Most homeowners in the US and around the world spend a huge amount of time thinking and planning ways to improve the curb appeal of their hard-earned home.
Some start from the landscaping and move to the look of the façade and the replacement of cheap siding. This has to be a careful process because choosing cheap materials to replace an already low quality product can have adverse consequences.
The type of siding we often see is vinyl, wood or aluminum. We all know how much maintenance wood requires and what wood peckers and bugs can do to it. Aluminum and vinyl are not really a good representation of wood, stone or brick.
If these are the look you have in mind you may want to consider
stone wall paneling and faux brick wall panels that have been designed and created with the above limitation from other materials. These panels have been designed to look absolutely real and without the need to constantly maintain them. As mentioned, you may want to take your time to choose a product you won’t have to replace after a couple of years.
One other reason for using products that are fake, panels that are easy to install and a stone look that is very realistic is the fact that you will add an extra insulation layer to your walls. Vinyl and particularly aluminum don’t provide any insulation. With faux stone and brick paneling you actually add a R5 factor to your insulation.
When planning to spend your hard-earned dollars toward your home you also need to consider the cost of installation. These brick and stone panels can be installed quickly and easily, even by the homeowner. Even if they decide to hire someone, they won’t be stuck with an exorbitant bill. You can tell your contractor how easy they are to install so they can’t really make up numbers.
Panels can be installed over virtually any surface; things you can’t say about stone veneer.
Some of the “real” stone are actually blocks of molded concrete. Both materials are intrinsically going to absorb moisture, which will eventually freeze and crack. Even in areas where the climate doesn’t drop below 23 degrees F you will still see black lines, which are the result of mold growing on the wall.
So, in conclusion, take your time and order samples from various vendors to see all the various options out there.
