2025 Cost vs. Value Report: Manufactured Stone, Vinyl Siding Deliver High ROI
Which home projects offer the most return on investment for homeowners? According to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report from Zonda, exterior projects continue to deliver. Of the projects ranked highest in the survey according to project cost ROI, eight of the top 10 were for the home exterior.
“This year’s report confirms a consistent truth in the remodeling market over the last two decades: Exterior renovations deliver a higher return on investment (ROI) than discretionary interior remodels,” Zonda reported. “This outcome is partly based on values defined by real-estate professionals, who tend to place high value on a home’s curb appeal when establishing a home’s selling price, and partly on the lower labor costs for exterior replacement projects.”
Exterior Projects Dominate the 2025 ROI Rankings
The 38th annual study compares the average cost of 28 remodeling projects with the value they will retain at resale. The top returners were garage door replacement, recouping 268% of the cost, steel entry door replacement, with 216% ROI, and manufactured stone veneer, with 208% cost recouped. These three projects ranked as the top three in last year’s study, as well, and each saw a drastic increase in ROI year over year.
Zonda attributes the high returns in part to the difficult market for existing homes and consumers’ economic uncertainty, which are fueling greater selectivity from an already small pool of buyers. “Long gone are the days when homebuyers would snap up homes regardless of condition,” Zonda said. “The few homes that are moving in today’s market tend to be ones in solid condition with well-appointed exteriors, and they are moving at high prices. In this climate, a new garage door or refreshed exterior façade can go a long way toward attracting buyers with the means to buy a house at top dollar.”
Other exterior projects in the top 10 of the study were fiber cement siding replacement (114%), vinyl siding replacement (97%), wood deck addition (95%), composite deck addition (89%) and fiberglass entry door (85%).
Manufactured Stone Veneer Offers High Return on Investment Nationally and Regionally
For manufactured stone veneer, the Cost vs. Value study looked at the cost recouped from replacing a 300-square-foot continuous band of vinyl siding from the bottom third of a home’s street-facing façade with manufactured stone veneer (such as Westlake Royal Building Products’ Cultured Stone, Eldorado Stone, Dutch Quality Stone, StoneCraft and Versetta Stone) along with sills, corners, and address block as well as a water resistive barrier. It also includes outlining the entry archway and keystone, with a course of flats on either side.
The ROI of manufactured stone has increased steadily since the category was added to the Cost vs. Value Report in 2015, where it was found to recoup 92.2% of its cost. In 2023, MSV offered 102.3% ROI, and in 2024 it offered 153.2% ROI.
On a regional U.S. basis, manufactured stone in the West South Central region delivered ROI higher than the national average, at 242.5%, as did the Pacific region at 231.7%. In both regions, MSV provided the second-highest return out of all product categories. Manufactured stone remained in the top three in several other regions: Middle Atlantic (200.7% cost recouped), South Atlantic (197.2%) and East North Central (190.6%).
Vinyl Siding Continues to Show Strong ROI Growth
For vinyl siding, the Cost vs. Value report looked at the impact of replacing 1,250 square feet of existing siding with new vinyl siding installed to the manufacturer's specifications, plus factory trim at all openings and corners and a weather resistive barrier underneath. Vinyl siding projects saw an increase in ROI over the previous year, with 97% cost recouped versus 80% in 2024.
On a regional level, vinyl siding replacement ROI performed particularly well in the Mountain states (107.2% cost recouped), the Pacific (100.4%) and West South Central (99.9%).
One way to take advantage of this opportunity is with Royal and Exterior Portfolio vinyl siding lines, which combine the look of natural wood with low maintenance and strength. Both feature Chromatix color protection to prevent fading and withstand hurricane-force winds up to 170 mph.
To explore the full report and ROI trends, see the full Zonda 2025 Cost vs. Value Report study and associated trends at www.costvsvalue.com.
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(2025 Cost vs. Value Report: © 2025 Zonda. Complete data from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.)
FAQs
Q: What is the Cost vs. Value Report?
A: The Cost vs. Value Report is an annual study by Zonda that compares average costs for common remodeling projects against their resale value to determine ROI.
Q: Which home improvement projects have the highest ROI in 2025?
A: Exterior upgrades dominate the top rankings, including garage door replacement (268%), steel entry doors (216%), and manufactured stone veneer (208%).
Q: How much ROI does manufactured stone veneer offer in 2025?
A: Nationally, manufactured stone veneer delivers 208% ROI. In some regions, such as West South Central, ROI jumps as high as 242.5%.
Q: Is vinyl siding a good investment for resale value?
A: Yes. Vinyl siding replacement projects offer a 97% return on investment nationally, with some regions seeing over 100% ROI.
Q: Where can I download the full Cost vs. Value Report?
A: The full 2025 Cost vs. Value Report is available at www.costvsvalue.com, including national and regional data.
