Is that the only estimate and opinion you received?

What is the climate? Did water get into the cast stone and freeze. Perhaps the cast stone was not reinforced or water is entering at the top joint (it should have been caulked and maintained). Make sure you understand the cause of the damage before doing anything. Is the cast stone sound or is it falling apart? You should determine if it is sound enough to be patched before covering it. This might be a job for a commercial concrete repair and restoration contractor instead of a masonry contractor. Google them for your zip code.

Did the contractor mean "stucco" when he said "stucco" or did he mean EIFS?

I think a properly detailed EIFS installation may be a cost effective solution in this case. Be ready for trade-offs, however, because the insulation and mesh required on the EIFS, the very thing that makes it a better choice than stucco, will add thickness to your quoining.

Many thanks for all the quick responses. It looks like I have a much bigger problem than I thought :( - I don't know how to response to each of you so I will response to all here.

Jellytoast: Yes it was the only opinion and estimate because so far I contacted only one contractor who was referred by a friend. I really do not know who would do this kind of job to contact.

Snookums2: Greatly appreciated for what you said.

JDS: We live in Northern Virginia. We are the original owner and we have been here almost 27 years. I never know that caulking is required for this. I do not see any caulking as these cast stones were set just like any other brick around them. From what you said it sounds like these cast stones were cracked because the water get into them. From what I can see - these cast stones are sound (in relative term!) - not falling apart - and so far do not pose any structural problems. I think they are sound enough to be patched and then covered but with what material? Stucco is the only thing I know and as Snookums has said "If the underlying substrate material is cracking/expanding, the stucco over it will crack too.". So If stucco is the only choice I have - Do you think that stucco will be OK if we caulk and maintain? How often do you re-caulk though?

I never know why these cast stones are cracked and now I know why - it is because of the water getting into them !!! I wish we had not done this! We paid extra to get these cast stones look. The original plan was all bricks!

Joseph Corlett, LLC: I'm sure he meant "stucco" since he plans to stop by one day soon to "sample" the stucco on the bottom stone (behind the big pine tree) to see if it would work out. But now with all the knowledge I just learnt from you all I will tell him to hold off on this.

Many many thanks for all your help. I do hope I will get a solution for this.

How many of these stones are failing?

What type of company are you calling? I would get opinions from some masonry men.

There are a total of 20 for both sides and only 7 are still intact. My friend referred the contractor who did her drive way. I would assume he knows this stuff.

It looks like the only "correct" solution is to remove all the cast stones and replace them with bricks! It will be very expensive and I'm not sure if it will look OK!

Thanks again for your input.

I would not have a driveway man involved in this. Look for a mason.