Stone use in building has been around for thousands of years. Without it the great Pyramids of Giza, the ecclesiastical buildings of Europe, the great wall of China and Stone Henge would be very different structures. Historically its use was structural and used as a base building material. Sometimes in very rudimentary ways (see stone henge) and in other ways very poetically (see the work of Anton Gaudi as an example).

In our day and age, stone tends to be used, atleast in residential construction, in a more decorative way. Benchtops, paving, cladding, stair treads, kitchen splashbacks, baths etc. Technology and building methods also now even provide ‘manufactured stone’ products such as ceasarstone as an example. There are an infinite array of stone types, of varying levels of durability and endless aesthetic options as no two pieces are the same.

There are two main things to consider when selecting stone, those being, durability and aesthetics. It is important that your designer understands the key attributes of the stone being proposed, not just from an aesthetic perspective, but also from a durability and fitness for purpose perspective. The blog link below is on the of the best I have read that clearly outlines several different stone types and their attributes for you:

https://www.simplecoat.com/stone-selection-guide

So when selecting a stone ensure your choice is not just one based on aesthetics. Although this is a huge contributor to the atmosphere of the space, you do not want you selection to be failing before its time.

A few things to consider:

Does the product require sealing based on the way you will be using it?
Is the product hard enough for its intended use (ie sandstone won’t work for a benchtop, but will for cladding).
Can I source the product in pieces large enough, or book matched so the pattern can carry through?
Is the stone sustainably sourced, what is the embodied energy in its production?
Does the stone have antibacterial qualities, it is porous?
What sort of maintenance regime is required to maintain the lustre?

….and the list goes on.

This week we are heading to the stone suppliers warehouse to look at a particular stone surface we are considering for benchtops on the project. We have seen the product by way of samples. But also remember, a large sheet of stone can look very different to a sample. As a natural product there will often be significant variation in the colour and pattern of its surface.

Take the time to go and view the actual stone panels at full size. You can select slabs individually and you will see the reality of the finish far better than what a small sample will provide for you.

Image to the left showing first signs of timber framing in place.