Archive for the 'Stones & Bricks' Category

Dec 04 2009

A Brief Introduction to Fond Du Lac Stone

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Fond Du Lac Stone is quarried in the Town of Fond Due Lac, Wisconsin. Fond Du Lac is a type of flagstone and is noted for its muted tones reminiscent of the Arizona and New Mexico deserts. It comes in a variety of finishes and cuts.

One of the most popular styles of flagstone is the style of Fond Du Lac known as ledge Random Ashlar. This stone is available in finishes ranging from planned, tumbled, chiseled, natural, sanded, square, round, irregular, bush hammered, flame finished, rock face, and split rock.

What is included in most Fond Du Lac Stone Installations?

1. Work: The contract includes the furnishing of all exterior and interior facing. The stone available is known as Fond Du Lac Ledge Random Ashlar as shown and indicated in the picture.

2. Stone: Usually a guarantee by the particular company that they will manufacture your stone from their own quarries.

3. Setting: The stone supplied to you is guaranteed to be durable, sound, free from cracks, and when installed shall be jointed with mortar and include no air pockets or empty spaces. The mortar and stone will be free of stains and as clean as possible. When installed, the stone face will be free of mortar stains and damage.

4. Mortar: The mortar used in your professional installation will be composed of a specific matching color 1 part mortar cement, 3 parts clean sharp sand, and shall be free of iron and other impurities. Sufficient water shall be used to mix the mortar to the proper working consistency.

5. Joining: The joints will be of equal and of a pre specified depth and width.

6. Cleaning: When your Fond Du Lac Stone installation is completed your stones are to be cleaned with a soft bristled brush and water. No other cleaner shall be used. No acid cleaners of any type are to be used as they will adversely damage the stone.

7. Protecting the stone: The contractor is responsible for the protection of the stone from pickup through delivery, installation, and cleanup. Extreme care will be taken to prevent the staining from soil, clay, dirt, asphalt, oils, or any other impurities. While the stone is at the job site it will be covered by a water proof cover an elevated above the ground. It will also be protected from underneath with a splash guard.

8. Sample: Before your installation is underway a sample wall will be erected on the job site for a final approval.

What to Expect

You can except to be able to choose from a wide variety of flagstone including the Fond Du Lac quarry variety; Random Ashlar. This particular flagstone is available in a few different colors and many different finished including flame finished, rock faced, tumbled, planned, and more. In addition to thin stone veneer application, other Fond Du Lac stone applications exist.

Once installed, with proper care, your stone will last many, many years and add beauty, value, and curb appeal to your home and property. You can be quite confident that with proper installation you will be very satisfied with your purchase of your natural stone products. You can take great pride and care in the quarry, production, and installation of our natural stones. Prior to the start of your project, be sure to browse through different pictures online before making your final selection. When choosing a company to work with, look for online feedback from happy people whose homes have been upgraded with the elegance of natural stones.

Looking for a Fond du Lac Stone supplier? View the many different styles of Natural Thin Stone Veneer and granite countertops in Wisconsin that Halquist Stone has to offer. For more information, call (262) 246-9000 or visit HalquistStone.com to request a free brochure.

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Dec 03 2009

Difference Between Artificial Stones and Natural Stones

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Stones are important for home constructing. Stones plays important role for both exterior and interior designing of the home. Stones are used for various purposes at home construction. From building beautiful walls of the house to decoration pieces, stones are used. The only thing that differs is the type of stone to be used. Stones differ into artificial and natural stones. Though both are used respectively for construction of house.

Natural stones are creation of nature’s greatness or nature’s products. They are created naturally. Their color texture shines size and shape all are the nature’s gift. To compare the beauty of natural stone it is awesome. On the other hand artificial stone is just a cement based product that is molded to represent a stone surface and then sprayed, dyed or coated like stucco with a stone like color. They are used like thin pieces are stuck onto a wall or structural surface, like tiles. Then to fill the gap between the stones other piece of stones are installed. Artificial stone is made by crushing and grinding natural stone and then re-constituting it, in a mould, with cement mortar. Sandstones, marbles and limestone are well suited to the re-constitution process.

