The addition of stone cladding was something of a fashion fad in the 1980's, and like a lot of fashion fads, it has fallen from favour, which is why almost no-one has cladding added these days, and the sight of cladded houses is becoming increasingly rare. Along with external rendering, suspicions about the condition of brickwork under the cladding meant that a lot of cladded house owners found that, far from enhancing the value of their property, the addition of such decoration could do irreperable harm to the chances of a quick sale. The issue was even raised in 'Coronation Street', when the Duckworths were advised of that very situation. In true Duckworth style, Jack ' remedied' the situation by decorating the cladding in a fetching blue-yellow tartan effect - mmmmmmmmmm nice! They no longer live at the house, but their legend lives on with the external monstrosity of decor that remains.