Homes With Fake Brick

Seeing is not always believing when it comes to today’s home construction. That’s because choices abound for homeowners who want the look of natural materials but not the huge costs and maintenance involved. Like the look of logs, stone or brick? There are faux stand-ins for each one. But fear not. Unlike the cringe-worthy products of yesterday, today’s fakes are truly easy on the eye.

“Once you get past the fact that something, such as stone, is artificial, you can really see its design potential,” says Shane Starkweather of Boulder Creek Stone Products. “A cinderblock wall covered in faux stone can look as if it was built by a skilled mason or craftsman. And because the stone is lightweight, a couple of do-it-yourselfers can often do the work on their own.”

As is the case with many of today’s faux products, manufactured stone owes a lot to advances in technology. Huge molds can turn out replicas of stone that are so realistic, you’d swear they were cut from a quarry, gathered at a riverbank, or pulled from a farmer’s field. Many of these products will last for decades, and not fade. “A lot of people have a knee-jerk reaction to anything that’s fake,” says Starkweather. “But just because something isn’t real doesn’t mean it isn’t quality.”

For those interested in a coastal, New-England aesthetic, shingled exteriors provide almost-instant curb appeal. With their irregular edges, overlapping shadows, and hand-crafted finish, shingles offer texture, charm, and a sense of history. But caring for them can be a serious commitment. That’s why faux shingles, often made of cement or cement composite, can be an effective alternative. They go up in exactly the color you want. And they stay that color for years. In addition, they keep your home warmer and cooler as the season’s temperature’s change.

Another intriguing design option for homeowners–or those in the throes of building–is faux wrought iron. Made of a composite material, it weighs about one-tenth of the back-breaking material that inspires it. As a result, hoisting a decorative wrought iron window filligree onto, say, a circular third-floor window can be done with almost no effort. Plus, faux wrought iron isn’t wobbly like plastic, and it’s strong and substantial to the touch. Metal-like details can be added to exteriors to make it look more historic or authentic without hiring a specialty crew. And this means that basic Mediterranean-style home can be enhanced with faux iron gates or wall trellises at relatively low expense. But the most compelling feature of all? It won’t rust.

Belly casting can also be done at home. There are belly casting kits commercially available among online sellers priced from P800 to P1,800. This not only broadens the reach of the process but also makes it more convenient as expectant moms can do it in the comfort of their homes. Doing the belly cast in a studio with an artist is a bit pricier as the artist will charge for her services along with other fees.

Each of the six casts arrayed at the event last Saturday stood out. There was one painted with loud, vibrant colors in tribal pattern, another one had graffiti, while one came in pink adorned with ribbon, lace and gems.

Onlookers had different reactions to the exhibit. Jose Nucup, a father of three, seemed amused looking at the molds. “I just don’t know where to put my wife’s belly in the house if ever she did one,” he told GMA News Online.

Another guest, Mary An Gonzales, also a mom herself, shared it was “very interesting. If I knew about this, I would have tried it during my pregnancy.”