The artificial stones include Modena, Verona rose, tankard, shale white, old brick, hand brick red. These were some of the artificial stones which are used for home construction. Artificial stones are generally used for exterior of the house like walls, pavements, and top roof flooring. Though some artificial stones which are processed well are used as decorative pieces of marble. It is due to their shine. Even Sand stone wall decorative ornaments are hand made from fine sand mixed with cement.

Whereas natural stones provides aesthetic value to the house. Whether it is luxuriant granite beige limestone lustrous marble rustic grey slate or exotic brown sandstone all natural stones create serene beauty to home. Beautiful marble flooring with Granite counter tops and silver beige marbles for bathrooms attracts thousands of people. Natural stones are naturally good. Their shine and lustier for long cannot be faded. While there is possibility that artificial stones lose its color. For they are not made good. For some time it is good but not for long.

After all artificial stones are actually not real stones. Natural stones are the actual stones. So it is obvious that natural stones will last more. Whatever stones are used at home it is important to find out the real stones and accordingly it should be placed. Whether it is granite marble slate sandstones all can be found both as natural and artificial stones. Though artificial stones can appear smooth and more beautiful due to polish but it is actually natural stones whose beauty last forever.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, bid on your projects, or schedule an appointment to learn more about us. Visit us at: http://www.pacificbedrock.com

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Dec 02 2009

Make Concrete Blocks For A Living With A Solid Foundation

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Concrete blocks are a basic commodity of the building industry. If you are looking for a great business with a solid foundation this may be the one for you. Concrete products are used everywhere for building. There is a constant strong demand. They are always in style unlike here today gone tomorrow products. They are used to build large buildings and small backyard barbeques. There is a market for cement blocks around the world and particularly in North America.

If you are looking for a good business,which you can start from home at low cost,making concrete blocks and other concrete products is a great opportunity. Starting with a part time business,using hand made molds,you can get going with as little as a few hundred dollars for supplies and materials. You can operate out of your garage then as business grows and you need more room you can expand to rented premises. The secret is to keep your costs as low as possible to start with. Too many businesses fail in the first year because they spend too much money unnecessarily on rents and equipment. Start with the necessities and add more as you grow in profitability.

Concrete products of all kinds are obviously heavy and bulky. To transport them for long distances is costly. As a local manufacturer you can supply these products to customers in your area for a lot less than a distant manufacturer can. Your savings, in cost of transportation,allow you to price your products very competitively. As a small operation working from your garage you have little overhead cost. No rent,no staff wages mean low production cost. Again this allows you to price very competitively and still make an excellent profit.

The only things needed to start up are sheet metal and plywood to make the molds. You can obtain plans with instructions on how to do this. To manufacture concrete blocks you will need Portland cement,gravel,sand and water. Your local building supply store or lumberyard can supply these items.

With hand made molds one person can make 100 cement blocks in a days work. You simply fill the molds with the appropriate concrete mix then turn the blocks out to dry. This is pretty simple. Then as your business expands you will want to acquire a concrete block making machine which can turn out many more blocks per day than you can with hand molds.

You can buy concrete block making machines from various sources. They are very expensive and do a very good job. If you can afford it go ahead and buy one. It will greatly increase your productivity and will pay for itself. You can do it for much less however. You can build your own machine! Used auto parts and a few odds and ends along with some sheet metal are all you need for this. Plans are available and it is not a difficult project. If you have welding skills you can do this part of the work yourself,otherwise a local welding shop can do it for you at fairly low cost.

Making your own machine is not really difficult if you have some mechanical skills. Your home built machine will make 800 cement blocks per day. A smaller,very simple hand operated machine can make 200 blocks per day and is quite easy to build. Operating these machines efficiently is a two person job. One worker runs the machine and the other takes the blocks from it and stacks them on racks to dry. Obviously you will also need sufficient space to stack hundreds of blocks.

