Caring for Your Flagstone Patio

April 4th, 2018 Posted in Flagstone
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Flagstone makes a beautiful patio to enjoy and brings a natural element to your outdoor living space. It can last for decades and is a wonderful choice for creating a lovely patio for your home. Flagstone is also low maintenance, but it is not completely without need for care. Weeds can grow between the pavers and moss can overtake the surface if your pavers are not maintained. To keep your flagstone patio looking beautiful, here are a few tips.

  • Preventing moss. Moss loves to grow on wet rocks and flagstone can be inviting to the green fungi. You can clean moss off your flagstone by scraping it away, but it will come back if you don’t plan for prevention. Dryness and light are your best tools to keep away moss. Keep sprinklers away from your pavers and cut back branches to let sunshine warm your stones to prevent moss growth.
  • Weed prevention. While you can pull the weeds and grass between your pavers or use weed control solutions, you will want to consider having the pavers reset for smaller spaces if you continue having weed growth. A professional paver installer can help reset your flagstone and add preventive fillers to reduce the number of weeds and keep maintenance low for your patio.

If you are only considering adding a flagstone patio, understanding the simple ways to keep it beautiful should be another selling point. Unlike many other patio materials, flagstone is naturally meant to withstand the elements and has already survived for many years in the outdoors. It is a gorgeous addition to any outdoor space and is easy to keep looking wonderful if you know the tricks to keep moss and weeds away.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-061

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Benefits of Using Flagstone for Home Improvement

October 8th, 2017 Posted in Flagstone
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Natural stone is very popular in both indoor and outdoor home improvements and new homes. There are many different varieties to choose from, each with their own benefits and uses. One option is natural flagstone, quarried from sedimentary stone in layers. These flat stones are ideal for paving, which is one of the most common uses for this particular stone. However, since there are many other stones that can also be used as pavers, why choose flagstone? Here are some of the benefits of using flagstone:

  • Flat, non-slip surface. Flagstone is perfect for outdoor areas where moisture is present. The flat, non-slip surface provides a safe, easy surface to walk on, even when it is wet.
  • Durability and easy maintenance. Flagstone, like most natural stone, is durable and easy to maintain. After spending hundreds or thousands of years in the elements, it can last for many more years in your backyard without need for special maintenance.
  • Unique style. Flagstone comes in a variety of colors and shapes, allowing you to create a unique style. Each stone is different, ensuring no one will have the same exact patio or walkway at their home.
  • Natural paving. Want a patio, driveway or walkway that has a natural appeal? Flagstone is perfect. This stone works well without mortar; you can plant moss or grass between the stones for a natural paved surface that allows for easy water run-off.

Few materials are as versatile and beautiful as flagstone. If you are planning a new stone project for your home, consider the benefits of using flagstone for a stunning look that will last for decades.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
1968 US-41
Pelham, TN 37366
(423) 930-8249

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5 Great Uses for Tennessee Flagstone

January 17th, 2017 Posted in Flagstone
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Tennessee flagstone is a beautiful material that can be used for many different projects around your home. This durable material offers a natural beauty that artificial stone cannot match, with every stone being completely unique. Tennessee flagstone can be used both inside and outdoors for durable surfaces. Here are five great ideas for using this material around your home.

  1. New patio. Flagstone is ideal for paving and creating a gorgeous patio for your home. The irregular shapes make a unique pattern that blends well into a natural setting. It is also easy to maintain and can last for decades.
  2. Create a natural stone stairway down a hillside or slope with flagstone treads that ideal for outdoor steps. It is a great do-it-yourself project to make it easier to go up and down your hillside.
  3. Tennessee flagstone is a wonderful material for making a memorable walkway to your front door or through your gardens.
  4. Fireplace or fire pit. Make a delightful fireplace or fire pit from flagstone, for either your living room or outdoor living space. Flagstone is perfect for adorning the outside of your mantel or fire pit area.
  5. Driveways. Want to impress the neighbors? Choose Tennessee Flagstone to pave your driveway for an upscale option for your home. This beautiful addition will add value to your home and make your driveway the envy of the neighborhood.

Want more ideas on how to use flagstone around your home? Visit your local quarry that offers Tennessee flagstone for more ideas on how to include this gorgeous natural stone in your home design, inside and out.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
Whitwell, TN 37397
423-930-8249

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Using Authentic Stone Treads For Landscaping

July 16th, 2014 Posted in Flagstone
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While there are many man-made products which are meant to mimic natural stone, nothing can duplicate all the benefits of real stone in landscaping. For durability and beauty, natural stone is the perfect material for any structure, pathway or stairs that you want to withstand the elements. One of the most versatile products for flat surfaces is flagstone step treads, cut into manageable sizes which make it easier to build the perfect outside stone surface. 

