Landscaping Rocks Blog

Every year at this time, Stone Haven gets ready for the winter months. Professional landscapers, architects and do it yourself enthusiasts scramble to get those natural stone walkways, stone patios or stone retaining walls finished before the snow comes in and stays for the winter. Like it or not, outdoor natural stone laying is a seasonal trade. For example, while some companies will theoretically lay a stone retaining wall during the winter, doing this requires specialized professional help, equipment to prepare the ground, and more money – lots more. It’s just easier to plan your projects when the snow is gone.

On the other hand, natural stone veneers for interiors and other interior natural stone projects can run strong through the winter. We now have a large inventory of thin natural stone for interior applications, so we will remain open for clients as long as weather permits. Depending on the weather, we anticipate remaining open anywhere from the end of November to the middle of December. While we would love to be your natural stone retailer and wholesaler 365 days a year, right now it’s a good idea to call and make an appointment. Beyond ensuring we can see you, this makes sure we can devote our fullest attention to you. At Stone Haven, we pride ourselves in helping customers fine the very best stone for their projects.

We look forward to the Spring of 2011. During the winter months we’ll be searching for new products to introduce at the start of the 2011 landscaping season. We’ll also have many of the popular varieties landscaping rocks and cut natural stone we sold this year, such as Penn Blue sandstone. We will reopen mid-March or the beginning of April 2011. Our opening day always depends on when the snow has melted and we can get into our yard. We look forward to serving you next year!

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, natural stone by mike
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Are you considering redoing the flooring in your bathroom? Around your fireplace? Would you like to spruce up a foyer or perfect your patio before it gets cold? Now is the time. Stone Haven’s thin natural stone masonry has arrived in time for these and other projects. We’re proud to offer this as both a natural stone retailer and as a stone wholesaler, so whether your a renovation pro who needs quality material or a do-it-yourself enthusiast, we can help you, providing exactly the right amount of guidance for your project and experience level. That’s because Stone Haven owner Mike Stone has decades of experience in the natural stone trade as an artisan – not just a supplier.

Thin masonry has become more popular in recent years as the technology has arrived to precisely and economically cut natural stone to fit specific dimensions. We can provide stone to suit nearly any project. Thin stone masonry is a flexible material that is particularly suited to areas where you might otherwise use tile or any hard synthetic surface. Natural stone is superior in almost every way. You can finish it to be a non-slip surface for bathrooms, and even install it in such a way as to be heated from below. It’s stronger, better looking than alternatives . . . the advantages are really too many to list.

Let us show you the advantages. Drop by our show room at 570 Knowlton Road, Knowlton, Qc.  We can show you examples of thin stone masonry on the premises, talk to you about which natural stone varieties might work best for you. And guide you through the process of acquiring the right type and amount of thin masonry for your project.

As we said earlier in this article, thin stone masonry is more popular than ever, so please contact us as soon as possible to get started. You’ll have the best chance off seeing the most variety. We can show you marble, granite, travertine, slate, marble, Pa. Blue stone, and limestone in both irregular and patterned varieties. See you soon!

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, Sand Stone, natural stone by mike
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One of the most common complaints people have about certain natural stone retailers and wholesalers is the condition orders arrive in. While natural stone is durable, care must be taken to ensure that it ships in the best condition possible. Even the highest quality natural stone may face wear from improper storage and shipping.

At Stone Haven we’ve always been careful to properly ship and store our natural stone. We pay special attention to the characteristics of individual types of stone. For example, granite and sandstone each have different preferred practices for storage, shipping and usage. One constant is the need to prevent erosion through abrasion. While natural stone is tough, grinding and scratching might still affect it.

While we always take care to ensure that your natural stone ships in the best possible condition we want to make our shipping process even better. That’s why Stone Haven recently purchased a Phoenix wrapping machine to address abrasion during shipping. A Phoenix wrapping machine adds a form-fitting wrapper to your order on the pallet. This protects it from abrasion against other objects as well as between the pieces of cut stone because it not only acts as a shield, but tightly secures the natural stone to the pallet itself.

