This tree stump table looks quite real and has lots of natural appeal. I am using it on my covered back porch next to a wicker egg chair. When I got the egg chair, I had it in my mind that I wanted a tree stump table next to it, so my husband cut one for me out of a huge log a neighbor had put out by the side of the road when he had a large tree removed. I like the "table" my husband made but he wasn't able to control the saw well enough to make the tabletop completely straight and level. I don't mind much, I've been using it anyway for two years, but after two years the stump is decaying and losing its bark. Next I tried a "naked" stump table which has been stripped of its bark and nicely sanded smooth, and while it has a rustic look overall, removing the bark removed the beautiful, natural texture that I really love about tree stump tables. Also, this "naked" table got some water stains on the bottom when we spilled a bucket of water on the porch near these tables, so that's not ideal, either. Next I tried this Ball & Cast "faux" stump. I love how natural it looks -- the mold for it was obviously cast from a real tree, yet it is not going to rot and decay like my real stump, nor did will it get water stains like the naked stump. The color and finish are very realistic, too (I saw a similar table in plain solid gray at a store in town but it just looked blah and fake). In my photos, the darker table with bark is this Ball and Cast table. Look closely at the lighter (real) tree stump and you can see where chunks of the bark are falling off, since the real bark is decaying. According to the seller, this table is made of lightweight concrete, but don't let the word concrete scare you. It feels kind of like some sort of resin. It is heavy enough that it is not going to blow away in the wind or be knocked over by pets, yet it is still lightweight enough that it isn't difficult for me, a small female, to pick it up and move it from one spot to another. I will add to be careful with it -- if dropped it would likely shatter or at least crack. I think that knocking into it or kicking it with a decent amount of force might break off bits of the bark or crack it, so handle with care and think about what sort of abuse it might get in your home or yard. Mine is placed deep into my large covered porch so it is sheltered and protected from rain and sun. The sun gets so strong and hot here that I worry about the sun fading and/or degrading the table more than the rain. I tested mine based on another reviewer's report of paint coming off with a damp rag, and some black dust wiped off but not any finish from the actual table, so for me I guess it was just paint dust or some other type of dust from whatever environment in which the table was manufactured. Underneath the paint/finish, the concrete appears light in color. Mine arrived in near perfect condition, well wrapped in thick styrofoam and in a sturdy box, but are three teeny-tiny spots that seem to show a light color where perhaps the finish came off. I am showing the "before" picture in my photos, with the tiny spots circled, but I simply dabbed a brown Sharpie pen on them and that covered them up perfectly. They were barely noticeable to begin with. This table is the perfect size for my needs and the seller's measurements are correct. The table feels hollow but there is no opening on the top, sides or bottom, which is good because if you use it outide, it won't fill with rainwater and critters will not be able to make a home inside. There are four soft, thin "feet" on the bottom to prevent scratching your flooring or the bottom of the table. Overall this table is exactly what I was looking for. It looks very nautral and realistic and adds so much texture and a woodsy vibe, yet is perfectly level (unlike my real tree stump) and is not going to decay (like my real tree stump). It has a good weight and heft to it and should hold up well, but keep in mind it is not indestructable, so treat yours kindly and carefully when it comes to kids, pets, everyday handling, and weather.