Incorporating Stone Step Treads Into Your Yard

There are several great ways to add the beauty of flagstone step treads into your landscape design. What makes using these stone treads over formed cement or other products so desirable is the unique beauty that each tread can provide. Every stone is different, yet can be cut to uniform sizes to make them excellent for creating a durable, rustic outdoor ground covering. Some ways to use flagstone step treads in your yard include: 

  • Patios. Create a hard, flat surface with the beauty of natural stone. Steps treads can fit together nicely to make both small and large patio areas.
     
  • Pathways. Step treads can be used easily to make a convenient and rustic path through your garden or yard.
     
  • Stairways. For gradual slopes or even steeper hillsides, stone step treads are the perfect material for creating a stairway.  Steps can come in small squares or four-foot-long treads, depending on what you need. 

Talk to your local flagstone provider to find out what sizes of flagstone step treads they carry; quality providers can often create custom sized steps for your specific project. You will love the incredible beauty that flagstone treads can add to your landscaping project, which will last for decades to come.

 Posted on behalf of Culbreth Stone

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Tennessee Flagstone Treads

August 1st, 2013 Posted in Flagstone
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Flagstone step treads are often used to create natural stairs, steps and pathways in residential homes, commercial buildings, gardens and landscaped areas.  Stone contractors are often forced to utilize stone that is not the correct size for the application because the ideal size is not available.   As a result, the step stones and stair treads are often in several random pieces, which detract from the overall appearance of the final product.  However, stone contractors now have an option available for one-piece Tennessee flagstone step treads, which is a beautiful natural stone product.

Available in several stock sizes including 12”x12”, 18”x18”, 24”x24”, 18”x36” and 18”x48”, these treads are all natural Tennessee flagstone.  In addition, custom sizes are available as well.  The product is being sold “quarry direct” at very low wholesale prices by the truckload, which is possible because there is no multi-tiered distribution system involved.  When an order is placed, the call goes directly to the quarry in Tennessee where the product is mined and cut to size.  The quarry takes great pride in providing world-class customer service, which is possible due to direct distribution and the dedicated stone professionals that manage the entire process from the time the stone is mined until the wholesale customer receives their order.

As every stone contractor knows, customers prefer real stone products over synthetic stone, provided they can afford the real stone.  Now real stone flagstone treads will be within the reach of more consumers than ever before because of the low wholesale pricing that is now available to stone contractors.  This savings benefits the end consumer as well as the stone contractor, creating a “win-win” for everyone involved!

Posted on behalf of Culbreth Stone

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Flagstone for Landscaping Applications

March 27th, 2013 Posted in Flagstone
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Whether you call it flagstone or flagging, the wide range of landscaping applications that can be enhanced with the addition of flagstones is impressive, to say the least. Flagstone is a flat, sedimentary rock that’s easily split and shaped but still withstands the elements very well, making it a favorite of landscaping contractors and designers. Colors tend to range from crab orchard, a tan and brown mixture, to gray and mocha shades. 

Flagstone is even and flat for the most part, making it an ideal choice for elegant and eye-catching patios and walkways. The irregular shapes come together to create an attention-grabbing arrangement, and is naturally slip-resistant for increased safety. Close placement creates a polished look, while leaving a bit of space between the flagstones lends a more natural, earthy look to your patios and walkways. 

Flagstone can also be used to build retaining walls around flowerbeds and along pathways, creating interesting shapes and clear delineation of borders. You can even create stacked fences along the perimeter of your property with flagstones, creating a unique property enclosure that’s pleasing to look at as well as functional. They’re also an ideal choice for water features like fountains and man-made waterfalls. The slip-resistant surface of flagstone paving makes it a viable and more aesthetically-pleasing alternative to concrete for use around the perimeter of swimming pools and spas.

Working with an experienced and reputable landscaping designer to determine the best ways of incorporating flagstones into your new lawn or garden can help you to ensure that the placement and selection of your stones is handled properly, and that your flagstone features are a delight in your outdoor living spaces for years to come.

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Finding a Reliable Landscape Supplier

November 14th, 2012 Posted in Flagstone
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Taking on a home landscaping project can be a big task. Depending on the size you may want to think about hiring a landscaper to ensure that you end up with a professionally executed and visually pleasing landscape. However, if you only have some minor improvement to make or have the skills yourself to complete the project, one of the most important things you need to do is find a reliable landscape materials supplier. 

Whether you need natual flagstone, pavers, engineered modular blocks, sand, gravel, or other landscaping materials, high quality materials are the key to a great looking landscape and really will make a difference. The visual appearance of quality materials will cause an instant impact on friends and family seeing your new yard for the first time.   In addition, high quality landscaping materials will last longer and save you money in the long run. Finding a reliable landscape supplier is important and can be difficult to do.

First of all it is always a good idea to ask friends, family members and colleagues whether they or anyone they know have recently used any landcape materials suppliers that they can recommend. If not, your best option is to use the Internet. Most landscape materials suppliers these days, large or small will have their own website. Check out how professional it seems, the materials and services that they offer and whether they have any customer reviews or testimonials for you to read. 