The plastic wrap will come in handy as our shipments go on the road throughout Quebec, Ontario and beyond – even as far as Labrador City, Labrador. No matter what road our shipment takes to get to our landscaping, renovation or other project, we’ll make sure your natural stone arrives in as close to pristine condition as we can manage.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, natural stone by mike
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Stone Haven is not only renowned for the range of natural stone products we carry, but in the way we present their potential to customers through landscape displays. We have always believed that a stone retailer should do more than make stone available to sale. Truly qualified stone professionals demonstrate their expertise by showcasing the product at its best. This demonstrates faith in its quality, and enough experience to help retail and wholesale customers alike make the right choices for their projects.

Our natural stone landscape displays begin right at the entrance of the stone yard with a water feature and two stone walls. One wall is a traditional, double faced New England stone wall. The other is a Scottish wall (also double faced) built with New York wall stone. As you proceed to the parking area you’ll see a variety of retaining walls that use various types of wall stone, each designed to show how that stone will look when it’s laid into a retaining wall by skilled hands.

Enjoy our beautiful gardens as you head up to the store. You can’t miss our pergola, built with ten 10-foot columns made from many types of building stone. The pergola provides a beautiful introduction to what natural stone can do for you. In it, we display laid patio stones, stone walls, and even another water feature. The pergola is effectively a small gallery, comfortable and accessible even on rainy days. There’s no need to rush, either, as sitting areas provide a place to rest and take in the craftsmanship.

Moving around to the backyard, you’ll find will find yet another water feature, well-kept gardens and a 4 foot tool retaining wall build to show you a range of natural stone. Regular and irregular stone steps give you a chance to compare and contrast both styles, and imagine how they might look at your site.

Remember, if you have any questions during your visit, please talk to us! Until then, take a look around, because there’s always something new to see at Stone Haven.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, Retaining Walls, natural stone by mike
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We designed Stone Haven’s facilities to to be “user friendly.” With decades in the natural stone trade, Mike Stone knew exactly what do-it-yourself landscapers, architects and landscaping professionals needed to feel comfortable deciding on purchases, inspecting natural stone, and moving it with a minimum of fuss.  That’s why our stone yard is a spacious location, situated on 3.5 acres of land filled with natural stone. We divided our stock’s incredible variety into four categories: patio stone, wall stone, stone steps and slabs, and masonry stone.

Clients are invited to browse through each section with or without a salesperson. As stone retailers and wholesalers we understand that some of our customers require more guidance then others, so our aim is to be helpful – not intrusive. Our natural stone is stacked so that it’s easy to view each variety, colour and cut.

We display our pricing prominently so that it’s easy for any customer to calculate the price of their project. We sell patio (flagging) stone and masonry stone by the square foot, wall stone per pallet; and steps and slabs per linear foot. If you are unsure how much your project might need or have questions about the appropriate type of stone, just talk to our staff. They’ll be able to provide basic on the spot help.

At Stone Haven, we’re proud of our clean, organized yard. We created it to put customers at ease, so that they can plan for each project with a clear mind and positive attitude. We want to make the experience of preparing for your project as positive as the end result, and we hope that with our stone on your side, that end result will be something to admire for years to come.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, natural stone by mike
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After years of laying natural stone for walls, patios, walkways and dozens of other types of projects I’m proud of where I’ve taken my craft. More than that, I’ve come to understand some of the attributes that separate amateurs from true natural stone professionals. Let me share four of the qualities I think stone layers need to progress to this level.

Passion: The most creative stone layers have an undeniable passion for their work. It’s sometimes difficult for an amateur to understand why someone would want to spend their entire professional life working with natural stone. You need to apply strength, patience and a memory of the techniques you need and the characteristics that apply to a specific type of natural stone. Passion is an appreciation for that detail because you can see it all as part of one process that turns the raw stone into something perfectly suited to its function, whether that’s a stone retaining wall, patio or path.

Mastery of the Tools: A professional stone layer learns to orchestrate his tools efficiently, moving effortlessly from one tool to the next. This ability has to come from a love of the craft or it simply won’t appear, because it requires constant practice and the commitment needed to procure the right chisels, hammers, levels, squares and other tools for the job. Don’t underestimate the effort it takes to put together a truly complete set of tools! A good stone layer avoids using a less than ideal tool for a particular task and doesn’t get confused over his selection of tools. Once he has them on hand, the job may look easy – but nothing that looks so easy ever is without intense preparation.

