Home siding can be quite confusing as there are a lot of materials to choose from. To make things easier for you, however, here is a thorough comparison between two popular siding materials: brick and stone siding. Though, you must discuss it with a siding contractor as well.
Brick Siding Vs Stone Siding
Appearance
If appearances are more your priority than anything and you want the siding to look breathtaking, then you might have a hard time choosing between brick and stone siding.
Brick Siding
Brick siding is a really beautiful structure and it has a rustic edge to it that everyone knows and loves. However, brick has very limited options when it comes to colors and it can be very frustrating for people who want to add some pizzazz to their siding. Regardless, the Tetris-like design of bricks is a classic and is loved by the masses almost everywhere, so it’s really hard to beat brick’s popularity.
Stone Siding
Stone siding is an interesting one when it comes to colors and variations. Stone siding is available in the form of veneers, so they’re thin panels of stone that are easy to install and look just as good as any other material.
Stone is also just as rustic and, in all honesty, it can be quite hard to choose between two natural materials when they both look good enough to be a style statement of their kind. Stone siding, however, has way more options than brick siding when it comes to colors and textures. There so many styles and designs that the selection process will take some time.
Cost
When it comes to sidings, price is another important thing that’s a deciding factor for a lot of people.
Brick Siding
Brick, since it’s a readily available materials, is a bit more on the reasonable side when it comes to price. You can pay anywhere between $10 to $30 per sq. ft. for bricks. That’s a lot more reasonable and inexpensive for a lot of people because the last thing they need is to splurge on materials they know they can’t afford. And judging by the strength and longevity of bricks, they are quite cheap and that is what impresses people.
Stone Siding
Stone veneer siding is going to run a bit expensive because stone is a naturally sourced material and it is not something that is made on demand like bricks. Stones are quarried from the ground and then they are cut into veneers and thin sheets for siding, so all of that can cost a lot.
Stone siding can run anywhere between $10 to $80. There is also the option of choosing chunky stones, rather than veneers, so you have a lot to choose from. But be warned. Stone siding is even pricier than stone veneer siding because it’s the real deal.
Durability
When you install a siding, you want it to last as long as possible, since it’s going to be exposed to everything in the outdoors, from the weather to impact damage and whatnot.
Brick Siding
Brick sidings are very durable for the most part. They’re stacked on top of each other with either cement or brick adhesive to give your house exterior that cozy and warm feeling. Because of this, bricks are quite elastic. They can spring back after impact or damage and, unless they break altogether, bricks are pretty durable and strong.
Stone Siding
However, if you compare brick siding with stone or stone veneer siding, then you’re going to see that stone is going to last a lot longer. Stone is a very robust and reliable material, and if you’re thinking about installing exterior siding using it, then you’re on the right track.
It’s proven that stone veneer siding can last almost 3 to 4 times longer than its brick counterpart and that’s pretty amazing if you think about it. Stones can’t break unless you detonate them, so you’re going to be set for a long time if you choose stone or stone veneer as your siding material.
Longevity
How long can you go before needing to replace the siding? This is a really important question that a lot of people ask when they’re choosing materials for their house siding. Both brick and stone are very strong materials and they don’t get damaged easily.
Brick Siding
As far as longevity is concerned, brick sidings can last anywhere between 10 to 25 years without any repair or replacement. That’s a pretty decent lifespan for a siding. Keep in mind that when you build outdoor structures like sidings, they’re going to get damaged a lot quickly because they’re deteriorating 24/7.
The sun will be blazing down, the wind will wear the material out, and so on. So, you need to come to terms with the fact that you’re going to need to change certain outdoor materials faster than the ones that are inside.
Stone Siding
Stone veneer siding also lasts for a long time. It can last up to 30 years if you maintain it properly. If you’re looking for something that is going to be a breeze to install and is the definition of “set it and forget it”, then stone veneer siding is the way to go. And if you install the expensive stone siding, it will last for 50+ years.
Installation
Brick Siding
Speaking of installation, brick siding can be a bit time-consuming to put up. There’s the adhesive that needs to be applied, then the bricks need to be cut down to fit into the siding space, and so on. The difficulty level of installing brick siding is medium.
Stone Siding
On the other side of the spectrum, stone veneer siding is pretty quick to install. You don’t need to shape it to fit and it can be stuck on the wall very easily. There’s no rocket science involved and you will love the results in the end as well.
However, actual stone siding is difficult to install because you have to use stones of the right size, cut them, and install them. Plus, the stones are heavy and must be handled by experts.
Environmental Impact
Being naturally sourced, stone is very hard to quarry and it does leave a lot of damage behind by which the environment can be severely affected. Let’s not forget about the manufacturing of veneers that takes place in large factories and those power-packed facilities can also put a toll on the environment.
On the other hand, although making bricks is also an environment-depleting process, but the damage is still less as compared to stone sidings.
Maintenance
Ah… maintenance that we all despise, but have to do because we want the siding to last as long as possible.
Brick Siding
Moisture is the biggest enemy that can lead to damage of epic proportions in sidings. Unfortunately, brick sidings fall victim to this agent. Bricks are porous by nature, so water can find its way into the crevices of the material and ruin it from the inside. Brick can also get damaged by mold formation and the primary culprit in question is water or moisture.
Stone Siding
Stone siding has no problem whatsoever when it comes in contact with water and it doesn’t need a lot of maintenance either, so it’s the better option.
Conclusion
These two sidings are timeless and durable when compared with the rest of the materials. Base your decision on facts and if you’re confused, consult siding companies Port Jefferson.
