Key takeaways
- Brick is the lower-maintenance classic; stone brings texture and color variation.
- Natural stone is heavy and costs more; cultured stone is lighter and cheaper.
- Many homes combine both: brick walls with a stone accent.
- Flashing and drainage matter more than the material.
Start with the look you want
Brick has clean lines, a traditional rhythm and hundreds of colors. Stone has depth, shadow and irregularity, and reads as more rustic or more upscale depending on how it is cut and laid. Neither is better; they say different things about a house.
A good test is to stand across the street and picture the house from the road. If the lines of the house are formal and symmetrical, brick usually supports that. If the house is a craftsman, cottage or farmhouse, stone often belongs.
Cost, weight and structure
Brick veneer typically costs less to install than natural stone, and cultured stone usually sits between them. Natural stone is the heaviest, so the wall and footing have to be able to carry it. We check the ledge and the structure before recommending one.
The cheapest option is not always the lowest-cost one over time. A well-flashed brick wall can go decades with little more than occasional repointing.
Combining the two
Many Tennessee homes pair brick with a stone base, a stone chimney or a stone entry. The trick is to choose colors that share an undertone, so the two materials look planned rather than patched together. We build sample panels so you can see them side by side in your own light.
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Quick answers
Is stone veneer more expensive than brick?
Natural stone usually costs more per square foot than brick because the material and the labor are both higher. Cultured stone can land between the two.
Can I add stone to an existing brick house?
Yes, as long as the wall and base can carry it and the transitions are flashed correctly. We design it so the stone looks like part of the original house.
Ready to talk it through? Get a free estimate or call 615-431-3789.