Knowledge of the Stone: A true professional knows the important differences between each type of stone. This includes its relative weight, strength and how it reacts to different tools and environmental phenomena. This way, he can do more than just get the job done, but participate in choosing the correct natural stone. An expert stone layer is a valuable resource for an architect, landscaping professional or interior designer because he keeps those individuals from making poor choices about the stone to use. Furthermore, a stone layer learns about the cosmetic qualities of different natural stone varieties, including color and texture, and should over time know where to find them from a reputable stone retailer or stone wholesaler (depending on the type of job).

Creativity: Laying stone requires more creativity than you might think. A laid down surface is like a puzzle where the person solving it (the stone layer) gets to “cheat” by reshaping the pieces, but he must make the end result attractive and functional. There are countless ways to arrange stones in a path, but not all of them are practical. A stone layer can find the best looking option. He can build a wall with a beautiful pattern with its structural requirements.

The end result is that he’s created a piece of art out of natural stone. His solution shows the imagination and talent of the stone layer and the natural beauty of the stone.

Tags: English, Flagstones, Landscaping Rocks, Retaining Walls, Uncategorized by mike
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Natural stone interior elements provide a high end look to your home that false stone can’t even come close to. People are often tempted to use false versions of natural stone types such as granite and slate, but they rarely stand up to close inspection.

One of the chief issues with false stone is that it can’t be properly cut and shaped by a professional stone mason. If you try to cut false stone yourself, or it chips, you’ll expose the cement beneath the dyed exterior. Your guests will notice if they stick around for any length of time but worst of all, you’ll notice too – you’ll see the disappointing results more often than anyone. The problems with false stone only get worse over time as dyes and adhesives weaken. Cheap concrete will age, wear and crumble fast, leaving you with an unattractive, hard to renovate interior.

Fortunately, false stone isn’t much of a bargain. Natural stone is only slightly more expensive for something that is not only more attractive, but easier to shape specifically for your home. As a stone retailer with decades of experience both selling and working with natural stone, we can provide suggestions based on a type of stone’s appearance and material qualities. For example, properly cut and installed slate is a beautiful flooring material, while granite is excellent for heavy duty surfaces (such as counter tops) and veneers. There are colours, textures, shapes and thicknesses to suit virtually any interior function, from an attractive veneer to a heated slate floor.

Perhaps the best thing about choosing natural stone for your interiors is the way it connects you to a tradition of quality craftsmanship that uses tried and tested techniques. Skilled stone masons cut and lay stone in personalized styles, making every natural stone installation a unique work of art – not an artificial pattern that you might see in dozens of other homes.

If you have questions about how to use natural stone inside your home, contact Stone Haven. We can find the perfect type of stone for your needs, and let you know what to expect when it’s time to install natural stone in your home.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Stone Veneer, Uncategorized by mike
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Stone Haven is looking ahead to the 2010 season. We have a number of plans for the New Year based on our understanding of upcoming trends in landscaping and interior design with natural stone, as well as new opportunities that will allow us to serve our customers better.

As a stone retailer we pay close attention to customer preferences through each season and use them to meet upcoming demands. As a stone wholesaler we use our contacts in the professional community to ensure that our stone meets their needs, so that they can perform work of the highest quality. As a result, we’re confident that we’re going to have exactly what each customer needs for the upcoming season. Here are just a few of the developments we’re working on.

Stone Haven will be increasing its selection of thin interior building stone.  This stone can be used for interior flooring and walls throughout the home. Stone interiors have become increasingly popular to provide attractive flooring, walls and work surfaces. We’ll be prepared to meet the growing demand.

Thin building stone is also a popular choice for exteriors. By using a slab of cement as a base it’s possible to lay an array of attractive exterior surfaces.

As customers grow more aware of the flexibility of natural stone and develop more sophisticated ideas about interior and exterior design they want more variety. We’ve always prided ourselves on being able to provide a variety of stone types and colours to fit almost any need, so we’ll continue to keep a complete range of quality natural stone on hand.

Finally, we know that people are watching their budgets closely, so we’re working to provide natural stone in all price ranges, so that customers can fit stone into virtually any landscaping or interior design project.

