Article Trunk



Home Improvement Or A Lucrative Business: Making Your Own Concrete Stone

04.24.2010 · Posted in Humanities Articles

In these tough economic times, job security, or having a job in the first place, is everything. Which means having extra skills comes in handy, and having an idea for work that can bring in extra money, too. Or perhaps you’re simply looking to do some home improvement without paying exorbitant retail prices. Either way, consider concrete stone molds. rnrnWhat am I talking about? Well, whenever you see a home with one of those gorgeous, expensive-looking stone, brick or rock facades and those impressive stone walkways and other detailing, most likely that’s all done with manufactured stone, using concrete molds and cement molds. Did you know that you can make all that stone yourself, saving about 90% of what it would cost in a home improvement store!? That translates into a lot of money saved if you’re doing your own home improvement projects, and a terrific profit margin if you’re making and selling manufactured stone.rnrnBut first, what, exactly, is manufactured stone? Basically, it’s using cement and cement molds to make a huge variety of stone products, like fireplace rocks, landscape stone, driveway and patio pavers, and all the decorative stone used for decorative walls and facades. rnrnThe stone made that way looks real because it is real stone, and with a bit of practice, you can make stone that looks just like the real thing, at a fraction of the cost. Even the textures are like real stone. That’s because the molds used to make the stone are taken from real stone. Which means that the stone molds and rock molds, which are made of infinitely reusable ABS plastic, impart the same variations and random imperfections that real tiles, brick and stone have. Special sealers can create whatever finish you want, from rough all the way to high gloss. As far as sizes and colors go, there’s almost infinite variety. And since manufactured stone is usually only a couple of inches thick, it weighs much less than real stone and can also be used for facades and veneer where real stone would be unsuitable. rnrnIf all this sounds almost too good to be true, it’s not. The opportunities for manmade stone are almost limitless. Any builder, remodeler, gardener, landscaper, craftsperson, hobbyist or motivated homeowner can do it. Of course, as is the case with everything else, there is a learning curve and you need practice to first get it right and then excel. However, virtually anyone with a bit of motivation and great ideas on how to use stone for all sorts of building and home improvement projects can do it. rnrnThe materials (molds, mold release, fortifiers, colors, sealers, additives, etc.) are readily available from mold stores who generally also provide free step-by-step instructions. Do make sure you’re dealing with an outfit that’s been around for a while and knows the business. That way you get the kind of ongoing support you’ll want, and also a great source not only for supplies, but also for examples and ideas on how to use concrete stone molds and manufactured stone for customer projects or to improve your own home.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.