Do a little research on siding materials in Denver, and you're sure to come up with a long list of qualified candidates. Vinyl siding, metal siding, and fiber cement siding in the Mile High City are all popular siding alternatives along the Front Range. If you're looking for something a little different, however, and something that provides your home with the best protection siding has to offer, you might want to put Denver stone siding on your radar.
The Benefits of Denver Stone Siding
It's important to realize that stone siding in Denver comes in several different forms, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. Be it true stone siding, stone veneer, or artificial stone veneers, choosing stone as a siding option in Denver is one of the best choices you can make if things like durability, longevity, and low maintenance are important to you as you decide which siding is going to be the right match for your Front Range residence.
- Denver Stone SidingTrue natural stone siding refers to the tried and true process of building up rock walls that serve as your home's exterior protection. A home with stone siding basically amounts to living in a small fortress. You won't have much to worry from tornadoes, let alone Front Range thunderstorms, blizzards, hailstorms, and the like. Stone siding is also an excellent insulator, since it provides such a thick barrier between your living space and the elements on the other side of the wall. The one downside of stone siding is cost. Plan to spend a small fortune if you choose genuine stone siding for your Denver home.
- Stone Veneer SidingStone veneer siding drops stone siding in Denver down to a place that's more attainable for most Denverites? budgets. It's still not cheap, since stone veneer still utilizes genuine stone to clad your home, but it's not nearly as expensive as using thicker stone for your job. Instead of using entire rocks, stone veneer uses thin slices of rock that generally measure just a few inches thick, at most. This cuts down on the cost of materials significantly, as you'd expect, but it drastically reduces the cost of labor as well, since the material is so much easier to work with. From a performance standpoint, stone veneer is still an excellent option on all accounts. It's tough, no weather can touch it, and it's still a good insulator compared to other siding materials, making it a good compromise for those in the metro area who want stone, but not at prohibitively exorbitant prices.
- Simulated Stone Veneer SidingFor the budget conscious in Denver, there is yet another option. Using technology that can create breathtakingly realistic imitation stone, simulated stone veneers (also called simulated stone veneer) can be installed on your home to give it the look of a home with stone siding at a fraction of the cost. Most artificial stone veneers are made from polyurethane or concrete mixes. They're still durable, long lasting, and they look great (most people won't be able to tell the difference from natural stone), but they're much easier to install since they are lightweight in comparison to natural stone, and since they generally come in pre-manufactured panels that are easy to install. If you're looking for stone siding in Denver that looks great and won't break the bank, simulated stone veneer might be exactly what you've been searching for.
Stone Siding in Denver is a Natural Fit
The Rocky Mountains aren't called the Rockies for no reason. Be it sandstone, flagstone, or granite, the Rockies provide a source of stone for building projects that is unrivaled in other areas of the nation. If you are considering Denver stone siding for your Front Range home, think about going local, or at least going with stone or artificial stone that matches what's found in the area. Talk to a stone siding contractor, or a stone supplier, about what they recommend for local-looking stone that matches the beauty and rugged feel of the mountains looming off in the West.
Choosing Denver stone siding in its various forms is staying true to the area, and makes for some of the most reliable, maintenance-free building material available to Denver homeowners today. Talk to a stone mason, stone supplier, or a contractor experienced in working with stone veneers, about what it will take to clad your Front Range home in Denver stone siding.

Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.