What do you all think about building stone to above windows or at cill height?

[JCL]

Hi all, we have drawings for finishing the outer leaf of this self build with the stone finishing at window cill height, slate cill then timber clad above. Were wondering if it would be too much wood cladding..??
 

Now we have started with our stone work we wondered whether it was worth bringing the stone higher to the top of the windows! (as it were, but in these photos to the split in the windows) ? and above the rest of the normal height windows. What do you all think? Carry on using the slate cill, packing out the cladding just 25mm back from the stone, still using the slate cill for a nice effect. 

 

To add- we have a canopy going in from the front door to the back door) for looks!
 

Thanks in advance. 

Edited September 5 by JCL

[torre]

I think this is very subjective, I'd try and put together at least a rough render of the alternatives before making a late change. Chatgpt may be able to come up with something close. 

 

I can easily see cill height working well on the side elevation. If it's the front where you think cladding may be too much maybe consider taking the stone up to full height around the entrance?

[JCL]

@torre Thank you. In my late mind i felt that more stone would add more value to the house. However i can also see it at the cills easily, likewise, taking it to top of standard height windows is hard to visualise and if it doesn't look right it will be worse!

[JCL]

I think, maybe bringing the timber out over the stone may be easier to achieve a better finish if it were higher up. Although it may not look so architecturally designed maybe…

[FranArch]

It depends on the type of cladding:

• A) Treated Timber (Larch)
• B) Acetylated Timber
• C) Thermopine

There is a huge difference in durabiity and costs. 
If you want to have max durability increasing a bit the cost (+60 years) option B is your best friend.

[JCL]

Yes i was thinking b (accoya) really was the only option in my opinion. Although allot of people just use thermo pine! 

[JCL]

On 09/09/2025 at 15:42, JamesP said:

From a practical point of view running the cladding proud would help keep water off the top of the stone work and clean edge.

Do a quick search, mostly forward of stone work. Lots of great examples.

 

Just now, JCL said:

Yes i was thinking b (accoya) really was the only option in my opinion. Although allot of people just use thermo pine! 

 

18 hours ago, FranArch said:

It depends on the type of cladding:

• A) Treated Timber (Larch)
• B) Acetylated Timber
• C) Thermopine

There is a huge difference in durabiity and costs. 
If you want to have max durability increasing a bit the cost (+60 years) option B is your best friend.

B we were thinking was only option. If we do more stone we are going to use thermo wood at the top. Just figuring wether to keep the cill up that high, or pack the timber out so the cladding runs over the stone…