When you are in the concrete block making business it is a no brainer to also turn out other concrete products which are in demand. Garden ornaments.concrete bricks,sundials,bird baths,window boxes,garden furniture,patio slabs are everywhere in high demand. You can make all of them from readily available plans with instructions. In time your small business which started in your garage can become a very large business and will make you a lot more money than you can hope to earn at most jobs.

Did you find this interesting? For more information on how to start your own low cost concrete block making business and how to build a concrete block machine go to http://www.concreteblockmaker.com

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Dec 01 2009

Difference Between Artificial Stones and Natural Stones

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Stones are important for home constructing. Stones plays important role for both exterior and interior designing of the home. Stones are used for various purposes at home construction. From building beautiful walls of the house to decoration pieces, stones are used. The only thing that differs is the type of stone to be used. Stones differ into artificial and natural stones. Though both are used respectively for construction of house.

Natural stones are creation of nature’s greatness or nature’s products. They are created naturally. Their color texture shines size and shape all are the nature’s gift. To compare the beauty of natural stone it is awesome. On the other hand artificial stone is just a cement based product that is molded to represent a stone surface and then sprayed, dyed or coated like stucco with a stone like color. They are used like thin pieces are stuck onto a wall or structural surface, like tiles. Then to fill the gap between the stones other piece of stones are installed. Artificial stone is made by crushing and grinding natural stone and then re-constituting it, in a mould, with cement mortar. Sandstones, marbles and limestone are well suited to the re-constitution process.

The artificial stones include Modena, Verona rose, tankard, shale white, old brick, hand brick red. These were some of the artificial stones which are used for home construction. Artificial stones are generally used for exterior of the house like walls, pavements, and top roof flooring. Though some artificial stones which are processed well are used as decorative pieces of marble. It is due to their shine. Even Sand stone wall decorative ornaments are hand made from fine sand mixed with cement.

Whereas natural stones provides aesthetic value to the house. Whether it is luxuriant granite beige limestone lustrous marble rustic grey slate or exotic brown sandstone all natural stones create serene beauty to home. Beautiful marble flooring with Granite counter tops and silver beige marbles for bathrooms attracts thousands of people. Natural stones are naturally good. Their shine and lustier for long cannot be faded. While there is possibility that artificial stones lose its color. For they are not made good. For some time it is good but not for long.

After all artificial stones are actually not real stones. Natural stones are the actual stones. So it is obvious that natural stones will last more. Whatever stones are used at home it is important to find out the real stones and accordingly it should be placed. Whether it is granite marble slate sandstones all can be found both as natural and artificial stones. Though artificial stones can appear smooth and more beautiful due to polish but it is actually natural stones whose beauty last forever.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, bid on your projects, or schedule an appointment to learn more about us. Visit us at: http://www.pacificbedrock.com

No responses yet

Nov 30 2009

A Distinguished and Durable Stone to Last the Test of Time – Oakfield Stone

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Throughout history, many different types of stone have been used when it comes to architectural design. As time progresses, builders, contractors, and homeowners continue their search for products that exhibit not only a high level of durability, but beauty as well. In addition to this, this type of stone has been found to add value to the home that it is used in. Throughout this article, you will be introduced to Oakfield stone and how it can assist you in your home improvement projects. If you are in the market for a stone type that is distinguished and durable, this may be the choice for you!

What Is Oakfield Stone Widely Used For?

There are many different uses for Oakfield stone when it comes to home improvement and home repair products. Listed below are some of the main ways that this type of stone is used to compliment the home:

1. Many individuals use this product in order to create an outer layer for the home. This is used in much the same way that brick is used when it comes to providing siding to the home. This helps define the overall structural architecture of the home.

2. Many homeowners elect to frame the windows and doors of the home with this type of stone.

3. Many have created walkways and sidewalks with this type of product.

4. One may choose to create a fence that circles the lawn, a recreational area, an outdoor living area, and even a garden area. This can make a very attractive skirting for any of these areas.

