Over the last several years, builders have been using manufactured stone veneer, which has become quite popular as a modern and attractive siding material on homes. This product was developed to replace natural stone and is manufactured from molded concrete to look like the real thing. This siding product is designed to be installed over wood framing.
Kick out flashing at top cap, mortar at adjacent siding
Decorative Siding
This decorative siding product became popular in the late 1990s as a replacement for natural stone veneer. Natural stone was inconsistent and therefore difficult and expensive to install. As it is with most new products, the procedures and installations have changed over the years. Fundamentally, the basic process is the same when installing natural stone or stone veneer. Stone veneer is typically adhered to the side of the home using an attachment system of metal anchors and mortar.
Brick Veneer
Similar to a brick veneer, the home’s structure behind the stone veneer is typically a wood-framed wall with sheathing. Improper installation of the stone veneer will allow moisture to intrude behind the material where it can negatively impact the framing materials and structure of your home.
How do these problems start?
Typically, manufactured stone veneer is installed over the wood sheathing, or house wrap, on the exterior of the home. Over time, due to the cement and mortar used and because stone veneer is permeable, water can intrude through cracks and openings or seep through the material. If water gets behind the material and has nowhere to go, that’s where the problems begin. This is a similar situation that can result in water damage with EIFS stucco.
Water Damage
When water finds its way to the substrate or sheathing of the wall behind the manufactured stone, it begins to cause moisture damage, delamination of the sheathing, and mold and/or other organic growth in the wood. Once water is behind the stone veneer, if it doesn’t have a way to exit, that's where your problems begin.
Why are we still installing this product?
Since the 1990s, manufacturers and builders have learned how to better install these products, thus improving installation methods and practices. The best solution for water getting in behind this stone veneer is to ensure it has a path out at the bottom. Significant improvements have been made with the experience manufacturers and builders gained from stucco and EIFS water issues. By improving drainage requirements and installation methods, newer installations have far fewer problems with this product.
Kickout Flashing
When performing a home inspection, our home inspectors are looking for kickout flashings on the top edge of the stone cap, drainage planes, and a weep screed at the bottom of the stone veneer. We also check to make sure that there are no cracks, gaps, or missing mortar. At the vertical edges where the stone veneer meets other siding materials, we make sure there are no gaps or openings.
Weep screed and gap at adjacent siding
What if I have an earlier installation?
Since the beginning of time, builders have tried new products and learned from their mistakes. It could be asbestos, shingles, EIFS stucco, aluminum wiring, electrical panels, and the list goes on and on. This means that there could be hundreds of thousands of homes that have the potential for moisture problems if the stone veneer was not installed properly or maintained correctly. Either through failure or issues brought forward as a result of a home inspection, over time, these older installations are eventually replaced.
In Summary
If you have stone veneer on the front of your home, keep an eye out for signs of water intrusion. Look for loose stones, cracks, and openings or gaps between the stone veneer and the adjacent siding. Efflorescence, which is a white chalky powder, could also be a sign that there is water behind the stone veneer. If you hire HomePro Inspections for your home inspection, we’ll make sure to inspect for these issues and report any findings on your home inspection report.
Efflorescence on stone veneer
Visit our website to learn more or to schedule your home inspection in the Rochester, Owatonna, and Faribault, MN areas. You can contact us today at (507) 202-8942 or use our online “Schedule Now” feature to set up an appointment.