Landscaping Rocks Blog

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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Thin natural stone is a popular, versatile product. In the last few years its popularity has exploded, particularly as more and more people have turned to natural stone as an interior material, but it has always had a huge number of outdoor applications as well. In the past, designers were concerned that natural stone would always look rustic, but now people are better educated, and know that thin natural stone can be cut to fit smooth, straight lines and the most up to date urban designs.

We carry many different types of thin natural stone, such as limestone, Penn Blue Sandstone, granite, slate and quartzite. Colours, textures and patterns exist to suit virtually every design scheme and surface. If you want natural stone for flooring, fireplaces, showers or exterior patios laid on cement, thin natural stone is your product of choice.

Thin natural stone is available in specific cut patterns for a formal stone designs incorporating tile-style layouts and straight lines, as well as irregular shapes (“crazy work”) for informal or rustic designs.

Because thin natural stone can be cut to fit almost any design, you are free to concentrate less on fitting the stone in, and more on colour. There are too many colours available to list, ranging from red, rust and brown to dramatic blacks, blues and greens. We have always loved the unique colour of Penn Blue Sandstone, and highly recommend it for matching colour schemes. Whatever colour you choose, you can be assured that the stone we provide will be expertly cut, durable and represent the highest quality. Drop by and see for yourself!

Tags: English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, Sand Stone by mike
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Did you know that natural cobble stone lasts for centuries?  What a bargain!!  You can see the longevity of cobble stone still today as it was used throughout our history. Natural Cobble Stones have been used in landscaping and road construction projects for centuries.

Today we still use cobble stone in many of our projects. Natural cobble stone is used in roads, driveways, patios, and walkways. As we have come to know, landscaping with cobble stone can add value to any property while improving its aesthetic appeal. Cobble stone is a great landscaping and decorating choice. Not only are natural stones very affordable, they look beautiful and last.

The beauty of using natural cobble stone is they are ageless and the style or type of cobble used makes little difference when natural cobble are used.  Man-made concrete pavers go in and out of style.  Product colours change as well as sizes and shapes.  Whereas natural cobble stone is timeless, never seeming to go out of style, they can literally last for centuries. If someone installs cobble stone on their patio or steps, they will most likely not need to redo it for the duration of the time that they own the home.

For more information and details about using Cobble Stone in your next home project, talk to the staff at Stone Haven. Their vast selection of natural stone applies to both indoor and outdoor décor. Not only will they have the natural cobble stone you are looking for, they have the skill to guide in finding the correct type for your special project.

Tags: Cobble Stone, English, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, Uncategorized by mike
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When constructing a home people can face a number of difficulties but the problem can be even worse when they begin to landscape the property and they haven’t used a knowledgeable natural stone wholesaler. You must have experienced poor service from time to time. With the advancement in technology, business/customer relationship is waning day by day. Late delivery of construction material, no loyalty to the products, and communication problems are barriers in a hassle free construction of  a home.

These days, people are utilizing natural stones such as marble, granite and limestone for flooring of their homes or workplace like never before. As natural stones possess unique characteristics such as durability, integrity and timelessness, it has become the first preference of home builders as well as homeowners. It seems as the demand of natural stones is increasing, natural stone retailers are overlooking ‘service’ factor.

In this era of cut-throat competition and economic downturn, organizations employ various marketing strategies from traditional media to social media for their brand promotion. Keeping the major focus on promotion and sales, they forget the crucial part of business which is service. Excellent service is the key to the success of any company. To generate sales, is not difficult but to maintain the growth rate requires effort. Customers expect support from the company, failing of which, results in clients changing companies. For sustaining the business, efficient and personalized service is required.

Stone Haven believes that clients are an asset and strives to fulfill clients’ requirements with complete satisfaction. Stone Haven delivers their customers’ products in a stipulated time frame, and often same day delivery is available. Customer service is of great importance to Stone Haven. Their sales team is available to answer questions at any time, and their staff actually take the time to tour the stone yard with their clients for complete understanding of their clients choices. If a landscaper is what you need, then Stone Haven can offer referrals of qualified stone layers too.  Mike Stone, owner of Stone Haven, says, “the trust and support of our customers is due to the excellent quality of our natural stone products, our efficient deliveries and our knowledgeable staff”.

Tags: English, Flagstones, Granite Stone, Natural stone, Sand Stone, limestone by mike
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Everyone dreams of a beautiful home where he can get refuge and true peace of mind. However, owning a house can be a nightmare if poor quality material is used while constructing it. Nobody wants to live in a house where maintenance is frequently required. Construction of a building needs your active participation. This does not mean that you have to hammer every nail in or raise every pillar up but some basic points should be considered while selecting building materials.

