Curating Curb Appeal: Old-World Stone & Wasatch Climates
Episode 1 of Groundwork Spotlights BayLa Anderson of Stone Connections, Unpacking Exterior Stone Selection, Climate-Resistant Standards, and Timeless Design Along the Wasatch Front
Welcome to Groundwork: The Art and Craft of Utah Custom Homes, where we demystify custom homebuilding along Utah’s Wasatch Front. In this premiere episode, host Pete Codella sits down with BayLa Anderson, stone and exterior finish specialist at Stone Connections, a family-run business serving Utah builders and homeowners for more than two decades.
Exterior finishes do more than establish curb appeal; they protect a home against Northern Utah’s dramatic temperature swings, heavy winter moisture, and hot summer sun. Pete and BayLa explore the science of exterior masonry, what to expect in the showroom, critical site considerations before breaking ground, and how to design a timeless exterior palette.
Built for Wasatch Climates: Quality & Standards
Northern Utah’s freeze-thaw cycles present real challenges for exterior masonry. Water absorption can lead to face damage and structural deterioration when moisture freezes and expands.
BayLa explains that the manufactured stone lines offered at Stone Connections are produced by Amish craftspeople in Ohio and engineered to comply with the ASTM C1670 standard. (In case you’re wondering, that's the American Society for Testing and Materials, which now operates globally as ASTM International, and the specification is the Standard Specification for Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer Units – ASTM C1670 / C1670M.)
Because manufactured stone is human-made, variables such as aggregate mix density, air entrainment, and master mold sizing are strictly controlled. This tight process prevents excess moisture absorption at the front face and guarantees consistency if an addition or repair is needed years down the line.
To keep custom projects running on schedule, Stone Connections stocks approximately 80% of its stone catalog locally, providing weekly truck deliveries from Ohio and typical transit turnarounds of three to four days.
Navigating the Selection Process: Lighting, Grout, & Natural vs. Manufactured Stone
Selecting exterior stone requires more than browsing a digital catalog. Because digital screens distort color, Stone Connections utilizes large 4x4-foot physical display boards in its South Salt Lake showroom.
The Lighting Factor: Exterior stone shifts dramatically between indoor showroom lighting and direct sunlight. A pro tip for custom buyers is to take physical material samples outdoors to see how the stone, siding, and trim harmonize under natural Utah light.
Grout Techniques: Joint styles and grout tones significantly alter the finished profile. Applying an overgrout technique creates a softer, more uniform surface that lends manufactured stone a distinct Old-World, natural look.
Manufactured vs. Natural Stone: While manufactured stone offers uniform colors and an engineered back grip for adhesion, natural stone arrives straight from the quarry in slabs with one-of-a-kind color variations. Because natural stone has a smooth, porous back, masons must use specialized high-adhesion mortars with proper lime content rather than standard Type S mortars.
Designing for Timeless Curb Appeal: The Alpine Parade Home
Highlighting a recent collaboration on Gordon Milar Construction’s 8,600-square-foot spec home in Alpine for the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, BayLa and GMC designer Lara Langston paired an off-white siding with Genoa Volterra stone by Casa de Sassi.
The stone profile was selected for its versatility, bridging warm and cool undertones to create a traditional, balanced exterior that avoids visual busyness. The team complemented the look with matching stone wall caps along the entry steps, delivering a tailored architectural accent that feels enduring.
As color trends move away from stark black-and-white palettes and return to earthy warmth and European transitional styles, BayLa notes that investing in traditional profiles prevents homes from feeling dated five years later.
Site Planning Realities Before Breaking Ground
Exterior material decisions must be finalized before site excavation and foundation work begin:
Brick Ledges: Full-size structural brick measures nearly four inches thick and requires an engineered concrete brick ledge built into the foundation. (Additionally, thin brick is often more expensive than full brick due to the added labor of slicing standard brick.)
The 4-Inch Clearance Code: Utah building code requires masonry stone to sit at least four inches above finished grade (dirt, bark, rock, or grass). Stacking stone directly against the soil exposes the porous material to ground moisture, snow accumulation, and winter de-icing salts, which clog pores and accelerate degradation.
Connect & Learn More
To view full-size stone displays and explore exterior palettes, visit the Stone Connections showroom in South Salt Lake or follow their daily project updates on Instagram @stoneconnections.
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