This week we compare natural granite to porcelain granite lookalikes. You might be surprised to find out that all is not what it may seem!
Written by Michael Mastro, Natural Stone Specialist, Sareen Stone.
Author: Realclicks Team
House Burch
- Client / Architect / Designer : Those Architects
- Location: Byron Bay
- Publication Name: Home Magazine (Fr) #29
- Publication Date: September 2019
- Project Links:
- https://thosearchitects.cdn.prismic.io/thosearchitects/bb290db5-5b11-439d-bd34-2d3afee3dfa6_those-architects-homecusinesandbasins-houseburch-Sep2019.pdf
- https://thosearchitects.cdn.prismic.io/thosearchitects/a4382944-99e3-49dc-bf8a-c43467c0ba83_those-architects-houses-Burch-Jun2019.pdf
- https://thosearchitects.cdn.prismic.io/thosearchitects/22f0748b-7444-4746-b57e-53f38e94edb6_those-architects-habitus-Feb2019.pdf
- https://www.designboom.com/architecture/those-architects-renovation-bungalow-byron-bay-10-16-2018/
- https://www.archdaily.com/902955/house-burch-those-architects
Cove House
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- Client / Architect / Designer : Secret Gardens
- Location: Cronulla
- Publication Name: The Weekend Australian
- Publication Date: August 2019
- Project Link: The Weekend Australian Magazine
Handling Natural Stone Around Pools
Each piece of natural stone displays the markings of its formation history so no two pieces will be the same. This is the first thing to understand when selecting natural stone for any project including stone around pools.
Project and image courtesy of Get Smart Landscaping and Freestyle Pools.
Other important considerations are suitability of the stone to the type of project, colour, tile size, surface finish, coping profile and slip rating. Then it’s time to hone in on the specifics:
- Selecting pool coping and coping profile – this can be influenced by the design, pre-existing site conditions, price and timing. There are a number of options such as a 30mm bullnose or pencil-round profile, an L-shaped coping with a drop edge, for example the drop edge can be up to 75mm or, where time permits, a custom sized or curved coping can be sourced from one of our suppliers.
- Tile or paver selection – when installing natural stone tiles or pavers it is recommended to ‘blend’ tiles from all crates prior to fixing to ensure an aesthetically pleasing job. As mentioned tiles are quarried and each has its own unique character resulting in colour and markings that vary from within a tile and from tile to tile.
- Larger format tiles – where a client’s preference is a larger format tile, careful consideration needs to be given to installation. For example, lifting a 40mm thick stone in a larger format is a two-person job for each and every piece.
- Adhesives – it is important to use an adhesive specifically designed for natural stone and take into consideration the type of substrate it will be laid on. Moisture sensitive stone like limestone will not be compatible with certain adhesives.
- Sealing – to look after your pool coping and tiles it is recommended to seal natural stone to guard from staining and to make cleaning easier. Check with your supplier to see how many coats of sealer are recommended. Specially formulated sealers for salt water pools are available.
- Slip rating and surface finish for wet areas around pools should also be considered during the planning phase.
Sareen Stone offers a customised design and sourcing service providing clients access to natural stone in various sizes and finishes. Lead time needs to be taken into consideration when ordering customised stone.
If you have any questions about your project needs, please contact one of our Natural Stone Specialists on 02 9666 9222.
Filling Holes in Tumbled Travertine
To fill or not to fill, when it comes to travertine – that is the question! Our outdoor stone specialist, Gary Bazzana, explains why our customers usually fill in the holes in the travertine when using travertine outdoors.
Travertine is a freshwater sedimentary stone composed of calcite which is usually formed at the mouth of hot springs or in limestone caves. It naturally has open holes that once held little bubbles of trapped gas.
The most popular finish for Travertine to be used outdoors is the tumbled finish.
The tumbled finish has a higher slip rating than the filled and honed tiles, favoured for indoor use.
Tumbled Travertine pavers and tiles are imported with the holes in the stone still open, known as “Tumbled and Unfilled”.
How do we select our Premium Natural Stone?
As importers and suppliers of natural stone our team regularly visits stone quarries throughout the world. But, how do we choose the right block from a quarry, how is it processed and how does that block of stone find its way to our warehouse?
Ready Set Swim!
In this handy step by step guide, thanks to the Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA), we explain how to get your pool looking spectacular and ready for the busy swimming months ahead will get things back into shape. Print it out or save to your notes page on the phone so that it’s forever at your fingertips.
Pool season is pretty much here. We say ‘bring it on!’.
Hygge Interior Design Style
Hygge, pronounced ‘hue-gah’ is a way of life in Denmark. In essence Hygge brings focus to the simple things such as your daily well being and living in the present.
Hygge style complements a simple yet fulfilled lifestyle. Creating hygge means a cosy home with simple pleasures such as candles, a beautiful warm fireplace, neutral tones and wonderful textures.
We don’t have a word for ‘hygge’ in the English language but as hyggehouse.com explains, ‘the idea of hygge can be described as cosiness, charm, happiness, ‘contentedness’, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, kinship, and (simplicity). It is always cosy, charming and special’.
Image credit: amara.com The Lux Pad & image credit: AP Landscapes
Cobblestones and Why Thickness Matters
Cobblestones vary in thickness and quality. Importing thicker cobblestones, at least 30mm, ensures they will be durable enough to withstand heavy vehicle traffic in outdoor areas such as commercial spaces, paths, and driveways, providing peace of mind.
Cobblestones can vary in thickness, with some being as thin as 20mm and others as thick as 50mm or more. The thickness of a cobblestone can affect its durability and ability to withstand heavy traffic, which is why thicker cobblestones are often preferred for use in outdoor areas such as commercial spaces, paths, and driveways.
When choosing cobblestones for any alfresco space whether it be commercial or residential, it’s important to consider:
- Durability – Using a thicker cobblestone will increase the durability of the stone particularly when dealing with heavy vehicle traffic and you can be sure they’ll last. A 30mm cobble offers additional strength to those less thick.
- Slip resistance – Where slip resistance is a priority, cobblestones should be a serious consideration for outdoor spaces that will encounter heavy foot traffic.
- Aesthetic – A beautiful driveway, together with coordinated paths, provide great street appeal and can add value to your property. The key is to ensure the cobblestones complement your design, that they are part of the overall theme.
- Ongoing Maintenance – The beautiful thing about cobblestones is that they are relatively low maintenance. If you invest in quality cobbles and a landscape specialist in the first place, your ongoing maintenance should be minimal.
Sareen Stone’s range of cobblestones includes 30mm thick quartzite and granite cobbles to ensure you get a quality product that will not only stand the test of time – it will stand heavy vehicular traffic!
- Granite cobblestones – Sareen Stone offers a range of granite cobbles that come in a flamed finish at a depth of 30mm in various sizes and a range of colours including the lighter grey of Silhouette Grey Cobbles, Charcoal Grey Cobbles and Charcoal Grey Rectangle Cobbles.
- Quartzite cobblestones – extremely popular our latest offering is the Autumn Blend Quartzite cobbles that give a little sparkle to your outdoor space and are 30mm thick.
To order your samples or to ask any questions you may have about our cobblestones, tiles or pavers contact our knowledgeable Staff on info@sareenstone.com.au or phone 02 9666 9222. Our showroom is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 5pm and on Saturday by appointment from 9am – 1pm.
Glues, Grouts and Adhesives
Getting the job right the first time, saves you time and money and more importantly means a first-class job and a happy client.
At Sareen Stone we can help when making decisions about glues grouts and adhesives and the best application to use depending on the type of stone you are installing.