Once you have found a supplier in your area, you can either phone and ask for quotes and more information or look for additional suppliers so that you can compare quotes. Remember that high quality landscape materials make a difference and  the cheapest is not always the best.

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The Exquisite Versatility of Flagstone

March 1st, 2012 Posted in Flagstone
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Flagstone is a natural stone with timeless appeal that has had extraordinary staying power in both residential and commercial landscaping. Roughly-hewn, highly-textured flagstone slabs are the stuff of picturesque, rustic walkways while geometrically-shaped, smooth flagstone pavers are used for all sorts of hardscaping, from steps and patios to retaining walls and pillars. Flagstone also has indoor applications; a gracefully-aging, natural flagstone floor adds solidity and understated grandeur to any kitchen, hallway or wine cellar and brings an earthy, outdoor ambiance to indoor settings.

Naturally occurring flagstones are cut from limestone, bluestone, slate and sandstone rock outcrops. The irregular colors, shapes, sizes and textures of natural flagstones are a key aspect of their distinct charm and appeal, since no two flagstones are ever the same. Nowadays, there are many manufactured concrete and composite products on the market that imitate the look of natural flagstone. While these may have their uses, it is helpful to know that artificial flagstones do not have the durability or special weathering qualities of their natural counterparts.

Outdoor flagstone elements such as walkways or patios can be installed in a number of ways. Flagstones can be set directly into soil or sand. Natural flagstones are fairly heavy and once tamped down into the ground, they will hardly budge. On the other hand, flagstones can be set down on a concrete base and jointed with mortar for a more stable, permanent installation.

Flagstones also allow for versatile layout effects. Setting flagstones close together creates a patio effect while setting them further apart yields a playful “steppingstone” look. Flagstones may be evenly spaced for more formal walkways or randomly spaced in an informal path. There is also the option of planting creeping thyme or other groundcovers in the crevices between flagstone rocks to reduce soil erosion and achieve a truly rustic look.

Whether you are bordering a garden or building a walkway, elegant, hardwearing flagstone is an excellent choice for your exquisite landscape designs.

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Cutting Flagstone

November 16th, 2011 Posted in Flagstone
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Flagstone is a very popular type of stone used in a wide variety of landscaping projects from patios and walkways to fireplaces, walls, waterscapes.  When you need to cut flagstone to a desired size or shape, you have several options.  If you need a clean, straight cut you will need to borrow or rent a masonry saw.  If a rough or approximate edge is desired, you can score it with a circular saw or a hammer and chisel and break it along the score line.

To cut flagstones to an exact size or for a straight edge, rent a masonry saw from a tool rental facility or your local home improvement store. Mark a straight line on the flagstone and use the masonry saw to cut along the line.  Don’t try to force it or push too hard on the saw.  Let the weight of the saw and the saw blade do all of the work.  This is a very loud and dusty job so be sure to wear ear protection, googles, and a dust mask.

For a rough edge, use a hammer and a chisel to score along the line.  Turn the stone over and do the same thing on the other side.  Keep at it until the stone breaks along the line.  Don’t hit it too hard or the stone will split where you don’t want it to.

If the stone is too thick to break using a hammer and chisel, you can use a masonry blade in a circular saw to score the line in the stone.  These blades are not strong enough to easily cut through the whole stone, but they can cut a groove in the stone.  Cut both sides and tap along the line with your chisel to cause the stone to break along the line.

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Flagstone

November 5th, 2010 Posted in Flagstone
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Flagstone is a very popular and versatile landscaping material.  Flagstone is a generic term for flat, natural stone that comes from a quarry and is used for a wide variety of landscaping applications.  Flagstone can be made from many types of stone including slate, granite, and sandstone.  Once the stone is quarried, it is either cut or split into flat pieces of various thicknesses.  Flagstone can be further finished into regular square or rectangular shapes or left with irregular, natural edges for a more rustic look.  Irregular flagstone pieces are fitted together like a puzzle to create an interesting and attractive finish.

Flagstone is available in a wide variety of colors, thicknesses, and styles.  No two pieces of flagstone are exactly alike, which adds to its natural, rustic appeal.   Flagstone is extremely durable and relatively easy to work with although it is heavy.  Properly installed, a flagstone patio, walkway or driveway should last for ten to twenty years or more.  It is easy to repair if damaged, requires very little maintenance, and is less expense than many other landscaping or paving materials. 

Flagstone’s textured, non-slip surface makes it an excellent choice for walkways, driveways, and patios, but it is also a great choice for siding, chimneys, fireplaces, ponds, retaining walls, waterscapes, and just about any other hardscape imaginable.   For walkways, patios, pool decks or driveways, flagstone can be set with mortar, sand, or polymeric sand making it easy to work with for do-it-yourselfers. 

For more information about flagstone, visit your local landscape supply company.  They will have many pallets of flagstone in various colors, styles, and sizes to choose from.  They can help you complete your project or recommend a reputable landscaper to handle the job.

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