Landscaping Rocks Blog

Montreal-area stone wholesalers and landscaping experts to appear at popular trade show

Montreal and Lac Brome, Quebec: Montreal-area landscaping stone experts Stone Haven, Inc. (http://www.stonehaveninc.ca) announced today that they are set to appear as exhibitors at the popular Montreal Cottage and Country Homes show. Stone Haven will be at Booth #650 through the show’s run from February 19^th to 22^nd, 2009. The Cottage and Country Homes show takes place at Montreal’s historic Olympic Stadium: plenty of room to showcase the latest developments in rural living and landscaping.

This year, Stone Haven Inc. looks forward to increased exposure as the Montreal Cottage and Country Homes show has projected upwards of 80,000 visitors this year. The show is open to the general public and promises to be especially appealing to baby boomers and established professionals who are considering shifting to a more rural lifestyle.

Stone Haven will showcase its signature landscaping stone expertise. Visitors will have a chance to talk to owner Mike Stone, whose 30+ years of industry experience make him an excellent resource for anyone considering working in natural stone. Stone Haven’s products and expertise encompass stone walls, retaining walls, stone veneers, natural stone interiors such as countertops and fireplaces, and both domestic and imported landscaping rock. The company will bring samples of both raw materials and finished work to the show.

Before, during and after the show, people are invited to contact Stone Haven for more information by visiting http://www.stonehaveninc.ca or emailing mike@stonehaveninc.ca.

About Stone Haven, Inc.

Stone Haven, Inc. (http://www.stonehaveninc.ca) is a stone wholesaler specializing in natural stone, based in Lac Brome, just outside of Montreal, Quebec. Stone Haven combines an unparalleled selection of granite, limestone, sandstone, slate and more with owner Mike Stone’s over 30 years of experience in the stone trade. Stone Haven supplies high quality landscaping stones to architects, landscapers and other trade professionals, along with ordinary individuals seeking high quality stone for their personal projects. Email mike@stonehaveninc.ca to get in touch, or visit Stone Haven’s showroom in Lac Brome.

Tags: English, Uncategorized by mike
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Slate is another natural stone product that is found throughout the world.  Slate’s quality is determined by its hardness.  The softer the slate, the more it will flake. This is not what professionals nor their clients like to see.  While it’s true that a natural, weathered look is sometimes desirable, this should always be created through landscaping and design efforts, not because the slate itself wears away quickly! A hard slate is easier to work and will stand the test of time.

Slate is an extremely flexible material, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Slate counter tops have recently exploded in popularity. It’s also an excellent interior flooring and fireplace stone.  Moving outside, slate is also a beautiful choice for around swimming pools and for patios, walkways and steps.

Slate is well known for its variety. Local geological conditions create slate in a tremendous number of colours. The hallmark of a skilled landscaping stone supplier is the ability to find slate in beautiful colours without letting colour take priority over providing quality slate. Stone Haven carries excellent examples of popular colours like black, green, mauve, red and dark blue.

Visit Stone Haven’s showroom to see examples of what slate can do, or email mike@stonehaveninc.ca to see how Stone Haven can help you with projects using slate.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Uncategorized by mike
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At Stone Haven, Inc. we’re a flagstone wholesaler, so we welcome pros and do it yourself landscapers. If you’re just starting out, all the fun and excitement of choosing beautiful flagstones can take your mind away from the practical aspects of actually turning them into a comfortable, durable patio.

Let’s break that task down into 10 basic steps. This is a checklist to help you work after you do some thorough research; it’s not a full instructional. Plus, the most important rule is that whenever you’re cutting stone you should wear safety goggles, work gloves and steel toed work boots.

Once you’re well-read and dressed for safety, here’s what to do:

1. Excavate 12″ deep.
2. 6 inches larger in all directions
3. Make sure to slope the base of excavated area away from buildings.
4. Start by filling in area with 3 inches of 3/4inch clean crush stone and compact it with a plate compactor. Fill in area with another 3 inches of the same crush stone and compact again.
5. Place a layer of membrane on top of the crush stone. Make sure to place some small rocks at corners and center of area .
6. Fill in area on top of the membrane with 3inches of 0-1/4 inch stone dust. DO NOT COMPACT THE STONE DUST!
7. Start laying stone at the highest elevation, making sure to remember to slope away from buildings.
8. Place the stone onto the stone dust at the desired slope and compact the stone into the stone dust with a rubber hammer or by placing a 2×4 with a length of about 18 inches onto the stone and hitting it (the 2×4) with a hammer (Min 16 oz.).
9. Try to find the next stone to be laid that won’t need a lot of cutting to fit next to the stone you have previously laid.
10. The joints between the stone can vary between ¾inch to 2 ½ inches. They can be filled with stone dust, river stone 3/8” –5/8” or topsoil. Try seeding the topsoil (you could plant thyme in the joints, for instance — it looks great).

The stones are going to be loose for a few weeks until they set properly, so don’t worry if they seem to move. Once they feel firm under your feet, it’s time for the most important “step” of all: Get a chair out there, pop open a drink and enjoy your patio!

Stone Haven is now giving courses by appointment only. These draw on Mike Stone’s 40 years of landscaping experience.  Please call 450.242.0255 or email Mike at mike@stonehaveninc.ca to have your name included in our 2009 schedule.

Tags: English, Flagstones, Landscaping Rocks by mike
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Granite is one of the hardest, most durable types of natural stone available.  Granite is found throughout the world; you’d be hard pressed to find a region where it isn’t a primary building material. Indeed, it’s so useful that it’s used by building architects, landscape architects, interior designers and small scale landscapers alike.

Granite’s wide range of uses can be divided into interior and exterior roles. It’s an excellent choice for kitchen counters, flooring and facing for fireplaces.  On the exterior side, landscapers install granite in patios, walkways and around swimming pools.  Depending on the style of the exterior project irregular flagstone or patterns cut to specific dimensions are used.

One key to getting the most out of granite is being able to get the right cut from a knowledgeable stone supplier. There are several options available. Granite slabs offer a more natural look due to their irregular shapes and varying lengths.  Granite cut steps are also available.  These offer the client an opportunity to decide on the exact length of the step they wish to use.

The ultimate limit on granite’s uses lies in the skill of the planners and artisans who use it. Here at Stone Haven we benefit from Mike Stone’s 40 years of landscaping experience. If you want to know more, email mike@stonehaveninc.ca or call 1-450-242-0255.

Tags: Granite Stone, Stone Veneer, Uncategorized by mike
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