Hi Dena, I'd have to look at the article again next time I'm at my local Barnes and Noble library :) I think the diamond mesh was added to the initial surface that bonded to the cinder block and had a straight portland/sand slurry put on top of the diamond mesh that was then textured to "grip" the layer of hypertufa added on top of that (and then shaped). To reiterate: cinder block/bonding agent/diamond mesh/cement slurry layered in that order and then shaped hypertufa layer. Again, I'll take notes the next time I'm in there--too cheap to buy the book! LOL I know people here have already done the hypertufa facade on cinder walls but I just thought her work was so well done and found it interesting she used the hypertufa mixture (even though she didn't call it that).

I hope this is not too bold, but you asked. I don't think the white is the problem. The right side of the house is OK. Shutter color does little for the house - go with a brighter color, or earth tone. Maybe also do the trim in the same color to tune down the while (ie eves, vent and roof line). The left side of the house could use some work. Two windows and a door - all different designs. The one window with shutters is small and would look better larger, but is not bad. The one to the left of the door does not fit with the others. The entry way is not impressive. I'd spend most of your money on the entry way. Make it much bigger. It is at the center of the house and it should be the focal point. This can be done in a number of ways. Extend the porch. Add a new enclosed front entry. Make a wide, impressive walkway to the driveway. If you add a 'wow' entry way, no one will notice the rest of the house which is not so bad. A nice wood door in the same color as teh shutters. Then work on the landscape. Remove the tree in front of the door way. The new path will extend out from the front, in a wide sweep to the drive, and allow you to add a nice bed on both sides of it. The one in front can curve towards the front of the property on the driveway side and include the smaller tree out front. Another large bed around the big tree to balance it, and to balance that side of the house which is larger. The white house would be a good backdrop to evergreens. You have a great front yard for gardening - if that is your thing. A lot of people on this sight would kill for a lawn like that.

I have a blend of Owens Corning Aspen and Bucks County, and I really love it. My only complaint is that there's a certain shade of purpley-brown in the Bucks that tends to repeat a bit too often. I may actually take a wire brush to a couple of them way up high, see if I can knock it back a bit. If you visit a decent sized dealer, they should have several boards of a given color to look at, and may be able to give you the addresses of homes in your area with a particular color as well. Most important is that the mason should be willing to come out and do an actual sample on your wall: that made all the difference for me. My first choice took on an awful salmon/pumpkin color when placed in the context of my siding and trim. The Aspen tends to look boring and homogenous in OCs own promo material, but has a great range of colors and shades in person. We used a natural stone for the hearths, color matches, and doesn't scratch the way the cultured can. Can you tell it's not 'real' stone? Yeah, probably. While there's a great range of colors, textures, and shapes of the stone, in larger areas it still tends to develope a certain rhythum that signals that this is a man made product. I don't think the casual veiwer will identify it as such, and I don't think it will be the sort of thing I notice more and more over time. I'd caution that the skill of the installers makes a huge difference.

I meant porcelain not ceramic!!! Please delete!