How to Use Natural Stone for Fall

With Autumn comes another opportunity to renovate your home design. Natural stone’s versatility and ability to blend with just about any finish makes it particularly easy to incorporate fall and winter color trends into the rooms and the exterior of your home.

Outdoor stone fireplaces and fire pits have existed for a long time, but it´s really interesting the movement in the past 10-15 years of creating outdoor living spaces, complete with outdoor functioning fireplaces. 

A great looking, comfortable, easy to use and maintain outdoor fireplace is a highly desired feature for many people looking to enjoy some of the cool Fall evenings.

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you three ways to use natural stone for your outdoor projects:

Fireplaces:

It’s not too late to capture the beautiful fall weather with an outdoor fireplace. While there are a lot of options out there, we recommend considering using natural stone as a primary building material for this project, trading a little more upfront cost for a long lasting, luxurious feature to be enjoyed for many years to come. 

Fire Pit for outdoor Cooking:

A fire pit placed beneath a gazebo or veranda allows you to grill outside even when it's raining. Sunken fire pits that are built right into your patio lend a natural look and can be very versatile when in use. Round fire pit designs are conducive to more intimate seating arrangements and party conversation. No matter the size or shape you choose for your backyard fire pit, ensure the top surface is even and level enough to hold grill grates for cooking.

Stone Wall:

You can increase your front-yard living space with a low stone wall. Direct traffic to the door with a clear path, and use the stone walls to indicate the areas of the yard you want to keep more private. 

Stone walls can adapt to so many styles and play well with so many other materials. They can be built low for seating walls or mortared and built high enough to provide privacy in a backyard.

Please contact us today to find out how South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia can help you renovate or create the best place for your home. 

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987 

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

Flagstone Maintenance

Flagstone lends a natural look to outdoor spaces, whether used for a garden path or a back patio. Flagstone offers a low-maintenance option for outdoor spaces with a little regular care and cleaning. If you keep your flagstone patio, walkway or pool deck maintained properly it will last for many years. 

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia,  we give you three tips to maintain your Flagstone in good shape:

1. Cleaning Flagstone:

You should regularly sweep your flagstone paving. This will ensure that loose dirt and plant debris don’t sit on the stone for prolonged periods and cause stains. If spot cleaning of stains or mold is required bleach or muriatic acid diluted with water can be used. If you have a large zone of flagstone that needs cleaning you can hire a Peachtree City masonry and concrete contractor to come give your stone new life, and ask to reseal the stone to prevent future stains. 

2. Sealing Flagstone:

All flagstone is subject to water stains, particularly in areas where the water supply is alkaline or contains minerals. Stains are unavoidable in outdoor living spaces devoted to cooking and dining. For this reason, all new flagstone paving should be sealed upon completion. A sealer fills the pores in the stone and repels spills. This sealer should be reapplied annually to protect the stone and retain its color over time.

3. Repairing Flagstone:

One of the great benefits of flagstone is that it is installed in pieces. If a stone becomes damaged by cracks, scratches or stains, the affected piece can simply be replaced instead of having to redo the entire patio. Additionally, if stones installed without mortar shift they can be lifted and more sand added to the space beneath. For mortared flagstone that has been damaged by freeze and thaw cycles, re-grouting may be necessary. This involves removing the failing mortar with a chisel or screwdriver and then replacing it with fresh mortar.

Please contact us today to find out how South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia can help you renovate or create the best place for your home. 

For more information in Atlanta or Florida call us: (678) 628-9987 

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

All that you need to know about Flagstone Pavers

Flagstone pavers are made directly out of natural stone. This stone is shaped, cut, and formed into slabs of various shapes and sizes, which are then fit together to cover the specific area. Aesthetically, the flagstone paver installation is quite nice, giving the area a natural look that other materials can’t quite manage to capture in many cases due to the fact that they are artificially manufactured.

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you some information that you need to know before selecting flagstone paving:

- The pavers can be used in a variety of applications. Flagstone patio pavers are one popular use, as are walkways and garden projects. 

- The color schemes are more limited than concrete pavers, because they come from natural sources, but there still are enough color blends to satisfy most homeowner’s uses. 

- The sizes, shapes, and thicknesses of these concrete flagstone pavers will also vary depending on the particular use of the stones.

- The installation of these stones is usually quite easy compared to other options, as they can usually be laid right on soil, or with little bedding material required. 

- They are also very strong and durable, withstanding any freezing/thawing cycles or other weather, traffic, or abuse. This makes these pavers very low maintenance and long-lasting.

- Flagstone choices generally look more natural and earthy than manufactured options. These choices may work well with a garden, landscape area, or other places near your home that wants to communicate this natural look. 

- Important things to remember when you select flagstone:

1. Choose flagstone that's available in as many shapes, sizes and thicknesses as possible.

2. Beware that glittery flagstone can lose this sparkle under wear and tear.

3. Brightly colored stone may prove softer than more uniform muted tones.

4. Where water is mineral rich, beware of dark colored stones that show efflorescence.

Please contact us today to find out how South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia can help you renovate or create the best place for your home. 

For more information in Atlanta or Florida call us: (678) 628-9987 

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

How to use Flagstone for your Patio

Flagstone is known to be an easy material to work with due to the flat, thin nature that comes from the splitting layers of sedimentary stone. The large, flat stones are used in a variety of landscaping projects ranging from patios, paths, walkways, seating areas, and walls. Flagstone pavers are available in several different colors, shapes, and thicknesses. The color palette for flagstone varies from red, pink, orange, brown, blue, gold and even white. 

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you five reasons to choose Flagstone for your project:

1. Flexibility: 

Due to each stone's unique shapes and colors; flagstone gives you a lot of opportunities with its design and can bring an immense amount of character to your space.

2. Options:

Flagstone can be laid as a solid surface by being integrated with concrete or the stones can be laid individually allowing mulch or plantings to grow between.

3. Texture:

The stone makes it a perfect walking surface for paths and seating areas by providing a natural non-slip surface.

4. Color:

It can be laid as one consecutive color or can be laid with a palette of complementary colors that will provide a mix of the earth’s natural hues throughout your landscape.

5. Low Maintenance:

Flagstone is also low maintenance. It needs very little upkeep, and if a stone is damaged it’s a simple fix. 

Please contact us today to find out how South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia can help you renovate or create the best place for your home. 

For more information in Atlanta or Florida call us: (678) 628-9987 

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com