small artificial rock waterfall fountain in front yard

The Weekend Rockscaping Project That Actually Holds Up

Richard L. Winget

I am going to be straight with you before we get into this: building sculpted concrete rockwork that holds up long-term is not the same as building something that looks decent for a season. Both are achievable on a weekend scale. Only one of them is actually worth your time and materials. This post is about doing it right the first time so you are not tearing it out in three years and starting over.

a tall formation of simulated rock that looks incredibly real.

How to Make a Garden Rock Feature That Doesn't Look Fake

Richard L. Winget

Let me be honest with you. Most artificial garden rockwork looks fake, and it looks fake for specific, fixable reasons. I have spent 37 years studying natural rock and simulating it in concrete at every scale from garden boulders to multi-story cliff faces at theme parks and resorts. I know exactly what gives it away, and once you know too, you cannot unsee it.

close-up photo of finished blue-toned simulated realistic rock in front of house.

What's the Difference Between Decorative Concrete and Scenic Concrete, and Which One Do You Need?

Richard L. Winget

Decorative concrete is a broad category that covers any concrete application where the visual finish is the primary goal. Stamped concrete patios, exposed aggregate driveways, polished concrete floors, stained garage floors, concrete countertops with an acid-etched finish, ornamental garden borders, decorative stepping stones. All of that falls under decorative concrete.

Video-On-Demand and DVDs

Learn from nearly 40 years of hands-on experience, one project at a time.

The Carve-Right video library covers the full process, from initial structure and armature through sculpting, texturing, and color. DVDs take you through complete builds start to finish. Videos-on-demand go deeper into technique, material choices, and the kind of problem-solving that only comes from decades on the job.

Every video includes the real reasoning behind the decisions, not just the steps. Browse the trailers before you buy anything.

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Meet Your Instructor

Richard L. Winget

I have spent decades chasing what nature does naturally and figuring out how to recreate it by hand. The chaos of it is what keeps me hooked. No two rocks are the same. No two trees grow the same way. That unpredictability is exactly what makes this craft so satisfying to learn and so hard to fake badly.

Whether you are building something in your backyard for the first time or you have been doing this professionally for years, I think you will find something useful here. The techniques are the same at every scale. The eye you develop is what changes over time, and that is what I am here to help with.

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Testimonials

Here are some of the nice things people have said about my videos and products.

"I would recommend to anyone who is interested in creating custom rock formations to purchase these DVDs. Richard covers all the aspects needed to get started; structure, application, carving, coloring sealing; it’s all there."

Jeff Burns (Landscaping Inc.  Edwardsville, Illinois)

"These videos are GREAT and I will watch them several times! They are well put together and great video quality. The information that you get is far better than anything you will find searching the internet or even asking questions from other artisans, because everything is step by step."

Rex Yoder (All-American Plastering. Lincoln, NE)

"Richards is a seasoned veteran in the hard-scape and artificial rock business. His career spans two decades and literally around the globe. Not only does he share this information with those who buy his videos, but gives you the techniques and the methodology to sculpt fantastic rock."