Hardscape installations beautify and protect your garden and house. Patios, paths, benches, and even siding and house-exterior accents are all part of hardscaping. Generally, you'll have a choice between natural stones and stamped concrete, and both offer durability and affordability. If you want to upgrade the exterior of your house and property, hiring masonry experts to install hardscaping is a solid step.
Stamped Concrete for Stone Projects
One of the best ways to upgrade the exterior of your home is to ensure the landscaping and hardscaping are clean and neat. Even "natural" landscaping should allow for easy access to all parts of the garden, and a smooth path leading to a large patio made with stamped concrete is a terrific option. You can also use stamped concrete to form borders for plant beds.
Stamped concrete can be stamped with several patterns, from streaks to mimic wood grain to a more mottled surface to mimic stone. You can have stamped concrete that's been colored and marked to mimic smooth granite pieces or other stone for a patio.
Concrete can be poured in large sections and stamped as it's drying, allowing the masons doing the installation to cover a patio with those large sections quickly. This is an economical addition that gives your property the look of having real stone with a faster and more affordable installation.
Stone Veneer or Cladding for Your House's Exterior
Stone siding is an excellent choice for upgrading the exterior of the house itself. Many people think the choices for stone siding are limited to either full, natural stone siding or a veneer made of polyurethane foam. However, there are two other options, both of which are affordable and attractive.
One of these is stone veneer that's made of a mix of cement and other aggregates and then shaped to look like stone. These veneers usually come in large panels that attach to the side of the house, although occasionally you can find them as smaller, individual "stones." These veneers are very light and quick to install, but the installation must be done properly.
Another option is actual stone that's been cut into thin sections. These sections are then added to the side of the home piece by piece. This is known both as stone cladding and stacked stone. Stacked stone differs from regular stone siding in the size of the pieces. They may look the same from an onlooker's view from the sidewalk, but the stacked stone pieces are much thinner than the pieces used in regular stone siding.
Cladding lets you have the look and durability of stone without the heavy weight. It's a great choice for people who don't want the weight of full natural stone but also don't want the panel-like nature of veneer. You may have to plan ahead for this type of addition as it can take a while to find the type of stone you want. Plus, you'll have to have the stone resealed regularly to protect against moisture intrusion.
Plan Your Installation With Our Professional Guidance
Stone hardscaping, whether it uses natural stone or stamped concrete, is a wonderful addition to your property. Create clean, stable places to sit, have convenient paths around your garden, and even protect the sides of your house from the elements with stamped concrete and stone. If you're interested in stone veneer installation in Bucks County, PA, and want to find masonry contractors near Doylestown, PA, contact Q&E Keystone Masonry.
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