When homeowners are looking at manufactured stone veneer for their home, it’s all about…the stone. But you can also add a lot of dramatic flair with the right choice of stone grout color. A good manufactured stone installation can become GREAT when using the perfect color of grout. What color choices should you consider?
Grout Color Combinations
Blend your stone together into a near-seamless palette by choosing a grout color that closely emulates the dominant color of the stone. Picking a well-matched grout color creates a natural and uniform appearance, with the grout barely noticeable.
To make the color and shape of your manufactured stone more prominent and to create additional visual drama, choose a contrasting grout color. With a darker stone, you would pick a lighter grout and vice versa. This technique lets grout share the stage with stone, coming together to make a bold statement.
For a truly unique, standout effect, pick an accent color for the grout. Visually connect the stonework to your home by choosing grout colors that match the trim and other elements, or simply select a grout color that pleases your eye.
For a unique home exterior design, choose a grout color that matches a darker colored siding, or a matching color tone in the stone.
Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the “grout personality” that reflects your personal style.
Sophisticated and Elegant
For an understated, elegant look, match the grout color with the dominant color shadings in the manufactured stone (shown below is Frost Terra Cut with gray grout).
This is a subtle-but-sophisticated choice, for those whose tastes run conservative—always appropriate; always in style.
Bold and Dramatic
This high-style look brings bold drama to the home. The key here is to choose a grout color that’s the exact opposite of the stone color. With light stone, use dark grout, and with dark stone use light grout.
The effect is eye-popping and shows off the shapes and textures of the manufactured stone. This attention-getter is for those who NEVER want to blend in with all the rest.
Rustic and Earthy
This grout color choice blends both of the approaches above, and reflects the array of earthy colors found in nature. In the photo below, the wide range of shadings in Seneca Dry Stack manufactured stone sets the stage. Choose a grout color that matches one of these shades, and it will naturally contrast with the others.
For nature lovers and those who appreciate the full spectrum of rustic earthy tones, this is a perfect choice.
Color Coordinated
For a pulled-together look, weave a matching color choice throughout the various elements of the home’s exterior. In the house photo below we’re showing Southbriar Ledgestone with brown grout color in a shade that matches the color in the Stone Timberbay shake and makes the white pop from the Endure vinyl casement window.
This look reflects a designer aesthetic, providing instant curb appeal. Just like a well-coordinated suit, shirt and tie, this look projects confident quality.
Start the process with ProVia’s Stone and Grout Visualizer
Determining the perfect grout color for your project starts with using ProVia’s Stone and Grout Visualizer. The grout color visualizer lets you see the effect of different grout colors on their desired stone profile and palette using four popular base grout colors: buff, gray, brown or black.
Check out our Design Center to see examples of how other homeowners coordinate stone and grout colors on their homes or to use the grout color visualizer to start planning your stone project.
Kurt Mohn
Product Manager - Stone/Roofing
