Bigger and Boulder : Follow Steps Down the Path to Durable, Natural Splendor

Stone has been popular since mankind began building things. In some areas, especially deserts, it often was the only building material available.

We use reinforced concrete for most of our edifices today, but the pyramids of Egypt and the great temples of Greece and Rome were built of stone.

Today’s homeowners like stone for its beauty and its durability.

Types

Stone is usually classified into one of three broad categories based on how it was formed:

* Igneous rocks, such as granite and basalt, were formed of molten magma and are the densest, hardest rocks on the market. Usually used for walls or garden accents, they can also be cut into flat tiles with special diamond saws and polished for use on buildings and as floors and counter tops.

* Sedimentary rock was formed from layers of sand and other sediment compressed over eons into solid pieces. It varies widely in color and composition. A single piece of sedimentary rock can have many colors and textures because its layers of sediment contain different materials.

Sedimentary rock usually splits easily along the sediment lines, making it the conventional rock used for tiles, veneers and paving. Sandstone and limestone are the most common sedimentary rocks.

* Metamorphic rock started out as either sedimentary or igneous but was changed in form by tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth. Marble and slate are examples of metamorphic stones.

Shapes

Rock comes in a variety of shapes, some created in nature and some by man. The most common, and their uses:

* Rubble stones are natural rocks, often worn smooth by rivers, that are used for landscape accents or to build walls. Because their surfaces are irregular, rubble stones don’t work well in patios and walkways.

* Flagstone is any kind of flat stone, usually large flat sheets of sandstone or limestone. Thickness varies, but flag usually is between a half-inch and 2 inches thick.

The thinnest material is used on walls and other vertical surfaces or as paving stone over solid concrete subfloors. Thicker flagstone can be mortared on top of concrete or laid directly on a bed of sand. It can be cut with a stonemason’s cold chisel or with a diamond saw.

* Ashlar is stone that has been cut or chiseled on all sides and given regular dimensions. It is easy to stack, so it is often used for dry walls, but it also can be laid and mortared into courses, like brick or concrete block. It is usually made of sedimentary rock, although igneous rock also can be cut for ashlar masonry.

Colors

We tend to think of stone in shades of gray or tan, but like nature, it comes in a riot of colors. Among them are purple-and-white streaked quartzite; a dark tan sandstone striped with a thin layer of chocolate color; a verdigris-green quartz; rose-red granite, and sandstone in champagne, buff, tan, gold, rose, pink, red, blue-gray, black and white.

Suppliers usually have their own names for color. The best way to match colors when buying from different sources is to carry around a pretty large piece of the rock you want to match.

Suppliers and Masons

There is a wide variety and quality of suppliers and stone masons, and the costs of supplies and labor vary. The best advice is to shop around. Whether you are planning a flagstone patio or a stone-veneered living room wall, take time to make sure you’ll be happy with the material and the installation.

Most supply yards are familiar with the masons in their areas and can recommend several. Pick your stone supplier based on price, selection, service and proximity, but pick your mason based on the quality of work he or she has done. A good mason will happily put you in touch with several satisfied customers, and you should go see the work.

Doing It Yourself

If you are confident of your skills and don’t mind wrestling with heavy material, breathing clouds of lung-clogging dust and smashing a few dozen fingers and toes as your work progresses, by all means give it a go.

You’ll need a diamond saw blade for your power saw, an assortment of mason’s chisels in various sizes, a small sledgehammer, a good dust-filtering face mask, safety goggles and leather gloves.

Browse the do-it-yourself section at a local book or home improvement store and get stonework instructions that you find easy to understand and follow.

And don’t forget the ointment for sore muscles and bandages for mashed digits.