press each piece into place, ensuring full contact and no air pockets. Proper mortar joints get tooled and sealed to keep water out. We install flashing around windows, doors, and other openings to direct water away from vulnerable areas.
The final step involves cleanup and sealing if desired. We can apply penetrating sealers that protect against staining and moisture while maintaining the natural look of the stone. The result is a professionally installed stone facade that enhances your home and performs flawlessly for decades. Ready to upgrade your exterior? Start with our professional masonry services.
Stone veneer works in countless ways to improve your home's appearance. You do not have to cover your entire house to make a big impact. Strategic use of stone creates visual interest and highlights architectural features.
Many homeowners choose to stone one or two exterior walls while leaving the rest in siding. This creates a stunning contrast that makes your home stand out. Front-facing walls get the most impact per dollar since everyone sees them. Adding stone around your entryway creates a welcoming focal point that draws visitors to your front door.
Stone columns framing a porch or garage add architectural sophistication. Wainscoting with stone on the lower portion of your walls creates visual weight and protects high-impact areas from damage. Inside your home, stone veneer creates dramatic fireplace surrounds and accent walls in living rooms or dining areas.
Stone veneer complements any architectural style when you choose the right profile and color. Craftsman and prairie-style homes look great with horizontal ledgestone or weathered fieldstone. Traditional and colonial homes benefit from more formal cut stone patterns. Modern homes pair well with smooth, stacked stone in contemporary colors like grays and charcoals.
We bring samples to your home during the consultation so you can see how different options look against your existing colors and features. The right combination of stone style, mortar color, and joint treatment makes all the difference between a renovation that looks added on versus one that looks like it was always meant to be there.
Stone veneer installation typically costs between $15 and $35 per square foot installed, depending on material choice and project complexity. Manufactured stone veneer generally runs $15 to $25 per square foot, while natural stone veneer costs $25 to $35 per square foot or more for premium materials. These prices include materials, labor, and all necessary prep work like weather barriers and lath installation. Factors that affect cost include wall height and accessibility, amount of cutting required around windows and doors, and whether structural modifications are needed. A typical front facade covering 300 to 500 square feet usually ranges from $6,000 to $15,000. We provide detailed written estimates so you know exactly what your project will cost.
In most cases, we recommend removing existing siding before installing stone veneer. This allows us to properly inspect the wall sheathing, install correct moisture barriers, and ensure solid attachment. However, stone veneer can sometimes be installed over existing materials if they are in good condition and properly prepared. Vinyl and aluminum siding generally need to come off, while stucco or concrete can often serve as a suitable base after proper cleaning and preparation. We evaluate your specific situation during the estimate and explain the best approach for your home. Proper preparation prevents future problems and ensures your investment lasts.
Properly installed stone veneer should last 50 years or more with minimal maintenance. Natural stone veneer lasts essentially forever since it is real stone, while high-quality manufactured stone carries warranties of 50 years or longer. The key to longevity is correct installation with proper moisture management. For maintenance, inspect your stone veneer annually for any cracks or loose pieces and repair them promptly. Check that weep holes at the bottom remain clear to allow drainage. You can clean stone veneer with water and a soft brush if needed, though most installations stay clean on their own. Applying a penetrating sealer every five to ten years helps protect against staining and moisture penetration, though it is optional for most installations.
Let's discuss your vision and show you material options that fit your style and budget. Free consultations with no pressure sales.