People tend to attract towards attractive materials and ignore durability. You can change the color of your walls every now and then but it is very expensive to change your flooring material. Select flooring material keeping quality as prime concern. Natural stones are good choice for flooring because of its superior quality. Natural stones can withstand different seasons and environment.

Natural stones play a major role in making your building attractive. Nowadays, natural stones are available in extensive variety of colors and textures that are suitable for diverse conditions. High quality natural stones from polished with high finish to a matte look are available in many different colours.

In a tug of war between quality and price, many times price wins.  It totally depends upon the client, whether he wants quality or wants to save a dollar. You should be not compromise quality, as the saying goes,  ”penny wish pound foolish”.  If you save money while constructing your house, you might have to pay more for maintenance afterwards.

Companies like Stone Haven endeavor to achieve customer satisfaction by offering premium quality range of natural stones such as marble, granite, slate, sandstone and others at competitive price.

By giving prime importance to quality, Stone Haven strives to give you the best.  Make your house beautiful by selecting natural stones today.

Tags: English, Granite Stone, Landscaping Rocks, Natural stone, Sand Stone, limestone by mike
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For the uninitiated, natural stone can be intimidating to work with. When people think of natural stone they think of rough, unfinished stone in irregular shapes. This tempts people to use artificial alternatives, but they never look as good as the real thing. “Natural stone” doesn’t have to mean “rough stone,” however.

Once you look at the full range of available natural stone, you’ll see that it’s available in all shapes and sizes, from the rough pieces most people think of to precisely specified shapes and thicknesses. This gauged thin natural stone is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to manufactured materials.

Gauged thin natural stone is as easy to install as ceramic tiles. It gives surfaces a much richer look than tile, and when it’s properly installed it’s at least as tough. Natural stone is the interior and patio flooring of choice for high end home renovations. In bathrooms, gauged thin natural stone provides an attractive non-slip surface. Natural stone is also easy to incorporate into heated floors.

In exteriors, gauged thin natural stone provides the precision of brick or tile without creating an overly sterile, artificial look. A natural stone layer can install gauged thin stone quickly. Less labour is required because workers don’t have to level each and every stone with mortar. That gets the job done faster.

Gauged natural stone comes in thicknesses of 3/8”, ¼” ½” and ¾” in a variety of dimensions. Availability varies from supplier to supplier. Contact us or drop by our natural stone show room to see the thickness and sizes we have available, along with examples how it can make your interiors and exteriors more beautiful. Mike Stone and staff are there to answer your questions.

Tags: English, Uncategorized by mike
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“You can’t buy experience.” That saying holds true when it comes to working with natural stone. While buying from a quality natural stone retailer will provide the very best raw materials to work with, the actual effort involved in landscaping with stone retaining walls or crafting beautiful natural stone interiors requires the experience to get the best out of the material, avoid mistakes and select the best natural stone for the job.

You can’t buy your own experience, but you can employ someone with that experience to work for you. With that in mind, experience is a key ingredient in the mix of criteria you need to look at when you decide to employ a natural stone layer. In today’s service-oriented professional environment it’s easy to get dazzled by personality and superficial results. While someone may have a reputation for quick work and a polite demeanour, the quality of the end result is what matters. You want someone with a reputation for solid work above everything else.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to ask for references when it’s time to hire a professional stone layer. When you follow up on these references you can ask past clients how their work has held up under everyday wear and tear and how they feel about the job’s quality after the fact. This will give you an idea of whether the natural stone layer’s results stand the test of time, and whether there’s substantial skill behind that first impression.

A skilled natural stone layer also knows how to create beautiful work that fits in with the style you desire. Ask for a portfolio of past work. Ask yourself if it demonstrates versatility across a range of jobs and natural stone types, and whether any particular example especially appeals to you. This will not only let you know if the contractor is right for you, but help you firm up your own ideas about the job you want done.

Once you’ve found the right candidate for the job, act fast, as skilled professionals in natural stone laying are rare. The best professionals will often be booked months in advance, so it’s a good idea to schedule your job as soon as possible, but set a realistic date weeks or months down the road. For outdoor natural stone work such as paths, stone retaining walls and other landscaping jobs, remember that demand spikes through Spring and Summer. Natural stone interiors don’t depend on the weather but will be affected by the demand for outdoor jobs, since expertise often crosses over.

