From the Floors Up

Exterior Stone Siding Options

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If you are looking for a more luxurious siding option for your home, consider adding stone. This is more durable than traditional wood or vinyl siding and is quite elegant. There are several different stone sidings to consider adding to your home. Here are the most commonly used and some expectations that come along with them.

Solid Stone Siding

Utilizing solid stone siding is a way to keep your siding the most authentic. This siding is not manufactured or compressed and is delivered in its most legitimate form. The drawback homeowners typically face with this product is its weight. While these stones can create an absolutely stunning appearance, the weight of the rocks can affect the cost of product, labor, and delivery. However, if you are interested in this product, it is an extremely durable and beautiful exterior investment for your home.

Cultured Stone Siding

On the other side of the spectrum is cultured stone siding. This is a much more common option for homeowners due to the manufacturing process, eliminating some of the negative effects of solid stone. You can save money on weight and delivery as well as an installation with this option. These stones are created with cement replicas of stones that are still very durable but significantly lighter.

Polyurethane Faux Stone Panels

Do not let the word “faux” push you away from this look. Polyurethane faux stone paneling comes in very realistic replicas. Though not real stone, this process of composing polyurethane creates a very sturdy and dense mimicking stone. Being much lighter, it is easier to install and less expensive for delivery. These come in panels, which makes installation less costly as well. If you are considering stone, look into this fantastic alternative to create the look at a more affordable cost.

There are many different options to consider when siding your home. Stone is truly an eye-catcher that can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal. If you are considering this option, look into the many different styles, kinds, and variations to see which is best tailored for your home and budget. For more exterior home insight, make sure to subscribe!

The Benefits of Natural Stone

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Stonewhy01We love telling you about the advantages of this product because we know how much you value the true and the genuine in life.

Natural stone is the real deal. Strong, solid and stable to live with (be still our heart), this is the world’s oldest building material. It was the material of choice for Egypt’s pyramids, Grecian temples and splish-splashing in Rome’s ancient baths. (Imagine you in a marble bath in your home!)

Natural stone is beauty solidified. From granite, the hardest, most dense stone, to luxurious marble, from soft limestone to “touch me” travertine, natural stone exudes elegance, transforms your home – speaks to your soul.

Natural stone has a unique personality. Quarried from Mother Earth, natural stone’s “complexion” is impacted by temperature, pressure, minerals and underground springs. Each slab cut from this environment is one-of-a-kind. You’re not imitation. Why should the “face” of your home be?

Natural stone invented variety. You only need to walk a seashore, lakeside or riverbed to experience the variety of stone. Colors, patterns, finishes and textures beyond imagination – all available for the walkways of your home.

Natural stone can be affordable. (Now we’ve really got your attention.) Today’s stone quarrying and processing technology is more efficient than ever before. Automated equipment cuts the stone in thinner slabs for less cost and, being lighter, it’s cheaper to transport. You’re the solid winner.

For the joy of you list lovers, here are ALL THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL STONE FLOOR COVERING:

• Natural stone is genuine, timeless and authentic

• Natural stone embodies beauty and rich character

• Natural stone is singular, exclusive, one-of-a-kind

• Natural stone offers variety, choice, imagination

• Natural stone has become more cost conscious

• Natural stone virtually always adds resale value

• Natural stone is ideal for radiant heat applications

Feel free to call me for more information or to ask a question.

And don’t hesitate to leave a comment here – we’d love to hear from you!

Unglazed Tile and Pottery Have Rustic Appeal

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The pots to the left have the same appeal as the unglazed tile flooring underneath – the simplicity of natural materials minimally-handled to create a space that feels handmade and rustic.

This pottery and tile is not all that different from that found in archeological digs across the world. Clay is available in almost all areas, and it’s easy to dig, form and fire basic containers with it.

Of course, the skill to make pots and tiles requires a sophistication that comes with practice and time. This tile is rough but basically matches in shape, color and thickness. The pots are also similar and are probably thrown. All of them were fired in a professional kiln to make sure they are hard enough to handle everyday use. However, they have that handmade appeal that is unique to these products.

In contrast, the modern standard clay pots that are part of the patio to the right are manufactured quickly and to a clearly-defined standard. Containing the plants they were designed to hold, these clay pots are simple but not handmade in feeling.

Today, you can find ceramic tiles and containers rich in variety and style. Sophisticated glazes and firing methods combine to make your choices almost unlimited. However, sometimes it makes sense to design a space that takes advantage of the simpler beginnings of clay, to highlight where we came from and that beauty is not always about complexity.

Whatever style of tile appeals to you, the best news is that for thousands of years, clay from the ground has been converted to a product that provides us with an edge when building, decorating or making our lives better.

Pool should Integrate with your Home

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If you want to add a pool or any backyard feature to your home, think about more than the addition itself. It needs to connect to your home and the other elements in your yard.

This pool addition was designed to take full advantage of a natural nook created by the home’s architecture.

The stone chosen for the pool surround was extended all the way to the foundation of the home, making the space feel like an inviting oasis in the yard. By centering the pool, visitors have plenty of space to move around it from the French doors. A wider section of stone on the far side of the pool provides space for a couple of lounging chairs.

The choice of stone was smart. It has enough variation to handle this large an installation, and is versatile enough to work on the columns holding the patio cover. The light tone provides an effective contrast to the dark wood surrounding the windows and doors.

Another fun design element is the choice of thatch as a patio cover. It adds a tropical flavor and softens the design. A small splash of green toward the far side of the pool provides a cool contrast to the light stucco wall.

Remember this pool as you plan your own. You can see that by using stone or tile for your patio and repeating the style with your pool surround and trim, the new addition will feel like a fundamental part of your home.

Question 5 In the Series Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring

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Today we are answering the fifth question in the 1o part series: Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring.

Question: Can I pick out the pieces of travertine or slate that I want to use so that they all look like the sample?

Answer: Technically, you could try………..but it would be extremely wasteful, costly and BORING! I realize that it is hard to look at one or two samples of stone and imagine what it will look like when its installed, (especially when you know the costs!) but what makes stone so beautiful is the fact that no two pieces will look the same.

Reasons to consider why you want every piece of stone to NOT be the same:

  • Your floor will be uniquely yours and you won’t ever see it at your neighbors house.
  • The floor will show character that can only be found in natural stone so there will be no mistake that it is ceramic or porcelain.
  • The more each piece of stone is different and the more movement and range of color a floor has – the more it hides dirt!

In my opinion, the fact that no two pieces are the same makes it easier to justify paying the price for natural stone! It’s like buying a rare antique or piece of antique handmade furniture – sure it costs more, but you can rest assured that no one else has the same one.

Keep these thoughts in mind when shopping: When considering a stone floor, be sure to ask to see multiple samples so you will know what kind of range of color and pattern to expect. Know that the floor you receive may not look the same as the samples you saw in the store. If you still aren’t comfortable, ask your sales associate if you can preview the material before it is installed. This may not be possible. If it is, you may have to pay a significant restocking fee to send it back, but that price may be worth it to you. Also, don’t discard pieces that have character such as a vein or crystallization. Celebrate these and let them tell the story of natural stone!

Do you have a floor with unusual veining, color range or movement? If so, send us a picture! We love to see examples of Mother Nature’s handywork!

 

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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