Replies

1. 
   Bearmon_ | Apr 01, 2000 02:00pm | #5

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   I helped a friend do the interior of a fireplace with cultured stone. I was amazed how far they have come in making it look real. Don't know the brand, but the stuff we used was cast from actual rocks, and no two were the same. Other ones have duplicates which lessen credibility. Ditto what Rich said on the joints.

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   Guest_ | Apr 01, 2000 02:01pm | #6

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   Any comments on the pros and cons of using cultured stone as opposed to the real thing on a new house?

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   Guest_ | Mar 31, 2000 10:19pm | #1

   *Kathy, try clicking the Search key at the top of this page and enter "cultured stone" for lots of opinions...Personally, I like a lot of the cultured stone I've seen. But if it looks fake its a waste of money.jim

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   Guest_ | Mar 31, 2000 10:38pm | #2

   *I've haven't used the cultured stone (yet) because my background is fabricating theatre scenery. That is, making fake things look real. From what I've seen, cultured stone can look very real. What often doesn't carry the illusion is the mortar bed it's placed ON, not IN. In a real stone wall the mortar is at a varied depth, not in a single, flat, plane.Ken

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   Bonnie_B. | Apr 01, 2000 01:15am | #3

   *Kathy: whether you decide to use cultured stone or real stone depends on where you live. In my area, real stone is popular (because of relatively low labor costs), so cultured stone would be out-of-place. (I live on the Mexican border.) However, in the East coast, California, and the South, I have seen even big-name home designers and builders use cultured stone very effectively. What you should try and find out is whether there are subcontractors who regularly install cultured stone and therefore have the necessary experience. A business that sells masonry products, like brick, could tell you if cultured stone is commonly sold in your area. Conversely, do any subcontractors have experience installing real stone veneer on houses? The May 2000 issue of Fine Homebuilding has an article on cultured stone. It is helpful to see how cultured stone is actually applied. That article also has a list of cultured stone companies. You can go to their websites and see what various types of cultured stone looks like. Bonnie B.

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   Guest_ | Apr 01, 2000 07:24am | #4

   *I'll second JimL's concern about the fake look. Since the, ahem, cultured stone comes in just a few different shapes, you need to be careful to avoid a repeating pattern, something you would not see with real stone. Ken, the depth to which the joints are filled depends upon the installer. While you do place cutured stone on mortar, you still must fill the joints for that realistic look.