Our natural stone showroom includes examples of professional grade natural stone work as judged by Mike Stone, informed by his decades of experience. Visit us and we can tell you more about how to find a natural stone layer with valuable experience, and the quality you should expect from these professionals.

Tags: English, Fieldstone, Flagstones, Granite Stone, Landscaping Rocks by mike
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It’s chilly now, but soon enough Spring will bring in warm weather and new demand for landscaping stone. But the landscaping season isn’t the only way weather influences work with natural stone, whether it’s slate, granite or sandstone. When you plan your stone landscaping project it’s important to not only plan your work schedule ahead of time, but think of how you’ll respond to day to day changes in the weather.

The first step to planning your work for the season is to set a start and completion date. If you’re a professional contractor, the ability to provide accurate estimates in which you can complete quality work is essential. If you plan on doing it yourself you can take a more relaxed approach – to a point. You can work on your own time, but take care to account for how much time it should take to do each part of the job, from taking it from a stone retailer to finishing the clean up.

We recommend that you pick a realistic completion date and stick to it so you won’t leave your work half done. After all, we all know someone who has a half-finished landscaping job. That not only looks ugly, but some of these efforts will actually degrade over time. For example, if you do the digging for a stone retaining wall but put off completing it, the soil will eventually erode, wasting all of your effort.

It’s also important to anticipate the weather. Again, a good professional landscaping contractor not only learns to take this into account, but can set up precautions to account for weather issues. Whether you’re hiring tradesmen or doing it yourself, keep in mind that one day of rain can equate to a two or three day delay. Rain changes the consistency of the soil and makes some jobs impossible. If your job is scheduled to take place in rainy months like April and May, adjust your schedule to allow for one or two weeks of delay due to rain.

Planning for weather conditions will ensure that you can plan a move or renovation for your property without interference from contractors and machinery, and without having to worry about working around materials and scrap. While you might dodge the worst of the rainy season, including its delays in your estimate means that you can be confident that everything is ready to go.

If you want to find out more about realistically scheduling a stone landscaping job, drop by our showroom or call us. In addition to being a natural stone wholesaler for landscapers and architects, we bring decades of experience in the stone laying trade, and can help you set realistic goals and find the best natural stone to meet them.

Tags: English, Fieldstone, Flagstones, Granite Stone, Landscaping Rocks 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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Coordinating your renovation’s colour scheme to account for natural stone interiors requires more than just picking a colour and finding the stones with the closest colours. You need to plan carefully so that natural stone interior elements fit with the rest of your vision for a particular room.

Pick the type of stone you want to use before settling on interior colours. Natural stone comes in hundreds of amazing colours and shades, but not all types of stone come in all shades. That’s why you need to start by asking yourself what you’ll be using the stone for, as that will determine the best basic type of stone. Do you want veneers on your walls? Do you want a stone floor? What about stone counters and shelving? Depending on colour and texture your choice of stone could be limestone, Penn Blue sandstone, slate or granite.

To make the right choice you’ll not only need the help of someone who knows natural stone, but a stone retailer who combines that experience with access to a large selection of different types of natural stone. While you might read about a particular type of stone, what if it isn’t the best choice for that particular interior feature? What if the retailer doesn’t have it in stock? At Stone Haven we pride ourselves on access to a diverse array of natural stone varieties, along with the experience to guide you to the best possible choice.

As there are so many options available it’s possible to use natural stone to meet very specific interior design specifications. At the same time, natural stone is an enduring material that may last longer than your plans for a specific room in the house. You may want to choose a textured might to medium grey colour if you plan on changing your interior spaces regularly. Grey is a neutral colour and won’t clash with others.

On the other hand, don’t think you have to pick grey. One of the great things about natural stone is that almost any colour comes off as neutral compared to non-stone interior elements. Natural stone’s appearance and range of textures means that any colour takes new “dressing” (the addition of furniture, shelving and other interior pieces) well.

Once you’ve narrowed down the type of stone you want to use and found the right colour, it’s easy to decorate the rest of your interior. By determining your base colour, your natural stone guides you to the right wall colour, furniture and other elements, but doesn’t lock you into that choice forever. If you’d like some specific examples of how natural stone makes your interiors more attractive, contact us at Stone Haven. We’ll share our experience with successful designs.

Tags: English, Flagstones, Granite Stone, Landscaping Rocks, Sand Stone, Stone Veneer, Uncategorized by mike
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