| In these tough economic times, job security, or having a | | | | and rock molds, which are made of infinitely reusable |
| job in the first place, is everything. Which means having | | | | ABS plastic, impart the same variations and random |
| extra skills comes in handy, and having an idea for | | | | imperfections that real tiles, brick and stone have. |
| work that can bring in extra money, too. Or perhaps | | | | Special sealers can create whatever finish you want, |
| you're simply looking to do some home improvement | | | | from rough all the way to high gloss. As far as sizes |
| without paying exorbitant retail prices. Either way, | | | | and colors go, there's almost infinite variety. And since |
| consider concrete stone molds. | | | | manufactured stone is usually only a couple of inches |
| What am I talking about? Well, whenever you see a | | | | thick, it weighs much less than real stone and can also |
| home with one of those gorgeous, expensive-looking | | | | be used for facades and veneer where real stone |
| stone, brick or rock facades and those impressive | | | | would be unsuitable. |
| stone walkways and other detailing, most likely that's all | | | | If all this sounds almost too good to be true, it's not. |
| done with manufactured stone, using concrete molds | | | | The opportunities for manmade stone are almost |
| and cement molds. Did you know that you can make | | | | limitless. Any builder, remodeler, gardener, landscaper, |
| all that stone yourself, saving about 90% of what it | | | | craftsperson, hobbyist or motivated homeowner can |
| would cost in a home improvement store!? That | | | | do it. Of course, as is the case with everything else, |
| translates into a lot of money saved if you're doing | | | | there is a learning curve and you need practice to first |
| your own home improvement projects, and a terrific | | | | get it right and then excel. However, virtually anyone |
| profit margin if you're making and selling manufactured | | | | with a bit of motivation and great ideas on how to use |
| stone. | | | | stone for all sorts of building and home improvement |
| But first, what, exactly, is manufactured stone? | | | | projects can do it. |
| Basically, it's using cement and cement molds to make | | | | The materials (molds, mold release, fortifiers, colors, |
| a huge variety of stone products, like fireplace rocks, | | | | sealers, additives, etc.) are readily available from mold |
| landscape stone, driveway and patio pavers, and all | | | | stores who generally also provide free step-by-step |
| the decorative stone used for decorative walls and | | | | instructions. Do make sure you're dealing with an outfit |
| facades. | | | | that's been around for a while and knows the business. |
| The stone made that way looks real because it is real | | | | That way you get the kind of ongoing support you'll |
| stone, and with a bit of practice, you can make stone | | | | want, and also a great source not only for supplies, but |
| that looks just like the real thing, at a fraction of the | | | | also for examples and ideas on how to use concrete |
| cost. Even the textures are like real stone. That's | | | | stone molds and manufactured stone for customer |
| because the molds used to make the stone are taken | | | | projects or to improve your own home. |
| from real stone. Which means that the stone molds | | | | |