Manufactured stone is an alternative to using real stone that has to be transported in, chiseled and shaped then articulately installed by masons of the trade. While real stone is magnificent to look at and will last for centuries, the cost can run into tens of thousands of dollars. Creating a look of real stone at more than half the price by using manufactured stone is a choice that many contractors and homeowners are seriously looking at today.
It Looks so Real
Take a drive around to parks and visit new buildings that have a stone front or walkways with gorgeous walkways. Stop and feel the stones that have been so carefully lain. You will not be able to determine if this is real stone or manufactured stone. The only give-a-way will be the perfect pattern that is virtually impossible to create by man.
Manufactured Stone is Versatile
Preparing a surface to hold the weight and coarseness of real stone is a large portion of the cost. Faux stone weighs far less than stone and can be placed over any type of surface without preparation. Many homeowners will consider manufactured stone when wanting to keep a stone or brick wall that has become unsightly after years of wear. Matching the original design is so easy and it can be used indoors or out. Easy to maneuver and simple to install, there is no reason to go with real stone.
Durable and Maintenance Free
Real stone is beautiful until it begins to chip and discolor from normal wear. Porous and exposed to spills and smoke, once real stone becomes marked, it is virtually impossible to clean. Manufactured stone requires no maintenance because of the water repellents and polymers used in the construction. Guaranteed for decades of wear without staining, cracking or chipping, faux stone eliminates the worry of your stone becoming unsightly.
Beautiful Colors and any Type of Stone
Whether you are thinking about a slate floor, marble counter tops or field stone for a fireplace, the choices of manufactured stone are vast. Manufacturers can set molds for almost any display you have in mind including corners, trim and inlays. Colors can be blended into the stone with iron oxide pigments that bring out the natural characteristics of a mountainside or the shiny look of beautiful quartz for flat surfaces.
Cost Factor
Shipping rocks from all around the world in order to have the best looking stone is abhorrent in cost. Between the weight and the length of travel, it is not difficult to run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Being able to have the same look and feel of stone for under $10 per square foot only makes sense. Even experts will argue that the texture and characteristics of cultured stone is hard to distinguish from the real thing.
If you are considering stone for a project, look at the positive options that manufactured stone has to offer and you will soon see why this product is gaining in popularity.
Installing Cultured Stones
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