On 2/16/2016 5:11 PM, SeaNymph wrote:

Yet another option (my favorite) is a fitted stone facade.
But, the sort where there are no grout lines -- just very
tightly fitted stones (the stones having shapes similar
to *bricks* -- of various sizes). I.e., the wall feels
almost flat -- but rough.

A cursory look at these sorts of walls (usually on commercial
establishments, not residences) *suggests* that they are individual
stones and someone just was incredibly patient/lucky to manage
to ALWAYS find "just the right stone" for the odd shape that
needed to be filled.

Can anyone confirm that they are, in fact, sold as "assemblies"?
That I don't have to budget weeks of time to precisely fitting
a gazillion little rectangular blocks?

And, as there appears to be no mortar (between "courses"),
how they are attached to the structure?

Are you talking about stacked stone? I'm not really clear what you're
referring to. Got a link or some picture?

No. There are a few commercial establishments in town that
use the stuff in which I'm interested. I will have to take a
camera and snap some closeups (anything from a distance wouldn't
show the closeness of fit)

I like the idea of the planks. That sounds really pretty.

It has the advantage of presenting a contrast to visitors.
Instead of the heaviness of the (painted) stucco, it's more
organic and "rich". We may partially enclose both porches
so this approach would make the areas feel more like
rooms than "exterior areas".

In either case, I figure I can just apply whatever as a
veneer over the existing paneling, etc. (unless I opt
to remove it to increase the R value of that wall)