In North Texas, we've entered a new stone age, in which builders, architects and masons are using a host of natural and engineered materials to give an Old World look to new homes.

Whether it's Lueders limestone quarried in Texas or man-made blocks virtually indistinguishable from their natural counterparts, stone imparts an upscale aesthetic to almost any structure.

Custom Stone Supply

This home exterior features Lueders limestone, which is quarried in Texas.

High-end builders such as Darling Homes, Registry Homes and Harwood International have used alluring combinations of stone to add to the high-profile facades of some stunning properties.

Of course, stone buildings are hardly a modern invention.

"Just think about the Parthenon or Stonehenge, and you realize that natural stone is very long-lasting," says Melody Turner, sales and marketing coordinator of Custom Stone Supply in Dallas.

"The natural stone you see on homes comes from all over the United States and from around the world, including Africa, China and Brazil."

As with any material used for residences, trends vary. A few years ago, superwhite Austin stone was all the rage. It's quarried in Texas; man-made Austin stone also exists in all manner of shapes and sizes, though a cobblestone look using varied sizes typically adorns exteriors.

Ms. Turner says that in the last couple of years, Austin stone's popularity has waned and the more colorful Lueders limestone is outpacing it.

"Lueders limestone comes in various colors like yellow, gold, gray and buff, and people either use one shade alone or they use a blend of all of the colors," she says.

"It's a nice alternative to the washed-out look of the all white, yet it's not too dark."

Drawbacks of natural stone are its weight and expense. As a result, a new generation of manufactured stone has provided an appealing alternative.

"The manufactured stone we carry that's made locally is about a quarter of the weight and looks extremely realistic," says Chandra McClain, office manager of Tejas Textured Stone in Plano.

Adds Ms. Turner of the man-made stone her company carries: "We're stone snobs, and we often cannot tell what is a natural product and what's man-made."

Another benefit of the man-made stone is that it can be cast into L-shaped corners, which makes it easier and faster to apply to exteriors.

On the other hand, environmentalists tend to applaud the use of natural stone. According to the Natural Stone Council, a nonprofit trade group representing the industry, stone's durability, ease of maintenance as well as most quarrying practices make it an especially eco-friendly alternative.

Aesthetics, however, remain the biggest drawing point. "A stone elevation has so much character and warmth," says Mike Carter, corporate director of marketing for the Frisco-based Darling Homes.

"It's a high-end element that works great in outdoor kitchens and interiors, too. Stone really stands out."

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A few common terms describing types of stone for the home:

Chopped: Random lengths in natural colors; useful for exteriors, garden walls and edging.

Big block: Various heights and usually three to five inches deep; common for exteriors and fireplaces.

Flagstone: Any irregularly shaped stone; comes in a variety of thicknesses.

Veneers: A thin surface. Almost any stone can be made into a veneer; some are less than an inch thick.

Manufactured stone: Looks like natural stone but is made with lightweight aggregate and cement with pigmentation.

SOURCE: Custom Stone Supply