Padma, I made my own molds--if you click on the link in Loren La's post it will take you to my album. If you set it on "slideshow" it will take you through the album and you can see my forms and the curing blocks. I don't think hypertufa is easier than readymix...I think it's more work. I was already involved hypertufa when I took on this project and decided that I wanted the look of hypertufa. Besides, I have a mixer and that helped, ALOT. If you tried hypertufa it would make your project a whole lot more complicated and harder to calculate amounts/costs. I'm not an expert on readymix-- I think the best way to figure out your unmolding times would be to experiment. If you unmold too early and a block falls apart, you haven't lost much money. Sometimes with very green concrete you can just stick it back together anyway. As far as curing time is concerned, keep your blocks covered with plastic and misted for at least 48 hours and then set in a shady area to cure. Thirty days curing time is recommended but I have used blocks in two weeks (carefully, because they're still pretty fragile). I think concrete cures a little faster than hypertufa, anyway. A wonderful book on concrete/cement art is "Making Concrete Yard Ornaments," by Sherrie Warner Hunter. It's full of recipes and directions. I'm waiting for the sequel from Amazon right now :-) Good luck! Deb

You can't really go by me because I had to do it in batches and wait for someone to help me, because I was waiting for back surgery, I was determined to get that fig in the ground before I was laid up and I did. The bamboo edging and rock are temporary, I just didn't want the neighbors having to look at big stuffed black bags, they ain't pretty. I had most of all the soil mix sifted and sitting in trash cans, the only thing I added to the mix that isn't in the Gritty Mix or the 5-1-1 is E.B. Stone Planting Compost. That Kobalt mixer from Lowe's was the best thing I bought, that and a big wagon with big pneumatic wheels, saved the rest of my back. So Vertical G. S., right next to that fig I am trying out Plants on Walls system on one side of a square column, think I'll go all the way around, what type are you? Jerry

Probably a very old chimney that needs to be lined with metal (not sure what kind of metal) because of small cracks. That's what ba few friends ended up having to do on older homes they purchased. Definitely get someone professional in to look at. A few went with a direct vent gas fireplace (must vent to outside wall not chimney) rather than expense of repairs on chimney. My sister just got a new fire box replacement, one with fans and heat vent, for a efficient heat source rather than a more traditional one. He is very handy, built his own home and cabin. But he would not take on that project. Cost was around $7,000, which included whole new liner. It was replacing his fireplace bhe had for 25 years.

Zak, I guess you mean that the house is vinyl siding and its color will never change. OK, it's combination with the walk is not that bad. The bigger problem is the wall and it's jumpy appearance (dark/light grey) and its clash with the walk. I think that is an absolutely terrific idea that Rev mentioned, to change out the wall cap to match the walk edge color. That would really help these two elements coordinate. It doesn't look like you could change the light colored block to match the main grey block color, outside of faux painting or something that might produce a surprise result, and be entirely dependent on someone's artistic skill. Just rely on plants to cover some of it. It will not take that long. And don't use that blotchy scheme at a future house. :-)