Brick and stone are derived from the earth itself, and their natural beauty is as colorful and variable as they ground from which they came. As home exterior wall coverings they tend to connote solidity and permanence in our minds. A brick home, or one finished with stone has that refined, prestigious look which typically gives it great curb appeal and generous resale value.
But more that just a pretty face, brick and stone have inherent characteristics that make this type of exterior finish a smart buy, despite the generally higher cost. One is energy efficiency. It just naturally takes longer for heat to travel through walls that are heavy and dense.
Brick or stone walls, especially when combined with insulation, keep out the heat on warm days and retain heat on cooler ones.
A second factor is sound insulation. The thickness and density of brick or stone walls will deaden noise transmission and deflect noise from streets and neighboring homes.
Third is fire resistance. Brick and stone don't burn. Fourth is lasting beauty. With brick and stone you eliminate the problems associated with rotting, denting, warping, rusting, splitting, peeling or fading.
Finally, ease of maintenance. Basically, brick and stone don't need continual maintenance. However, it is always wise to inspect any masonry on a yearly basis.
An attractive alternative to natural stone is manufactured stone veneer, which is made from natural ingredients, including Portland cement, lightweight aggregates and iron oxide pigments. These manufactured stones look and feel authentic because individual pieces are cast in molds taken from selected natural stones. The advantages to this product are that it is lightweight and needs no additional footings, as with natural stone. It may be applied to any structurally sound wall surface and is less expensive than natural stone.
Also, it is often difficult to find the right color or texture when you are using quarried stone. With manufactured stone you can choose from a wide range of shapes and colors that are readily available.
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