Blog | Masonry Design Considerations, Tampa, Odessa, Lutz, Harbor FL

When making masonry design considerations it is always a good idea to start with the type of material that you will be using. Once you have that decision made you can then go onto to other factors like colors, textures, and accents. In this guide, you can explore the key differences between natural stone and manufactured stone and the different types of colors, designs, and textures that are generally available across the spectrum.

Natural Stone or Manufactured Stone

When it comes to natural stone, it is important to determine the mining location. This factor affects the slab’s category, quality, color, texture, and value. Some of the most popular natural stones include travertine, granite, limestone, marble, sandstone, slate, and quartzite.

What makes natural stone unique is that no two pieces are the same. It is the differences, natural defects, and irregularities that make natural stone so widely popular, among homeowners, masons, and contractors.

Manufactured stone, also known as artificial stone, is a man-made material. The high degree of consistency in terms of texture and color makes it different from its natural counterpart. They are made using composite materials sourced from crushing stone and then mixed with an adhesive. Quartz and marble are the more commonly used stone for preparation.

Manufactured stone can be used in masonry renovation projects to create exactly natural stone-like looks and feel. Some of the popular engineered stone options include:

Quartz
Silestone
Cambria
Caesarstone
Icestone

Masonry Stone Colors

When it comes to color options for your masonry project, manufactured stone allows you to achieve almost any color palette. Natural stone is limited to the naturally available colors, but the colors will not fade with age. It provides unparalleled color vibrancy that will keep looking better over time.

Masonry Stone Accents

Both natural and artificial stones allow you to give a unique look and feel to your home or commercial masonry project with the variety of stone accents available to them. At JI Masonry, we can help you achieve the best of both options with stone columns and outdoor stone walkways. The accents can be used to personalize your outdoor living area and add character to both interiors and exteriors. Some of the popular options to add charm to your property include:

Stone mailbox posts
Exterior stone walls
Stone lamp posts
Stone patios

Masonry Stone Texture

Masonry stone is available in a world of textures. From smooth texture to sand face to heavy texture, you can explore all the options to determine which one complements the aesthetics and fulfills the functional needs.

Natural Texture: This is the naturally occurring stone texture and is caused by the natural clefts in rocks. When it comes to artificial stone, they can be made to imitate the natural patterns in stones.
Honed Texture: This texture is formed by pulverizing the stone surface with high-grit materials. They are perfectly suited for high-traffic areas.
Polished Texture: Polished stone texture is the very opposite of the honed texture in that it has a glossy appearance. They are best for covered areas and surfaces that do not get wet.

Some of the other popular masonry stone textures include flamed, sandblasted, tumbled, and bush hammered surfaces. At JI Masonry Solutions, we provide comprehensive masonry services – from a new installation to renovation to repairs and maintenance and everything in between. We provide our hardscaping and outdoor living area design and installation services throughout Safety Harbor, FL, and the surrounding areas. Feel free to contact us at 727-337-3638 or write to us using this online form and we will get back to you at the earliest.

<< Back to BLOG