Faux stone siding is becoming the answer to this equation for more and more homeowners and development firms. At this point, manufacturing processes have become so efficient that there are now millions of homes which feature some type of manufactured stone. Siding is a particular area where faux stone siding is coming into its own. With the added bonus of being a less expensive material, faux stone siding adds structural strength, while at the same time being more lightweight than many stone siding options.

Faux stone siding is made by the use of molds which were in turn made from real stone. Lightweight concrete is poured onto a chosen pigment, which sits in the mold and gives the faux stone siding its color. Once the cement sets, it is visually indistinguishable from real stone. The obvious advantage of weight and an overall ease of workability are some of the differences to be noted. Sold in manageable flats by the square foot and corners by the lineal foot, faux stone siding is designed to be installation-friendly.

There is of course a third benefit to be found in quality faux stone siding beside durability and attractiveness - increased value to your property. This value is connected with these initial benefits of durability and attractiveness. But the value added to a property can lead to long-term rewards for the homeowner or development firm. The fact is that the exterior of a home or any property has tremendous impact on the first impressions of potential buyers. And for the right effect, a property with a strong visual impact can lead to an increased asking price of that property. On the issue of durability, faux stone siding represents a durable solution, and is often bolstered by robust limited warranties.

When redoing my kitchen I wanted to add a chair rail border midway on one wall. I wanted something different, not your usual wood rail. So I looked at the different raised stencils thinking that they might make a nice rail and thought about using flat painted borders but decided that they were not the effect I wanted.

Manufactured stone, also known as faux stone or artificial stone, is engineered from a precisely formulated blend of Portland cement, natural rock aggregates, and carefully selected pigments. At only a fraction of the weight of natural rock, manufactured stone eliminates the need for structural reinforcing, foundations, and footings. Thus, the stone can be installed on any stable interior or exterior wall surface, facing, or elevation, including those where natural rock would be impractical. While some manufacturers of artificial stone cut corners on their components and processes, usually most of them has been careful to select only quality suppliers with a reputation for durable, weather and wear-resistant components. As a result, they're able to offer an industry-leading 50-year guarantee on every rock they carry.