When it comes to building a beautiful and functional outdoor space, masonry contractors can work some magic and set the stage for a long-lasting outdoor living space that will be a joy to look at and use throughout the year. Today, the name of the game is choice. With a wide variety of natural stones and pavers at their disposal, you’ll be amazed at what masonry professionals can accomplish with your landscape. Here are five stone and paver options provided by masonry contractors in the Sterling Heights, MI, area.
Related: Why Concrete Pavers Make for a Lasting Walkway in Sterling Heights, MI
The Random Beauty of Natural Stone
Natural stone has been used in paving surfaces for thousands of years, and it will be going out of style. Crafted by nature itself, these materials have a beauty that’s hard to match. Each stone is completely unique and if that’s what you desire, then look no further than natural stone for all pedestrian surfaces. However, working with natural stone can often be challenging and laborious, and the installation costs can be high compared to other options—it depends on your project. Also keep in mind that unless you’re using actual cobblestones or similarly thick and dense stone such as granite, natural stone isn’t usable on driveways.
Pavers Inspired By the Real Thing
Masonry contractors will often substitute natural stone with some pavers that are inspired by the real thing. Natural stone-inspired pavers are used where natural stones aren’t available or applicable to the situation such as driveways. Since they are manufactured, they have a consistency while mimicking the beauty of natural stone. For a more cohesive look throughout the landscape, natural stone-inspired pavers are the way to go. Inspiration can come from flagstone, granite, sandstone, and limestone.
Beautifully Constructed Color Combinations
Pavers make for exciting choices when it comes to designing a paved surface. Natural stone only comes in a limited range of colors. If you want something totally different and don’t necessarily want to adhere to a naturalistic style for your outdoor materials, choose pavers. Pavers come in a huge array of natural and not-exactly-natural color variations. This allows for some truly amazing color combinations that can activate the senses when guests arrive at your home.
The Perfect Stone Veneer
Retaining walls and other vertical structures can be built using natural stone blocks, decorative concrete blocks, or structural concrete blocks with a natural or manufactured stone veneer. Natural stone is classic, durable, and fairly labor-intensive to construct. The second option, decorative concrete blocks, are designed to fit snugly together for a fast installation but they often lack the charm of natural stone. The third option gives you the best of both worlds: the sturdiness of stone, the quick installation of concrete blocks, and design choices that give you nearly endless options for customization. A veneer is an outer layer that acts as the visual component while the concrete blocks underneath support the structure. Veneer can also be the ideal solution for situations where the stone structure is sound, but you want to freshen up the look. This can include the home’s foundation as well as retaining walls and outdoor kitchens.
Materials That Keep Up With the Times
There are many different styles of pavers, from traditional styles to modern styles. The design aesthetic of your home will determine what kind of paved surface will look best in your landscape. Traditional pavers such as those that resemble classic clay brick are typically smaller and rougher in texture, leading to a timeless and rustic look. Meanwhile, modern pavers are typically larger and smoother in texture, leading to a contemporary and minimalist look. Today, it’s not uncommon to see mixed materials, such as a large-format paver patio bordered by brick-size pavers. And you can use modern materials in traditional settings, and vice versa.
