• Accentuate the architecture with cut stone siding.Yasinguneysu/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Home building materials have come a long way since the days of fieldstone and felled timber. Today there are a plethora of synthetic materials that are efficient and easy to install. However, some homeowners dislike the look of certain synthetic materials, such as vinyl siding. Artificial stone siding or veneer, which is typically applied with mortar, gives homeowners the option to have the natural look of stone with the advantages of synthetic siding.
  
  

River Stone

• River stone siding, also known as river rock or stream stone siding, consists of medium to large round rock shapes. The surfaces mimic stones that have been pulled from a stream where they have been smoothed by centuries of flowing water. River stone siding is commonly made with varying, natural shades of beige, blue-gray and red to enhance the overall natural appearance. Grouted and groutless river stone siding is available.
  
  

Cut Stone

• With the essence of a medieval construction, cut stone siding has the look of rough-cut and fit together stones. Cut stone siding is made up of rectangular stone shapes of varying sizes and comes in many styles, including limestone, castle stone and cobblestone. Limestone is typically light in color. Cobblestone is made up of only small stone shapes and comes in various shades. Castle stone is typically dark and has the most precise rectangular shapes. Grouted and groutless cut stone siding is available.
  
  

Stacked Stone

• Stacked stone, also referred to as ledge stone, has the look of long, skinny, slate-like stones that have been loosely stacked without mortar. Because the intention is to create the appearance of dry-stacked stones, stacked stone siding is typically groutless. Stacked stone provides a complex texture because of the depth of the joints and because of the multiple lengths at which the stone faces protrude. From gray to beige, stacked stone comes in a variety of shades. Blended-shades stacked stone siding is also available.