Rock siding on a house is most commonly called stone veneer, and it comes in two main types: natural stone veneer and manufactured stone veneer. Both are designed to give homes a stone exterior appearance, though they differ significantly in material, weight, and cost.
Key terms you might come across:
- Stone veneer: a general term for stone applied as an exterior covering rather than structural stone
- Manufactured stone veneer: engineered material designed to replicate natural stone’s look at a lower cost and weight
- Cultured stone: another common name for manufactured stone veneer
- Natural stone veneer: real stone cut into thinner pieces for easier application to a wall
Regardless of the specific term used, all of these products serve the same purpose: giving a home the appearance of a full stone exterior without the extreme weight and cost of solid stone construction.
If you’re getting quotes for this type of project, it helps to clarify with your contractor if they’re referring to natural or manufactured stone veneer, since pricing and installation requirements differ significantly between the two.