A 1980s vinyl-sided colonial in Hinsdale became one of the neighborhood's standout homes after a full stone veneer installation. Here's how the project unfolded from assessment to completion.
The project that prompted this case study began with a call from a Hinsdale homeowner who had lived in their 1983 colonial for 11 years and had been deferring the question of what to do about its aging vinyl siding. The home was structurally sound and well-maintained, but it presented in a way that did not reflect its position in one of DuPage County's most desirable communities. The owner had been considering stone veneer for two years but was uncertain about the process, the realistic cost, and whether the investment would translate into visible value in this specific market.
Our assessment began with the existing wall assembly. Before recommending any veneer system, we need to evaluate the substrate for moisture infiltration, the structural integrity of the wall framing, and the flashing conditions at all openings. This particular home had minor moisture infiltration at two window corners that needed to be addressed before any new cladding was installed. We included this remediation in the project scope and documented it for the homeowner's records — because covering water infiltration problems without fixing them first is the number one cause of veneer failures we see on homes in the 5- to 10-year post-installation range.
The stone selected was a buff and charcoal ledgestone that complemented the home's original brick foundation and the charcoal shingle roof. The installation included a full-house stone veneer system with a new moisture barrier, metal lath substrate, scratch coat, and full-depth mortar bed beneath the stone. The entry surround was set in a different coursing pattern from the field stone to create visual interest at the primary facade feature. The project ran 14 working days and included daily site cleanup, protection of all landscape plantings, and a final pressure wash of the finished stone.
The transformation was significant enough that several neighbors contacted us during the project. The home appraised at a value meaningfully above the pre-project assessment, and the owner has since referred us to three other homeowners in the same neighborhood. The total investment returned more than 100% in appraised value increase — a result that is not guaranteed but is consistent with what quality stone veneer installation does to a well-positioned Hinsdale property. Contact AMS if you are considering a similar project — we can review comparable installations and give you a realistic expectation for your specific home.