5. Many have used this product on the inner walls of the home in order to create a country or rustic appearance.

6. This stone can also be used on indoor and outdoor fireplaces.

7. This stone makes an excellent surface for areas that surround in-ground pools.

The Benefits

There are many benefits associated with Oakfield stone. First, you can enjoy an assortment of shapes, styles, textures, and colors when you purchase this type of stone. This type of stone is extremely versatile, so it can be used on virtually any and all home improvement projects. This stone is also beneficial in that it is quite easy to handle and install. Many homeowners find that the ease of installation is one of the best features when it comes to Oakfield stone.

Where to Find This Type of Stone

There are many places that specialize in this type of stone, but it is important to be careful when purchasing it. Many companies will sell cheap replica stone that lacks in quality and durability. One of the best places I have discovered when it comes to price, quality, and selection is Halquist Stone. This company works to ensure that they only carry products that have the highest quality. If you are looking for products backed by a guarantee of quality, Halquist Stone is the place to visit. You are sure to enjoy the overall quality and luxury that is experienced with this type of stone.

Looking for an Oakfield Stone supplier? View the many different styles of Oakfield Stone that Halquist Stone has to offer.

For more information visit HalquistStone.com to request a free brochure on Bay De Noc stone, Flagstone Pavers and many more unique building and landscaping stones.

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Nov 29 2009

Make Concrete Blocks For A Living With A Solid Foundation

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Concrete blocks are a basic commodity of the building industry. If you are looking for a great business with a solid foundation this may be the one for you. Concrete products are used everywhere for building. There is a constant strong demand. They are always in style unlike here today gone tomorrow products. They are used to build large buildings and small backyard barbeques. There is a market for cement blocks around the world and particularly in North America.

If you are looking for a good business,which you can start from home at low cost,making concrete blocks and other concrete products is a great opportunity. Starting with a part time business,using hand made molds,you can get going with as little as a few hundred dollars for supplies and materials. You can operate out of your garage then as business grows and you need more room you can expand to rented premises. The secret is to keep your costs as low as possible to start with. Too many businesses fail in the first year because they spend too much money unnecessarily on rents and equipment. Start with the necessities and add more as you grow in profitability.

Concrete products of all kinds are obviously heavy and bulky. To transport them for long distances is costly. As a local manufacturer you can supply these products to customers in your area for a lot less than a distant manufacturer can. Your savings, in cost of transportation,allow you to price your products very competitively. As a small operation working from your garage you have little overhead cost. No rent,no staff wages mean low production cost. Again this allows you to price very competitively and still make an excellent profit.

The only things needed to start up are sheet metal and plywood to make the molds. You can obtain plans with instructions on how to do this. To manufacture concrete blocks you will need Portland cement,gravel,sand and water. Your local building supply store or lumberyard can supply these items.

With hand made molds one person can make 100 cement blocks in a days work. You simply fill the molds with the appropriate concrete mix then turn the blocks out to dry. This is pretty simple. Then as your business expands you will want to acquire a concrete block making machine which can turn out many more blocks per day than you can with hand molds.

You can buy concrete block making machines from various sources. They are very expensive and do a very good job. If you can afford it go ahead and buy one. It will greatly increase your productivity and will pay for itself. You can do it for much less however. You can build your own machine! Used auto parts and a few odds and ends along with some sheet metal are all you need for this. Plans are available and it is not a difficult project. If you have welding skills you can do this part of the work yourself,otherwise a local welding shop can do it for you at fairly low cost.

Making your own machine is not really difficult if you have some mechanical skills. Your home built machine will make 800 cement blocks per day. A smaller,very simple hand operated machine can make 200 blocks per day and is quite easy to build. Operating these machines efficiently is a two person job. One worker runs the machine and the other takes the blocks from it and stacks them on racks to dry. Obviously you will also need sufficient space to stack hundreds of blocks.

When you are in the concrete block making business it is a no brainer to also turn out other concrete products which are in demand. Garden ornaments.concrete bricks,sundials,bird baths,window boxes,garden furniture,patio slabs are everywhere in high demand. You can make all of them from readily available plans with instructions. In time your small business which started in your garage can become a very large business and will make you a lot more money than you can hope to earn at most jobs.

