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Building With Stone: Key Things To Consider

Stone continues to play a pivotal role in British architecture. Since the Middle Ages, architects and landscapers have used various types of stone to create iconic buildings such as stately homes and churches.

Due to its ever-growing popularity, there are a wide variety of stone building materials available on the market. With this in mind, it can be difficult to know which type of stone is best suited for your project.

To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this useful guide, which rounds up some of our top tips for building with stone.

This blog post is part two of our designing and building with stone series, click here to catch up on part one.

How To Choose The Right Stone

Stone building materials have unique properties that are ideal for specific uses. So, the first step is to consider the scope of your project. For example, are you planning for a new build home? Is the project a complete renovation? Or is it a garden and landscaping development?

Answering these questions is a great starting point. Following this, you’ll then be able to select a stone building material that is perfectly suited to your project.

As expert suppliers of new and reclaimed Yorkshire stone, we’ve listed some of the ways that you can use these fantastic materials in your next project:

New Yorkshire Stone

New Yorkshire stone is a versatile building material that is often used to create commercial buildings, residential homes and outdoor paving. Here are some of the key benefits that you can take advantage of:

  • Low maintenance - New Yorkshire stone requires little maintenance to maintain its excellent appearance.

  • Versatile - New Yorkshire stone is extremely versatile and ideal for various developments including new builds, renovations and landscaping projects.

  • Durable - New Yorkshire stone is a hard-wearing and robust material.

  • Stunning finish - New Yorkshire stone provides a stunning, flawless finish that ages well.

  • Cost-effective - In some cases reclaimed stone is almost twice as expensive as new stone. That's why we’ve developed a dyed and aged range of new stone which allows our customers to achieve the same beautiful look of reclaimed stone for a fraction of the price.

Reclaimed Yorkshire Stone

Like new Yorkshire stone, reclaimed Yorkshire stone is also a versatile building material that can be used in a variety of projects such as paving, walling and interior flooring. Here are some of the key benefits that you can take advantage of when working with reclaimed Yorkshire stone:

  • Traditional appearance - Reclaimed stone has naturally weathered over time, as a result, you’re left with a rustic appearance.

  • Unique style - Each stone differs in size and shape, allowing you to create a truly unique look for your project.

  • Environmentally friendly - As reclaimed Yorkshire stone has previously been used in a building it has a  low carbon footprint and is, therefore, more environmentally friendly than using new stone.

If you’re unsure of what stone material is right for you and your project, get in touch with our stonemasons for expert advice.

Quantifying The Amount Of Stone Needed

Hopefully, by this point, you have a good idea of the type of building stone that is best suited for your project. The next step is to identify the quantity of each material and the labour required to complete your project from start to finish.

At this stage, it is useful to create a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) document. As the name suggests, a BOQ compiles your project specifications into a single document. The quantities measured in a BOQ range from number, length, area, volume, weight or time.

Although a BOQ is most commonly used in commercial construction developments, it’s still a useful practice for DIY or smaller building projects. With an accurate BOQ, you can keep track of costs associated with each material and your overall budget.

Finding The Right Stone Supplier

Before moving on, it’s time for a quick project recap:
Have you identified the type of building project? (new build, renovation, landscape etc.) Check.
Do you know which stone is best suited for your development? Check.
Have you created a BOQ to analyse the quantities required? Check.

Excellent progress. Now it’s time to go to market and find the right supplier who can service your requirements.

Abacus Stone Sales are the leading suppliers of Yorkshire stone in the UK. With over 30 years of industry experience, it’s safe to say that we know a thing or two when it comes to building projects.

Throughout this period, we have earned a reputation for supplying high-quality new and reclaimed stone for a variety of uses.

Additionally, we also provide a fast delivery service to the UK, Ireland & Europe - delivery outside of Europe can be arranged upon request. Contact us today to discuss your project requirements and we would be delighted to help.

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