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How does this compare to real natural stone?

1 min read Updated April 28, 2026 Helpful to 923 people
T
Tom Westley
Install team lead · 18 years masonry
The short answer

Visually identical. 50–70% cost savings. 3–5× faster install. No structural engineering.#

Visually identical. 50–70% cost savings. 3–5× faster install. No structural engineering.

Where it matches: appearance at 5+ ft (molds are cast from real stone), 50+ year service life, resale-value impact.

Where it differs: ~8–12 lb/sqft vs 45–60 lb/sqft for full-dimension stone (no foundation reinforcement), 50–70% cost savings, 3–5× faster install.

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