Stonework---whether it is a natural stone patio, an interlocking brick pathway, a river stone-lined water feature, or a brick raised garden---serves as focal point because its texture and color sharply contrasts with the grass, flowers, and shrubbery of a garden. Your eye is naturally drawn to such features. And stonework has the added benefit of being durable and weather resistant, making it an ideal material for so many garden projects.
“Stone has so many applications, and not just for patios,” enthuses Chris Fichaud, General Manager of G.P. Masonry and Landscape Supplies in Barrie. “It’s used for driveways, retaining walls, raised gardens, walkways, and various landscape projects.”
There are many, many varieties of stone to choose from, each with different coloration, texture, and shape. Interlocking stone has been among the more popular options for many years, and in fact is becoming even more versatile as new styles emerge. Nevertheless, natural stone, including flagstone and granite, is beginning to compete with it.
“Natural stone is really the trend right now, especially stone imported from India and the Orient,” explains Mr. Fichaud. “These imported stones—including sandstones, slates, and granites--- are affordable and unique with distinctive colors and styles. And there are some good, new Canadian quarries offering exciting new options, like Nordic Flagstone from Northern Quebec, which offers a really distinct gneiss (a type of granite).”
The primary stones used for paving are flat flagstones, which are typically sandstone, limestone, granite, quartzite, slate, or porphyry. You can buy flagstone in either random shapes or uniform squares, rectangles, or other geometric shapes. Split stones (stones quarried by splitting the stones along the lines of natural cleavage) are less slippery than completely smooth flagstones, but the slight changes in surface level make it rougher and a bit less refined in appearance.
Making an Impact with Stone
Most people are familiar with the typical applications of stone, as patio pavers or decorative walls. But there are some exciting new trends that suggest unusual applications.
One popular trend is giving front entry areas a face-lift by adding a low (two foot on average) stone entry wall. It’s a striking feature that helps visually define the entry, guide visitors up the wall, and make the front of the home an extension of your living space by subtly separating the seating area from public sidewalks and streets. They’re also a great place for casual seating and for displaying potted plants. Best of all, because they add obvious curb appeal, entry walls add value to the home when it comes time to sell.
Another exciting use for stone is in the building of barbeque islands. Until recently, most barbeque islands featured stucco or faux stone facades to give the impression, but natural stone is becoming increasingly popular. Obviously it’s a more expensive option, but nothing looks nice than the real thing and it makes the feature far
more durable.
Similarly, outdoor dining tables and food-preparation counters with natural counters---just as you’d find in a kitchen---are being seen with greater frequency. Some of these use engineered stone, a new product that combines the beauty of natural stone with the functional benefits of solid surface materials. Engineered stone is composed of a blend of 95 percent crushed natural stone---usually quartz---and 5 percent blend synthetic resins to bind the stone, and can be tinted in a variety of colors. They’re nonporous and resistant to both stains and scratches, and like genuine stone they are an extremely hard surface.
We’re also seeing stone being used more regularly in poolscaping. Because of its ability to absorb and retain the sun’s heat some stone, such as slate, will actually help warm the water’s temperature if used as pavers alongside a pool. Rounded, bull-nosed edging that is less likely to scrap swimmers than rough material, like square-cut brick or flagstone pavers, are a beautiful touch to pool perimeters. Another movement in poolscaping sees the use of stone to build up the feature, by adding raised garden beds as backdrops and privacy screens, diving features, and waterfalls that gently gurgles water into the pool.
“We see natural stone being used on the exterior walls of homes as part of a feature to make them more distinctive, and natural stone is even becoming popular as flooring in high-end homes,” explains Mr. Fichaud. “But no matter how you use natural stone, you don’t have to pick one type. Many of our clients are choosing to blend various types of natural stones in a single application, in doing so combining one or all of the following features – textures, shapes and colour---to create a truly unique and
distinguished look.”
Hiring a Contractor
With so many different stone options available, and many possible applications, it can be difficult to decide where to start.
In the opinion of Stefan Bollinger, owner of Stefan Bollinger Associates and a man with 25 years in landscape design and construction management, it begins with hiring a professional to do the work. “Stone can be expensive---even a moderate sized project can cost in the thousands of dollars---and there is a great deal of skill involved so many people wisely elect to hire landscape contractors to do the work for them,” he says. “It’s a big investment so you’ll want to do it right.”
In fact, selecting the landscaper is the most crucial decision you’ll make in the entire process, simply because you’ll be counting on his expertise and opinion so heavily. But there are so many out there, how do you know whom to entrust with designing the garden of your dreams?
“You need to ask a lot of questions,” explains Mr. Bollinger. “How many years have they been doing it? How do they plan to take care of drainage and how do they prepare the base? Ask for a scaled plan and an outline clearly explaining how he would proceed. Do they belong to a professional organization? These are all very important questions to ask.”
Always ask for a portfolio of prior work, and use it to determine the contractor has experience doing what you envision. An important tip is to pay close attention to little details, such as how neatly stone corners are cut and the spacing between adjoining stones. This will tell you how much pride the individual puts into his work.
Mr. Bollinger also recommends hiring an independent designer to do your planning, then contracting workers to do the installation. “The advantage is that you have another set of critical and experienced eyes ensuring the work is being done as promised,” he says. “It’s one less headache for the homeowner.”
Correctly laid and designed, stone will provide a solid foundation for your yard, a base from which all of your gardens and décor can grow.
Current Issue
September-October
Rock Solid Design
User Comments