Did you find this interesting? For more information on how to start your own low cost concrete block making business and how to build a concrete block machine go to http://www.concreteblockmaker.com

No responses yet

Sep 08 2009

Installing Pebble Stone – Your Problem Is Solved

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Pebble stone is a natural surface stone and tends to provide the best option to customers when it comes to enhance interior décor. These stones are widely found in Indonesia. Here, they are hand picked.

Once you decide on using pebble stones to you interior décor, you need to follow certain instructions related to installation. Remember that these stones can be utilized in several types of installation. The stones are apt for both commercial as well as residential applications. Residential installations include pools, pool decks, patios, fountains, landscaping, fountains, water features, kitchen backsplashes, flooring, powder room floors, shower floors, bath and powder room floors, entryway, fire places and barbeque areas. Commercial applications include the following:

a) Flooring

b) Feature walls

c) Bar surfaces

d) Walkways

e) Restaurants

f) Medical facilities

g) Public parks

h) Corporate offices

Here are some guidelines you need to follow when installing pebble tile. The materials required include the following:

a) 3/8″ notched trowel

b) Thin set mortar

c) Stone sealer or stone impregnator

d) Sanded grout

e) Stiff bristled brush

f) Damp sponge

Make sure that the area of application is flat, clean and force of any possible contaminants. You need to use reinforced waterproof membrane. You should at least have a minimum fall of two inches when pitching a floor to a drain.

Here are some important steps you need to follow when installing pebble stone:

Surface preparation:

This is the most significant step towards the installation of pebble stone. All substrates must be fixed firmly. They should also be extremely clean, dry and free of any foreign particles. The deflection should not exceed more than 1/360th of the span for floors as well as walls. You should give at least twenty eight days for the concrete substrates and the mortar in bricks to cure. Roughening of the painted surfaces is important. You should use sand paper or wire brush for this purpose. Do not use water based paints for tiling. Before over tiling already tiled surfaces, you should firmly fix and roughen them. Use reinforced waterproof membranes for wet surfaces.

a) First of all, you need to apply thin set mortar to the area you decide to install with trowel. Do not use more than 3 SF at a time.

b) Now place the tiles on mortar in interlocking pattern and tap down into place lightly.

c) Always seal the tile with stone impregnator. You can also apply color and shine enhancers if required.

d) Let the impregnator dry completely and naturally. Leave it overnight.

e) Now apply a sanded grout on 2×2 ft. sections at a time until the entire area is covered.

f) Allow the area to dry for at least thirty minutes.

g) You must use a stiff bristled brush to remove excess grout.

h) You need to sponge off grout until you get the desired look.

i) Seal tiles for the last time once the grout dries completely.

You can expect successful pebble stone tile installation via following the guidelines mentioned above.

We, at BBM Impex are dedicated to represent the nation’s treasure of natural stone. visit Pebble supplier & exporter.

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Sep 07 2009

Don’t Throw Bricks

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Brick is one of the toughest and most rugged building products around. Just ask the big, bad wolf. When he huffed and puffed he couldn’t blow the third little pig’s house down because it was made of brick. But what is brick made of? Mostly a simple mixture of common materials like clay, shale, and water, which is then heated or fired. When dried, brick is extremely durable. Some brick portions of the Great Wall of China are still standing some 2300 years after it was constructed.

Besides durability, brick has some other characteristics which have made it a favorite for thousands of years. It is low maintenance and is visually appealing, and also acts as a great insulator (especially against noise.) It is a good choice for green construction.

Old bricks are particularly appealing to most people. They are “time-tested” links to the past. Old demolished buildings and ripped-up streets can provide a demonstrable link to the past if you can obtain some of the old bricks. The bricks themselves are often over one hundred years old, antiques in themselves. Add in the historical connection, especially to local history, and you have a winning combination which looks great and is practically indestructible. You can often buy these vintage bricks from the owner or the demolition contractor. What a great way to recycle still-usable bricks for your home project! They do well as pavers, used on driveways, walks, or used in small sections of interior walls.

