Natural stone and modern concrete blocks are incredible materials that have the potential to be some of the most interesting parts of an outdoor living space. However, there are instances where stone veneer is a better choice. Here are five areas in your Newton, MA landscape design where stone veneer is a great option.
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The Home’s Foundation
The home’s foundation is one area where stone veneer can be useful. In landscape design, continuity is important. Older masonry materials may no longer be available and therefore difficult to match as you build out a patio and incorporate new vertical elements such as a retaining wall, outdoor kitchen, or fire feature. In order to produce continuity with the other masonry features of your landscape, cladding the foundation in stone veneer can give your space a cohesive look. The new structures can be constructed of concrete blocks and clad with the same veneer; and stone veneer can often be laid directly over existing masonry.
Retaining Wall
In sloped landscapes, a retaining wall is necessary to keep the integrity of the landscape and its features intact. Retaining walls are typically large structures. Building them from stone blocks can be prohibitively expensive (mostly due to cutting and shaping stone blocks). As well, a retaining wall needs to be as strong as possible to resist the weight of soil above it. Natural stone blocks aren’t always suitable for the task, especially if the wall is tall. Plain concrete blocks can be joined together for strength, but they aren’t the most attractive materials. Adding a stone veneer to concrete blocks (“cinder blocks”) gives you an endless array of design options that make the wall look beautiful.
Masonry Planters
The masonry planter offers the wonderful opportunity to both make a garden more visible and more accessible for watering and maintenance. You could integrate masonry planters into an existing patio theme: put them at the perimeter to define the space and bring nature closer. Or, use them as outdoor “room” dividers (when filled with billowing ornamental grasses or boxwoods, planters can become privacy features).
Water Features
The addition of a water feature can improve an outdoor living space. Adding the sights and sounds of water brings tranquility to the space that no other feature can provide. Use a stone veneer to cover the main structure of the water feature to make it blend into the hardscape. Water features are often integrated into retaining walls. One effect you might enjoy is making it appear as though a spring has formed in the side of a retaining wall and it spills serenely into a pondless catch basin, garden pond, or even a swimming pool. A sheer descent waterfall - also spilling out from a retaining wall - makes a dramatic statement in a chic outdoor space.
Outdoor Fireplace
Masonry is also a necessary component of an outdoor fireplace. An outdoor fireplace forms a strong vertical component in your outdoor living space. This is a great place to show off some beautiful masonry. You may want to make a fireplace blend in, or use a completely different veneer to make it a prominent focal point. For example, a bluestone veneer can look stunning alongside a brick patio.
Whether you’re adding new outdoor living elements or want to update the look of any existing masonry feature, stone veneer gives you a huge array of options.
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