People have been making homes of rock for millennia. But whereas in the past the rock needed to be independently and stacked, today we can access it from far and near, and we can use it as full blocks and thin veneers. The result: We can pick stone that has the colour and texture we need for much less price.

Suitable for practically any style and any place, rock provides a sense of solidity, permanence and durability. Whether employed in cubes or as a veneer, rock can yield a full spectrum of outcomes. Options for which stone you use and how you use it are infinite.

If you’re thinking about rock for your project, the best place to begin is by visiting a local provider, such as Illinois Brick & Stone should you live in that area. You will be able to look in a number of different stones in addition to manufactured versions like Eldorado and Cultured Stone. Once you’ve narrowed your choices to a few, ask the providers for a listing of any homes in your town that have used those substances. A field visit to see the rock in place is well worthwhile.

Consider a few of those possibilities for using stone in your next home project.

Austin Patterson Disston Architects

Stone may make a excellent foundation. Because of stone’s sense of permanence, a rock foundation can anchor and set a structure securely in place. Bigger stones in an irregular pattern produce a business foundation that matches the lightness of the construction above.

Narofsky Architecture + ways2design

Stone can get the job done for contemporary homes. Interlocking volumes clad in rock that offers texture can enliven a home’s composition. And the rough texture of rock may be wonderful counterpoint to the adjoining metal and wood.

SHKS Architects

Stone is any colour. From reds, greens and blues to oranges, yellows and more, rock may vary widely in colour. Selecting a rock that has the colour you need, whether to blend in or stand out, has never been easier.

Michael Kelley Photography

Stone can be left uncooked. Stone in its undressed state is stone, and rocks can be piled on top of one another to establish a connection to the site. As it transforms to rock, it becomes less foundation and more wall.

RWA Architects

Stone can create accent. An alteration in substance from stucco to rock and a change in colour from light to dark can create a focal point in the entry or some other architectural characteristic.

Stone can be thin. Whether it’s manufactured stone or naturally quarried stone that’s been cut to a thin veneer, rock no longer needs to be heavy, massive and thick. Like the modern brick, rock can be applied as a paper-thin, two-dimensional decorative element.

Studio C Architecture & Interiors

Stone can form an anchoring wall. As a front facade or a accent wall, rock can provide an anchoring wall that the remainder of the home develops from and joins to.

david phillips

Stone can be shaped and organized. Dressed into irregular shapes and sizes, the rock is then stacked in a carefully planned, yet seemingly arbitrary, pattern that shows thought and craftsmanship.

Britannia Joinery

Stone can be old. Weathered and outdated stone provides a home the persona of knowledge and longevity, reinforcing the permanence of what was constructed.

Terri Symington, ASID

Stone can be indoors, also. With thin stone veneers, it has never been easier, nor more cost effective, to deliver rock in by the cold.

More:
9 Top Siding Materials

Stacked Stone Inside the Home

12 Ways to Insert Beautiful Stone for Your Residence

Easy-Care Landscaping With Rocks and Boulders

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