How long does manufactured stone last?

Manufactured stone can be expected to last 50 years or more if free from manufacturing defects and properly installed and maintained. Improper installation or maintenance, which we have found to be common, reduces the lifespan to 30 years or less. It is essentially concrete that has been cast in molds to the shape and texture of stone, with dyes that create natural-looking color variations. 

    Here’s a bar graph that compares the life expectancy of manufactured stone to other types of residential siding.
    The installed product has a similar composition to stucco and the building science expert, Joe Lstiburek, likes to call manufactured stone veneers “lumpy stucco,” because it's really just stucco with stuff stuck into a second, setting-bed layer. The building code calls it “adhered masonry veneer."

    What can go wrong? Manufactured stone veneer installed on a wood frame wall is susceptible to moisture intrusion behind the material if not properly installed, and there should be a weep at the bottom of the facing which is above the ground. Here’s an example at right with an inadequate scrach coat and setting bed, and exposed mesh. See our blog post What are the code requirements for installing manufactured stone on the exterior of the wood stud wall of a house? for correct installation details, and you can also download a copy of the Masonry Veneer Manufacturers Association’s installation guide there. 

    Any settlement or heaving structural problems will telegraph through the veneer and allow rain or sprinkler spray to get behind the veneer. Also, manufactured stone has a factory-applied sealant. Pressure washing the stone can destoy it and allow freeze cracking of the surface.

    Concrete block is a more forgiving surface to manufactured stone installation. The stone can be applied directly to the wall in new construction, after application of a scratch coat and setting bed. A metal lath backing and weep screed are optional, but recommended.

    Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components. To understand the basis, potential use, and limitations of lifespan ratings, see our blog post How accurate are the average life expectancy ratings of home components? Are they actually useful? 

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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To learn more about exterior walls and structures, see these other blog posts:

• What is the average lifespan of a house foundation?

• What causes vertical cracks in fiber cement siding planks?

• What causes raised white lines of residue on a block wall that are crusty and crumbling? 

• What is the difference between soil subsidence, heave, creep, and settlement? 

• How much ventilation is required for the under-floor crawl space of a home? 

• What causes stair-step cracks in a block or brick wall?

• What causes a horizontal crack in a block or brick wall? 

• How can I tell if a diagonal crack in drywall at the corner of a window or door indicates a structural problem?

• What causes the surface of old bricks to erode away into sandy powder? 

• What are the pros and cons of concrete block versus wood frame construction?

• Should I buy a house with a crawl space? 

• Why is my stucco cracking?

• There's cracks running along the home's concrete tie beam. What's wrong? 

• What would cause long horizontal lines of brick mortar to fall out?

• How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house?

• What is engineered wood siding?

• Should I buy a house that has had foundation repair? 

• What is a "continuous load path”?

• Should I buy a house with asbestos siding?   

• How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not? 

• What do you look for when inspecting vinyl siding?

• Why is housewrap installed on exterior walls under the siding? 

• How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house?

• Why did so many concrete block homes collapse in Mexico Beach during Hurricane Michael? 

• How can I tell if the concrete block walls of my house have vertical steel and concrete reinforcement?

• Should I buy a house with structural problems? 

• What are those powdery white areas on my brick walls?

• What causes cracks in the walls and floors of a house?

• How can I tell if the exterior walls of a house are concrete block (CBS) or wood or brick?

• What are the common problems of different types of house foundations? 

• What are the warning signs of a dangerous deck?

• How can I tell whether my house foundation problems are caused by a sinkhole or expansive clay soil?

        Visit our LIFE EXPECTANCY and EXTERIOR WALLS AND STRUCTURE page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. 

NOTE: These life expectancies are based on data provided by InterNACHI, NAHB, FannieMae, and our own professional experience. Because of the numerous variables that can affect a lifespan, they should be used as rough guidelines only, and not relied upon as a warranty or guarantee of future performance.