Address Boulders Common Questions

Here are questions that are commonly asked by home
and garden, nursery, gift store, and catalog retailers
and their customers about the realistic artificial address boulders Valley Monuments offers. These unique and practical landscape accents are ideal for residences and other locations where attractive, more natural-looking identification is desired.

Our exact replicas are the common sense alternative to the expense and difficulty of acquiring, moving and installing a real boulder weighing hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds and then trying to mount address numbers or a plaque on it so that it looks professional.

• How are the artificial boulders manufactured and shipped?
• How many years will they last?
• Do the boulders require special care?
• Is there a manufacturer's product guarantee?
• What choice of natural colors are available?
• How many characters can the plaque accommodate?
• When can we expect the order to arrive?
• Once the address boulder arrives, what's the best way to unpack it?
• Can you explain the address boulders' anti-theft feature?
• Can we order a display sample?

How are the artificial boulders manufactured and shipped?
The rugged castings are hollow, approx. one-inch thick, and open at the bottom. They weigh
between 50-60 lbs. (but are exact replicas of rocks that would normally weigh 800-1,000 lbs.) and
are manufactured from construction-grade GFRC cast stone to withstand freeze-thaw conditions
and 9,000 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure.

They are shipped via FedEx Ground in 350-lb. test, double-walled corrugated boxes using an industrial foam-in-place packaging system.

How many years will they last?
Due to modern high-performance polymers and other scientifically-developed, construction-grade admixtures, our GFRC cast stone reproductions are designed to last for generations (even in freeze-
thaw conditions and in the face of mowers, watering and trimming) and typically wear in the same manner as, or superior to, natural rock. The boulders are actually one of the few products that will look better with age as the elements (i.e., rain, sun and snow) give them an even more lifelike, weathered appearance with each passing year.

Do the boulders require special care?
The only special care required is in climates with freeze-thaw conditions. Our cast stone formula includes moisture-proof admixtures and an industrial sealer has been applied to all surfaces. However, we strongly recommend purchasing from your local hardware or home improvement store a penetrating concrete sealer and applying it to the boulder (after gently washing it with mild, soapy water to remove dust) every 5-6 years for best protection against moisture intrusion and freeze-thaw cycles.

No chemicals or cleaning solvents should ever be used to clean the products. Care should be taken when unpacking, moving and installing the boulder(s), but if one should be accidentally scratched or chipped, the mark will likely disappear from view as natural weathering takes place over several months, similar to natural stone. However, easy-to-use scratch "kits" are available upon request.

Is there a manufacturer's product guarantee?
A 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is offered for the lifetime of each boulder if the craftsmanship is found to be defective in any way (with the exception of naturally-occurring adjustments in color). Plaques are made of cast aluminum and are finished in baked enamel paint. They are rustproof and are guaranteed to be free from workmanship defects for one year. Customers with a valid craftsmanship claim will receive an immediate replacement with an identical item once the product is returned and the claim confirmed.

What choice of natural colors are available?
There are three natural colors to choose: Slate Gray (popular in the Midwest and East Coast areas of the United States), Sandstone and Red Rock. Since detailed latex molds for the boulders are tediously taken from actual rocks found in nature, customers expect that the color process used for them match the realism of the reproductions. Their demand for quality is met by skilled craftsmen who enhance the castings with permanent natural shades using a proprietary coloring process which requires no special maintenance in the future.

How many characters can the plaque accommodate?
The cast aluminum ivy oval plaque features a black background and gold letters. It measures 13-1/2" (W) x 7-3/4" (H) and can accommodate five 3" characters or seven 2" characters.

When can we expect the order to arrive?
After a retailer faxes or e-mails us a completed order form, it normally takes 15 business days for the plaque to be cast (an extra 4-5 days should be allowed for during the busy Christmas holidays). Once we receive the plaque, please allow 5-7 business days for it to be installed in the chosen boulder and delivered to its final destination in the United States (longer if elsewhere).

Since they can weigh between 50-60 lbs., all of our rocks are packaged in 350-lb. test double-wall corrugated boxes using an industrial foam-in-place system to protect them during transit. They are then shipped via FedEx Ground.

Once the address boulder arrives, what's the best way to unpack it?
First, it is the customer's responsibility to check for damage in the unlikely event something happened to it during shipping. (On the rare occasion there is damage, the customer must contact you so you can call us to make a claim with FedEx. After the claim is confirmed and FedEx has picked up the product in its original packaging and returned it to us, we will ship a new address boulder to your customer with the original plaque installed on it unless it also has been damaged and needs to be replaced).

Once the package is opened, the industrial foam-in-place packaging system material can be removed by breaking off or carefully cutting it away from the boulder piece-by-piece and disposing of it. (Note: Traditional bubble-wrap or "peanut shell" material isn't suitable for shipping products as heavy as our boulder replicas). Cutting and tearing off parts of the corrugated box often make it easier to access the hardened foam for removal. Please remember, the manufacturer is not responsible for any damage to the boulders or plaques when customers unpack or place them.

Can you explain the address boulders' anti-theft feature?
Once customers see how realistic our 50-60 lb. reproductions look, they often agree it's unlikely anyone is going to bother with what appears to be an 800 lb. natural boulder that would require incredible effort to move. However, if they feel it's necessary in their neighborhood, we suggest the use of the heavy-duty metal eye bolt manufactured underneath each boulder for anti-theft purposes (the following instructions are included with each boulder).

To use this feature, a customer should purchase four items from a local hardware or home improvement store: 1). An inexpensive key or combination lock, 2). A small sack of "just-add-water" quick-drying cement, 3). A five-gallon plastic bucket if they don't have one, and 4). A three-foot-long piece of sturdy 2/0 or 3/0 straight link chain (75 cents-$1 per foot).

They then must dig a hole directly below where the boulder will be placed, use the lock to secure one end of the chain onto the metal eye bolt, mix the cement in a bucket, fill the hole with the cement slurry, push as much of the remaining length of chain into the cement, and rest the boulder over the hole where the chain can dry in the cement and serve as an anchor.

Can we order a display sample?
Absolutely! Industry professionals who see our realistic and durable products at trade shows agree "seeing is believing." That's why, for first-time customers, we offer a display sample program which includes the boulder(s) of their choice with a permanently affixed cast aluminum plaque which makes it suitable for display purposes only. Shipping is included.