My fireplace and basement side walls in my log home are a faux stone and have held up excellent in the 15 years since I built my log home. However in all fairness I have been told they are not all created alike. The company that made my stone actually grinds up real stone and mixes it with some kind of cement in a mold. Looks absolutely like the real thing but lighter than the real thing. The granite ones even have what looks like real mica flecks.

I'll post some pictures if you're interested Bruce. The company that supplied my faux stone is located in Wakarusa, Indiana.

I've been told metal roofs last indefinitely but the initial cost is high.

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.