The Art of Stone
The theme of stone in the garden has emerged as one of the most compelling trends today. Landscaping with stone – or stonescaping – brings in a natural element which adds warmth, depth, texture and a sense of timelessness to your landscaping design. It’s no wonder stone is in rock solid demand!
Matt Lock, principal of Stone Exteriors and Outdoor Design in Sydney, says over the past five years there has been a definite swing back to natural stone products throughout the landscaping and construction industries.
“Natural stone has been around for centuries, but due to its timeless look has never dated,” Matt says. “Stone looks fantastic in any application, whether it be on a pool surround, feature wall, water feature, on a bar, fireplace, pillars to hold up a pergola or outdoor room, or on the facade of a home.
“The beauty and permanence of natural stone make it one of the premier building materials for outdoor landscape structures.”
The cost of stone can be at the higher end of the scale, largely because it’s a heavy product to install which means that installation costs are generally higher than using concrete products.
“However, to ‘tart up’ a garden, stone looks fantastic. Depending on its use, not only does stone blend well, it really makes a statement,” says Martyne Bird from Birds Landscape Design & Management.
Wide choice
Today there are many local and imported stone cladding products on the market, ranging from free-form stone walling, Radom Ashlar stone walling, and dry stone walling.
“There are also many large format natural stone tiles and pavers currently on the market, which can create the perfect flooring for a great range of applications, both around a swimming pool and inside and outside entertaining areas,” adds Matt.
Some of the most common types of stone are sandstone, granite, travertine, bluestone, slate and limestone – and all are available in different forms.
Martyne says sandstone is still a popular material, but people tend to shy away from using it as it is very porous and darkens with age.
“Many clients like the ‘modern’ look,” she adds. “We try to use a combination of natural stone such as sandstone, basalt or granite with modern finishes, such as rendering, to give the overall design some depth. And this helps to marry everything to its environment.”
Cut stone is usually more expensive and is often used in formal designs, while uncut stones are used for a more informal look. Smooth stones are ordinarily used for paved areas, while rough stones can be walked on as well and are often less slippery when wet. Flat stones are most often used as pavers, patios or stepping stones, while boulders may be found in sizes ranging from mini to massive and are used for more sculptural purposes.
“The larger format pavers are generally more popular, but you can mix sizes together to create an interesting pattern while still keeping it formal,” says Martyne.
“Smaller pavers are used less and less in entertaining areas. The larger format pavers are easier to clean (less gaps) and make the area look spacious. The smaller pavers are normally used on driveways, as they are stronger and can handle the weight of a vehicle without cracking. The weight is not evenly distributed on the larger format pavers.”
Another popular trend is that of stacked stone, a modern cladding that’s perfect for accenting retaining walls, pillars and water features for both external and internal applications.
Stone comes in a wide range of colour palettes. Martyne says the yellow tones of natural sandstone are still popular, but she’s now using a lot of earthy browns and blacks with the more modern gardens.
To make maintenance of stone easier, Martyne and Matt recommend sealing the stone because the sealant penetrates the stone and keeps the ageing process at bay. There are many different types of sealants, some of which give the product a ‘wet’ look.
Photos courtesy of Stone Exteriors and Outdoor Design