Not all bricks are able to be salvaged, but old brick pavers are usually “keepers”. They were usually hard-fired, and each brick is unique, waterproof, and weather-resistant. They are sought after not only for their strength, but because of their darker colors, which have remained in vogue throughout the years. Heavy machinery can remove them quickly, but in the process, there is the danger they might be destroyed. Bricks with a soft mortar can often be salvaged from older buildings and look wonderful after they are cleaned.

Bricks manufactured prior to World War II are cleaned by brushing off debris, then removing any soft lime-based mortar with a mild acidic solution (follow all safety precautions, especially covering your skin and eyes). Follow the cleaning with pressure washing. Bricks manufactured after WWII are nearly impossible to clean because most likey Portland cement-based mortar was used, and this creates such strong bond that it is very difficult to separate the brick.

Special care should be taken with mortar used on recycled brick. It is best to contact your local brick yard for this. They will probably recommend a mortar that is formulated to be softer and more water-vapor permeable than the brick itself. If you use the wrong mortar choice on vintage brick, the brick may trap moisture and crack or “peel”, especially in colder climates.

Both vintage brick and contemporary brick are quality choices for building materials. That old look can be achieved by a creative combination of brick and mortar.

This is part of the quality of Tuscany Homes LLC of Atlanta. We incorporate as much brick and stone in our houses and renovations as possible. We bet you would like that, too. Check us out. Huff and puff, if you want. Just please don’t throw bricks! http://www.tuscanyhomesllc.com

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Sep 06 2009

Solar Lighted Stepping Stones

Published by N.Y. Remodeler under Stones & Bricks

Solar lighted stepping stones are a unique and innovative way to enhance the beauty of garden. It not only illuminates the garden, park, yards or walkways but also gives an added touch of beauty to the particular area.

Solar lighted stepping stone works through solar power light. Solar energy during the day time charges the NiCad battery and as the evening starts approaching it turns its bright white light on at dusk.

Solar lighted stepping stones are exclusive works of art which doesn’t require any wires to install, no bills to pay and the Led never needs to be replaced. But that is not all the illumination time of bulb is of 8 hours. So it will glow all through the night and you do not have to worry about any bills to be paid.

Be it decorating your house, lighting the lawn or creating your walkway, this is a unique way of doing so. You can also make an innovative use of catchy colors on these solar lighted stepping stones to give them a better and captivating appearance.

In this fast paced life just a mere glance of these solar lighted stepping stones in the evening time may give you another reason to sit in your garden for a while and relax. These are also available in multiple types and you can buy according to your preference.

For your better understanding we have discussed about few types solar lighted stepping stones so that you know which ones suit you the most.

Tuscany Stepping Stone: As discussed above they are quite innovative, efficient and unique which illuminates yards, gardens, lawns, walkways, in private and public places. The chief feature of this solar lighted stone is that it is built in solar powered light. Solar energy charges the inbuilt AA NiCad battery during the day and gets lighted during the night. You can easily place it in your garden and there is no use of wiring so no bills to pay.

Solar garden lights: Also known as pagoda light it is often used to lighten the garden. The solar inbuilt feature makes sure you that you are not going to pay your electricity bills. It charges during the day and emits light as the night comes. This light is powered by high powered crystal solar cell. The NiCad battery gives a long life to the lights. The high intensity of 4 watt of fluorescent lamp can continuously deliver light up to 5 hours.

Low voltage lighting: The soft displaying light leaves an impression and will suit you. Low voltage landscape lighting flower light contains six flowers, low-voltage transformer, stakes, clear bulbs, and connectors. Six different colors of flowers produce different colors will surely bring great happiness to you.

These are just a few of the varieties of solar stepping stones. You can explore a lot more options with these devices which help you not only light up your garden but also act as great energy savers.

If you liked the article and would like to view more, please visit Stepping Stone Info for more information.

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