Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a conundrum about the siding on my house. We bought it four years ago and initially hesitated because of how the front looked, but we've grown to love it. However, I'm really curious about the siding material. It seems to be this weird, hard substance that resembles stamped concrete and has a pattern, almost like fake stones. The house was built in the 60s, but I think the siding was added later, maybe in the 70s or 80s. We consulted with a roofing and siding company, and they were just as confused as I am, claiming it's tough to remove and potentially costly. I'm considering painting it gray to lighten things up a bit. Can anyone tell me what this might be, if it's removable, how long it could last, and whether I can paint it? Any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
What you have is likely a fake veneer stone siding. It’s typically installed over plywood with chicken wire and mortar to help it stick. I’ve seen it used in other areas, and if it’s exposed to moisture or extreme weather, the face can pop off, revealing the inside. Have you noticed any parts loosening? That could be a sign of moisture damage. Just tread carefully with the removal—it might be tougher than it looks!
Absolutely agree! I've been watching a similar project nearby where they put down plywood and chicken wire before applying the mortar. I'm curious to see how it all turns out!
It looks like it could be just a fancy stucco or facade. I’ve spotted similar designs still available in stores. If that’s the case, it’s a pain to remove and costly too, but it’s pretty good at insulating. You could paint it easily without needing primer, just make sure to use a masonry primer first!
Great tip on the primer! I’d definitely go that route if I were to paint.
Yeah, just painting it might be the way to go for now!
I’d bet it’s a type of thin veneer. You can check around the windows to see if it’s sticking out. Also, there’s a video that shows how these are installed and it might give you some insight about what you’re dealing with: [check this out](https://youtu.be/2y7tExT6EJI?si=dR61cq3F6va0-HvH)! It’s great to know how these are put up because removal is tricky!
Thanks for sharing that video! It’s super helpful to see the installation process.
I think this has to be the same material. It looks familiar!
I looked a bit closer and it does seem like the stones might be closely related to the mortar itself? Maybe they’re just a stamped design that was painted.