fake rock to the rescue

Since I'm no stone mason, we'll probably end up using fake rock when we reside our home. It sounds fairly easy to install, and they've made great strides over the years to make it look and feel real. In fact, many of the higher end homes in Denver used this stuff all over their facades and we couldn't tell the difference.

It's pretty amazing what companies are able to do now to simulate earthen building materials like rock and hardwood. Recycled products that look like anything buy recycled products top the list for those who are green-minded. For many of us on a budget crunch, though, the products that look real, are inexpensive, and easy to install and maintain are the best choice.

One new product that I recently had a chance to review was a fake address rock from Artificial Rocks Factory. These are actually big synthetic boulders with address plaques embedded into them. Considering how difficult it is to obtain an actual boulder and have it engraved or embellished with an address plaque, these 50 to 60 pound alternatives make a lot of sense.

People love rock decor. When we were shopping for homes in Omaha, we noticed many homes with Husker rocks in their garden. In Nebraska, the Cornhuskers are worshipped by all, and nearly every home for sale with a Husker rock had it listed as an exclusion. These were solid rock pieces, mostly sitting in the gardens, welcoming visitors to the home of a true Husker fan (many of these homes also had red rooms).

Address rocks are no different. In most cases, the only people who can afford the real thing are the high end homeowners, and because these fake rock offerings are relatively new, you don't see them too often. But I suspect that will be changing soon as word gets around. Their website offers a rotating 360 degree view of each rock, so you can see it fro all angles. They are molded from the real thing, and are cast in stone not some cheesy fiberglass solution that's going to blow away with a hard wind storm.

I may just have to look at these when we decide to add stone facade to our house. Trying to embed a plaque into the wall of our home would probably be difficult. As I have said before, I'm no stone mason. Having one of these address rocks made and delivered would be a lot easier.