Stone masonry for the home

Stone masonry looks great in any home or garden – find out more about transforming your home with stone here.

Hire a professional for stonemasonry work

The art of stonemasonry has been around as long as civilisation has; creating shelter and buildings from stone has been a vital part of our existence. All over the world in just about every type of culture imaginable, stone masonry has proved imperative in building the important sculptures, cathedrals and monuments that have represented them for centuries.

What types of stones are used?

1. Igneous stones: these types of stone vary from soft rocks such as pumice to much harder and durable stone such as granite. Due to its strength it is generally used for purposes such as countertops, flooring and breakwaters. With great persistence mouldings can be carved into this hard rock, this is prevalent in lots of old historic buildings such as Cornish churches and the city of Aberdeen.
2. Metamorphic: this rock has typically been used for carving statues most notably in Renaissance Italian buildings. Marble especially is extracted in vast quantities from Italy where it used and exported. Slate also comes under this category; popular uses include roof tiles, floor tiles, memorials and inscriptions.
3. Sedimentary: the two main types of sedimentary stone used in masonry work are limestone and sandstone. Many of the world’s famous buildings have been built using this type of stone from Durham Cathedral to Rome’s St. Peter.

Stonemasonry is often used to build walls of buildings. There are various advantages and disadvantages which have been outlined below.

Advantages of stonemasonry for walls

1. Using stone to construct a wall of a building can increase the thermal mass of a building, which will keep the property warmer in the winter and cooler in summer.
2. Stone often doesn’t require painting, which will mean less money has to be spent on maintenance. However it may require sealing to reduce frost damage.
3. Stonemasonry is very heat resistant and therefore provides good fire protection.
4. It is a very resilient and durable product that deals well with harsh weather, especially in comparison to softer, less dense materials.
5. An unreinforced masonry structure built in compression has an estimated life of 500 plus years, compared with 30 – 100 years for steel.

Disadvantages of Stonemasonry for walls

1. Extreme weather will naturally cause deterioration of the walls.
2. As it is a heavy material it must be built on a strong foundation (ideally reinforced concrete) to reduce risk of settling and cracking. If expansive soils are found, this foundation needs to be quite elaborate so a qualified structural engineer may be required (especially in earthquake prone regions)

But the craft of stonemasonry goes far deeper than building walls, stonemasons create sculptures and help preserve and restore older buildings. If you happen to live in an older building that requires restoration work, the craft of stonemasonry will be required. Stonemasons are trained in dealing with intricate details to ensure the finished product looks as good as new (or old!). The cost involved in hiring a stonemason ranges drastically as each individual project will differ. Both labour and materials will need to be taken into consideration. It is advisable to ring around a few local stonemasons to get a couple of quotes, always ask to see previous examples of work, or at least references.