Are you thinking of adding a touch of class or exotic to your home? Nothing beats using decorative stonework. It doesn’t matter what you have in mind, whether a marble medallion or stone backsplash. What matters is placing the decorative stone in the right manner. Stones are iconic building materials used for palaces, temples, and cathedrals in the past. It has recently become a material used for residential homes as well, and there are good reasons to welcome that development.

Why Stone?

For thousands of years, people have used stones for building. This material is durable, and the mere sight of it suggests permanence. This is perhaps, why most public buildings use stones. However, there are other reasons why you should consider adding decorative stonework to your home. They include:

Low Maintenance: The durability and strength of stone mean you don’t have to worry much about the material when you use it in your building. It doesn’t get damaged easily, and any minor fault can be easily fixed at little cost to you.

Easy Cleaning: Not everyone has the will to spend hours cleaning the home. If you want a beautiful home that doesn’t take a whole weekend to clean, you should consider concrete. All you need to clean stonework is to dry-mop, wipe, or sweep. You can also mop it with water if dust is on the surface or occasionally use commercial cleaners. However, don’t use a cleaner unless the label says you can use it for stones. Acidic cleaners that contain natural acids, such as vinegar and lemon juice, should never be used. These cleaners can ruin calcium-based rock by eating into it, thus spoiling the finish and causing cracks in the long run. Powdered cleaners are also problematic, especially for softer stones, as they may be abrasive.

Timeless: Decorative stonework is not a construction trend that will fade out and make your home look dated. It is always relevant and classic.

Choosing Stonework

There are so many varieties of stones, so you will have to be familiar with them to know which one works best for your home or office space based on the function you have in mind. Knowing the common stone types and their characteristics is excellent, but you can also consult experts to get the best information.

Types of Finish

Another thing you will have to be familiar with when dealing with decorative stonework is the type of finish. Stones generally come in two types:

Polished: A stone is polished when it is buffed until it has a mirror-like sheen. This type of finish is generally used for rocks that are naturally lustrous such as granites and marbles. To keep the brilliance of this finish, you shouldn’t install it in a place with high traffic because abrasives and friction dull the sheen of the stone.

Honed: A stone is honed when the surface is ground to make a smooth and matte finish. Honing removes the natural sheen of the rock and exposes some of its pores, but it doesn’t dull its appearance. Instead, it displays the natural character and color of the stone. This type of stone finish works well in places with high traffic, and unlike polished stone, it takes some time before any dirt shows on it.

Conclusion

Common varieties of stones used for decorative stonework include marble, granite, limestone, slate, travertine, etc. Message the best masonry team around!