DecorativeMailboxPost

Did you know Natural Stones Add More Curb Appeal & Elegance?  When it comes to curb appeal, the value of the stone is both aesthetic and practical. Well-manicured landscapes, pleasing cladding, and paint colors, as well as clean drives and walkways, exude tidiness.  The uniformity created is appealing to homeowners, passersby, and potential buyers.

With natural stone, it’s possible to give your home a makeover that will look beautiful and last for years to come. From pathways to windowsills, walkways, and more, architectural natural stone offers a low-maintenance way of maximizing curb appeal and increasing home value.

Limestone Veneers

Limestone veneer is a natural stone, cut thinner to function as a lightweight decorative covering over other building materials. The material — and its effect — is timeless. If your design goals include cost-effectiveness and elegance, it might be the texture you’ve been searching for. Plus, there are plenty of ways to use it. From skirting and cladding to trim and accents,

Limestone pavers and flagstone walkways add dimension, texture, and form to landscaping. Severe weather and heavy traffic leave a marginal impact on natural stone, which is long-lasting and less prone to fissures and cracks. Not only is natural stone aesthetically pleasing, but it also averages about 3% less water absorption than concrete, lowering the risk of algae and staining.

Natural Stone Driveways

While the oldest driveway stone is the classic cobblestone that’s synonymous with old-world charm, today’s homeowners aren’t relegated to a single choice when it comes to driveway appeal. Granite, bluestone, flagstone, sandstone, slate, travertine, and limestone pavers are available in a variety of colors and textures that complement the traditional and contemporary architecture.

Add Stone Veneers To The Facade

More durable than aluminum and vinyl, a natural stone accent on a house exterior can add warmth and liven up an entranceway or outdoor wall with texture and character. The good news is that stone veneer can be easily applied over concrete blocks, brick, or stucco, so revamping an outdated exterior is simply free from hassle.

The main type of stone siding includes veneer, solid stone, manufactured stone, and faux stone. Many homeowners create striking and beautiful contrasts by combining brick or painted walls and stone. It’s even possible to upgrade a chimney with natural stone caps, adding appeal to your home’s roofline.

Decorative Mailbox Post

Even the smallest items in a yard can positively influence a home’s curb appeal. Grace your front yard with a mailbox post made of stone. The structure makes a beautiful, decorative addition to the landscape. Homeowners who are timid about incorporating stone veneers into their exterior design can start with small items like a mailbox that, though relatively small, can have a huge impact on the yard’s appeal.

Granite Lamppost

Granite lamp posts are great for providing ambiance and illuminating the front yard at night. During the day they stand tall and beautify the home’s exterior. Granite is an eye-catching and durable alternative to wood or iron.  It is better able to endure severe weather; you will enjoy your granite lamp post for many years.

Manufactured Masonry Stone vs Natural Stone

Masonry stone can be made from natural veneers or manufactured veneers. In the case of natural stone veneer, rock is quarried from the earth.  It is then sliced into thin layers, then finished accordingly to whatever look is desired. Manufactured stone veneer, as the name suggests, is man-made. Often, manufactured stone veneer is made using concrete and aggregate materials. They are designed to look like natural stones, taking on similar colors and textures.

• How Is The Appearance Of The Stones?

Although manufactured stone veneer is made to look like natural stone, and there are varying colors and profiles to choose from, upon closer inspection, manufactured stone veneer cannot truly mimic natural stone veneer. Natural stones will have pronounced variations that make them unique. While manufactured stone veneer will still give a beautiful finished product, the rich natural color depth, texture, as well as feel of the natural stone give it an unmatched appeal.

• Strength and Durability

Both natural stone veneer and manufactured stone veneer will last long-term. However, the natural stone veneer will ultimately stand the test of time better than any man-made product. Manufactured stone veneer can be more porous than natural stone veneer, giving it a more limited lifespan than a natural stone veneer.

• Versatility

Natural and manufactured stone veneer products are both versatile.  Also, there can be limitations on where they may be installed. For example, if you want to do stonework around a pool, consider natural stone products first.  This is because the chlorine may discolor manufactured stone veneer products or affect their structural integrity over time. Natural stone also tends to be better suited for building exteriors as they are hardier against the elements. That said, natural stone is often heavier and denser than its manufactured stone veneer counterparts. Manufactured stone veneer tends to be lighter than natural stone and can be used on many types of surfaces that do not need to be structural.

• Natural Stone Cost vs Manufactured Stone

As the technology for making stone veneers have improved, the cost of the product has risen while natural stone costs have fallen somewhat in recent years. There is no longer a large gap between the costs of natural stone veneer and man-made products, though manufactured stone veneer tends to have the cost advantage more often than not. In terms of up keep, however, natural stone tends to cost less, being a hardier product that can easily endure a power washer better than man-made stone.

Front Entrance With Natural Limestone Dix Hills NY

This front yard was rebuilt for a home in Dix Hills NY. We created an all-new front door entrance with new stairs and new columns for the lights.  The retaining walls helped maintain the landscape and the grade changes in the properties. Gappsi also veneered the bottom part of the house with the same Eldorado Cultured Stone veneers to match the front door entrance. G44 limestone French pattern and two-inch copings were used for the steps, treads, and platform paving. This leads to the front door and also to the backyard. In addition, the front walls were also veneered with Eldorado Cultured Stones. We landscaped the entire front, another stone creation by Gappsi. 

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