Manufactured stone
Average price: $1,700 to create an interior floor-to-ceiling wall above a fireplace
Savings: 50% less than real masonry
Where to look: culturedstone.com; eldoradostone.com
Look-alike rating: 8
Get the look of real stone for a chimney, a fireplace or porch posts with these artificial rocks that are molded from concrete and then individually tinted to slightly different colors for an authentic appearance.
The individual pieces are lightweight and usually one to three inches thick, with flat backs; during installation they are applied to the surface of the chimney or fireplace much as is done with tiles, instead of being laid from the ground up like true stonework.
That drastically reduces your labor costs - and eliminates the need for pricey concrete footings.
NEXT: Engineered stone countertops
Last updated July 11 2008: 9:55 AM ET
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