Monthly Archives: January 2018

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A Step-By-Step Guide for Choosing & Installing Custom Stone Architectural Elements

There are many places from which you can buy architectural stone elements.  But, if you do a little research you will soon see that all of the places are not created equal.  In fact, many do not sell quality stone or custom design their architectural elements.  Additionally, many of these sellers are simply that – sellers of stone.  That is all they do.  They do not visit your site to help you design, layout, and custom-create your stone elements.  They do not help you with the logistics for delivery and installation of your architectural stone creations.  At Architectural Stone Elements, we are there for you at every step of the process to ensure complete satisfaction with your custom designs.  Below is a step-by-step guide for choosing and installing your custom stone architectural elements with Architectural Stone Elements.

A Step-By-Step Guide for Choosing & Installing Custom Stone Architectural Elements

  • Site Visit or Architectural Software Integration of Designs
    • Depending on what stage of construction your home is in, we can either walk through the site with you to help determine how to best integrate custom stone elements or our on-staff draftsman can integrate custom architectural elements with your construction plans in architectural software. This helps you see how and where custom stone elements will be used to elevate the architectural aesthetic of your home.
  • Selection of Stone Elements
    • There are a variety of stone types from which to choose and we will help walk you through the selection of your stone elements. Our staff has visited many quarries and knows how to choose only the finest quality stone for your custom architectural stone project.
  • Stone Fabrication
    • A machine will not be executing the detailed designs of your custom stone elements when you work with Architectural Stone Elements. Our artisans will design every sculptural detail of your custom stone elements and will hand carve your stone for the finest quality custom craftsmanship.
  • Delivery and Installation
    • Our clients never have to worry that they will be left to wonder how to get their stone elements safely delivered or what to do with them once they have been delivered. We will arrange safe delivery of your architectural stone elements, as well as safe, high-quality installation to ensure your architectural stone elements look their best.  Custom architectural stone should be treated carefully and installed correctly for both safety and protection of your investment.
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3 Important Considerations When Building a Stone Fire Pit

A stone fire pit is a wondering addition to any landscape design.  Fire pits can be custom designed in any size or architectural style to seamlessly coordinate and elegantly elevate a home’s architectural aesthetic.  Fire pits provide a beautiful glow to your landscape, a warm place to gather around, and a fun place to roast marshmallows.  When designing your custom fire pit, it is important to consider things like what type of stone is best for your architectural style and landscape design.  It is also important to consider the size, including diameter and height, of your custom stone fire pit.  But, that is not all!  Before you get out your marshmallows for roasting, there are a few more considerations to make!

3 Important Considerations When Building a Stone Fire Pit

  1. Location
    • One of the most important things to think about when designing your fire pit is what its location will be. If you have ample space, you may want to place your fire pit at some distance from your patio or gathering areas so that smoke does not interfere with parties. You may have a garden or scenic location in which to place your fire pit.  Or, you may want to put your fire pit near your pool so that you can hop out of the pool and warm up next to the fire.  A custom fire pit is not one that can just be moved so it is important to carefully consider the location before installation.
  2. Seating
    • When installing your custom stone fire pit, you also want to consider seating. If you plan to gather around your fire pit you may want to install stone benches or permanent seating around the fire.  It enhances the overall appearance and adds to the beauty of the fire pit.  But, if you prefer flexibility in your seating options, you may want to add one coordinating stone bench and leave room to move other chairs or seating around the fire as needed.
  3. Wood Burning or Gas?
    • When it comes to the fire in your fire pit, you have two primary options – wood burning or gas. This can be a hot topic because some people only like fires that are wood burning fires while others prefer the ease and efficiency of a gas fire.  You will need to decide this ahead of time so that appropriate considerations for a propane tank and a pipeline can be made when installing the fire pit.