| In today's economic climate and depressed real estate | | | | get results that look indistinguishable from the real thing. |
| market, a lot of people are improving their existing | | | | That's because the molds are made from real stone |
| home rather than buying a new home. Likewise, those | | | | and thus have the same texture and patterns as real |
| who do need to sell even in a down-market are | | | | stone. For natural stone, molds use various sizes and |
| spending money making their home as attractive and | | | | patterns so that there is no repetition. Even for things |
| easy to sell as possible. There are many ways of | | | | like brick or tile, good molds will imprint the little |
| improving the visual appeal of real estate. Landscaping | | | | differences and imperfections real bricks and tiles |
| and improving the exterior look of a structure are | | | | have. The result is a natural look virtually |
| certainly among the most effective. This is where | | | | indistinguishable from real stone. |
| manufactured stone and concrete stone molds come | | | | Will manufactured stone last? Definitely. The concrete |
| in. | | | | mix used for the process results in stone and tile that |
| What is manufactured stone? It's man-made stone | | | | can last hundreds of years. That even applies to stone |
| created in special concrete molds. The process can | | | | being used in extreme temperatures with frequent |
| be used to make floor tile, stone veneer, statuary | | | | freeze-thaw cycles thanks to special concrete mixes |
| projects, decorative concrete, steppingstones and | | | | that include air-entrainment agents. Cement sealers |
| many other types of stone easily and inexpensively | | | | and paver sealer also help ensure durability. |
| right at home or in a shop. Learning how to do it isn't | | | | Why does manufactured stone weigh less? The |
| difficult, and it's something homeowners, | | | | concrete used for making the stone doesn't weigh |
| do-it-yourselfers and certainly craft persons or | | | | less, but you only need to make manufactured stones |
| landscapers can easily handle. Getting perfect results | | | | and stone veneers as thick as you want them to be. |
| takes practice, of course, but even beginners quickly | | | | That way, you get the natural stone look, but at far |
| get the hang of it. | | | | lower weight than using real stone. |
| Why make stone when you can buy it? Because | | | | How can you get the coloring and surface of real |
| using cement molds to make cultured stone is far less | | | | stone when you use just cement and concrete? That |
| expensive, because manufactured stone weighs less, | | | | is where special concrete color and sealers come in. |
| and because there is a huge selection of craft molds | | | | Depending on the intended use and look, these |
| and cement colors for just the type of stone you | | | | materials are mixed in, or applied to the surface, |
| want. | | | | resulting in natural colors and looks ranging from rough |
| Stone made at home costs from barely more than a | | | | surfaces all the way to high gloss and sheen. |
| quarter to 60 or 70 cents per square foot, depending | | | | Using manufactured stone is the secret that can |
| on the thickness desired. That's a fraction of what real | | | | transform an ordinary-looking property into one that |
| stone costs. Yet, after a bit of practice, most people | | | | stands out, increasing value and functionality all at once. |