Contact us now to learn more about our 2010 plans and to talk about your needs. Mike Stone’s extensive experience means he can help you find the stone you need to complement your project.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Retaining Walls, Stone Veneer by mike
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Spring projects require winter planning. If you have a spring or summer landscape project coming up, now is the time to start contacting an architect, landscaper, stone retailer and excavation company to help plan and execute your work.

The winter months are a perfect time to plan. First of all, the summer landscaping season is extraordinarily busy for landscaping professionals, so booking time with them now puts you at the front of the line. Otherwise, you may have to wait to work with contractors who can only spare a strictly limited amount of time to your project.

Winter is also a great time to secure your pick of natural stone such as sandstone and granite stone. Stone Haven makes a point of keeping a complete stock as much as possible, but the best way to get the exact stone you want is to order ahead of time, so that it will be ready for you from the first day. Winter is also an opportunity to consult with us about your specific needs, so that you’ll be ready for projects ranging from stone retaining walls to large flagstone patios.

Once you consult with professionals you’ll be able to look at the area you want worked on with an eye toward the specific requirements defined by your team. We have decades of experience providing this kind of insight to people looking at using stone in landscaping and other projects, so we can certainly provide useful input.

Generally speaking, you’ll need to know the size and shape of the area. The more exact your measurements, the more useful they’ll be. Do you know exactly how wide, long and tall the area you’ve set aside for a patio is? How is the land sloped, and by how much? Where does water typically drain? Professionals are interested in knowing the answers so that they can give you the best guidance and get to work as efficiently as possible.

In Stone Haven’s case, your answers, the type of project and the look you want will influence everything from the recommended natural stone type to the amount you’ll use. At this point, many homeowners can get struck with a need for inspiration. Fortunately, we have many examples of beautiful natural stone work on hand to help inspire you.

Furthermore, we have the experience to work with other professionals. We understand each other, help you define exactly what you want, and prepare a plan designed to put our best efforts into your property. Once the season starts, you’ll be in good hands and soon enough, you’ll have a beautiful landscape ready to enjoy for the remainder of next year’s warm weather.

Think about your vision and contact us to start the process.

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Retaining Walls by mike
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Homeowners, landscapers and even architects will forget landscaping basics from time to time. It isn’t enough to just be technically proficient laying granite stone and other landscaping rocks, or to only provide a solid set of stone walls. A quality landscaping job needs to look balanced – in other words, its elements need to work together to both look good and make it easy for people to enjoy in a practical sense.

Over my years building stone retaining walls, stone patio features, doing general landscaping and acting as a stone retailer and wholesaler who advises landscapers, I’ve come to appreciate the difference a balanced landscape makes to appearance and usability.

For example, imagine if your driveway goes up to the centre of your property, possibly to end in a roundabout or take a “U” shape in front of the main entrance. On a sizable property, just clustering everything by the entrance makes it look too busy, so you’ll have to landscape either side of the driveway.

If you build up one side with retaining walls surrounding an extensive garden, with stone steps leading up, while leaving the other side with nothing but some trees and driveway-level flower beds your landscape will look imbalanced from the front, both in terms of how developed each side is, and by relative level. Practically speaking, your guests have to cross the driveway to enjoy either open space or get to the garden, which is a nuisance.

If you built up a mix of garden space and open recreational space on either side, you can enjoy both sides and keep traffic over the driveway to a minimum. You don’t need to make both sides exactly the same, but ask yourself this: Do both sides attract my eyes equally? Is there any one location I would never go to because it looks bare or is annoying due to a slope or poor sign lines?

The important thing is the overall view and practical comfort, which should attract you on all sides and blend naturally from any direction, so there’s always something interesting to see, and you don’t feel “blocked” from a particular feature. Take care that a focal point like a trees or stone isn’t so dominating that it causes the imbalance. Sometimes, on particularly “loud” feature is all it takes to throw your landscape off kilter.

Come up to out landscaping stone showroom and talk to us. We can advise you how different varieties of landscaping stone can help you provide balance to your property through properly placed stone walls, flagstone steps and patios, and more. We have the experience on staff to answer your questions and look forward to hearing from you.

Tags: English, Flagstones, Granite Stone, Landscaping Rocks, Retaining Walls by mike
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