Sustainable building has been at the forefront of the construction industry for the past decade, due in large part to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED® Green Building Rating System™.
The precision of cut stone projects make them a beautiful addition to a variety of commercial and residential settings. However, that same precision can quickly send timelines and budgets off course if stone tolerances aren’t clearly agreed to between contractor and customer upfront, or not met during installation.
When winter hits, colder climates are blanketed with snow and ice. Landscaping made beautiful with natural stone walkways during warmer weather are out of sight, out of mind for months — putting them at considerable risk for damage by melting agents containing varying degrees of salt, from sodium chloride to magnesium chloride.
In early January, the NAHB 2018 International Builders’ Show® (IBS) brought together more than 85,000 global building industry professionals to learn about and from each other.
The most practical definition of cut stone is “natural stone quarried and fabricated down to exact specifications.” While true, the definition doesn’t speak to cut stone’s intrinsic elegance — often the deciding factor in incorporating it into landscapes and building projects.
The Elements Blog is a valuable year round resource for advice and information about natural stone products and applications. Our blog has proven to be particularly popular with our readers in 2017, so we’re recapping the top four posts in this year-end roundup:
Natural stone is a natural wonder — tough enough to endure long periods of exposure to even the harshest of elements in nature, and made only more beautiful for having done so.
New year, new ways to explore, learn and network! Join the anticipated 60,000 attendees at the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS), slated for January 9-11, 2018, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
When exploring limestone options, you invariably hear about Type II and Type III limestone, and you may rightly assume that the higher the type number the better the limestone. But, what does “better” really mean in terms of quality and price?
You might not think there’s a huge difference in the pavers you choose for your pool or patio other than their price and appearance, but we’re here to tell you that’s not the case. Particularly when deciding between limestone, concrete, brick, and travertine pavers, each type provides different benefits, and differs in maintenance, durability, safety, and more. To help you decide which paver is the ideal fit for your next landscaping project, here’s a full breakdown of the four paver types listed above.