I know prices can vary greatly depending on type of stone, location, etc. but I was wondering if anyone could give a ball park figure per sqft on cultured stone both DIY and installed. I will be building a new house this year, and would like to use it on the front of the house and the fireplace. I'm just trying to get an idea if this is an option I can afford or should I be looking at some other option. At this point I have no idea if it's $10.00 a sqft or $100.00sqft. Any idea ? I'm in southern NJ. Thanks.

I have an old well room off the basement of my house that I want to close off (it leaks each spring, and I want to landscape over the top of it anyway). My basement foundation is concrete blocks, and there is a hole (about 4x4 feet) in the middle of the wall. I'm not entirely sure how I should go about this project, as I havent has much masonry experience. Should I take it on, or leave this one to a pro? If I do it myself, I need some basic tips. I would be installing the new block and letting it cure completely before filling in the hole, but should I treat the outside with anything in particular? If I should hire it out, how much would it cost? (just the masonry part - I will do the filling in myself)