Stones for landscape design — decor ideas. Part 2: types of manufactured stones, shapes and sizes
In the first part of the article we paid attention to the most commonly used types of natural stones in landscaping. But there are also man-made options. The main advantage of artificial stones, when compared to natural ones, is their lower price and lighter weight.
The most common types are:
Bricks — this material has received wide popularity many years ago. It can have different shades, and differ in color saturation. It has good characteristics, and is strong enough. Due to these properties, it is widely used in landscape design.
Concrete stones — this is a very durable man-made material. Thanks to the use of special additives, various interesting colors can be achieved.
Luminous stones can be attributed to a separate group of artificial stones, developed using the most innovative technologies. They entered the market not so long ago, so today they are still rarely seen in landscape design, but they are gradually gaining more and more popularity. Thanks to the use of this type of stones, it will be possible to enjoy the beautiful landscape design not only in sunlight, but also at night. This decor makes the atmosphere fabulous and cozy. There are the following types of glowing stones:
A hollow container in which LEDs are embedded. Such products are distinguished by their very long service life — about ten years. However, the price of such products is quite high. In daylight, the stones look like translucent glass shards;
Plastic products with catalysts inside. Such devices are very affordable, they are also easy to maintain — they are independently charged during the daytime by solar energy. You will only need to periodically wash off a layer of dust from the stones, you can do this with ordinary watery. In addition, the plastic stone is quite light, and in daylight it is as similar as possible in appearance to natural stone;
Natural and artificial stones can also be painted with paints containing luminescent particles. Using this method, you can independently turn any design elements into decor that will glow in the dark. After the paint is completely dry, you can cover the product with varnish on top, which will protect the luminous coating from various natural influences.
The shape and size of the stone is also of great importance when designing a landscape. By size, stones can be divided into the following groups:
Stone chips — this decorative material is most popular with designers, since it can be used to decorate even the most complex surfaces of any shape. Stone chips are often used in the design of parks, as well as for private yards. Stones such as marble, quartz, jasper and others are considered suitable for crushing into stone chips. Stone chips are durable, reliable, inexpensive and affordable material, which is widely represented on the market in a variety of colors;
River pebbles — formed under the influence of water, which grinds ordinary stones for a long time, making them round and smooth. It is most often used in the design of fountains, waterfalls and ponds — those decorative elements that contain water. Pebbles come in different sizes and colors. Larger pebbles are called pellets;
Blocks and boulders are also very popular and very often used in landscape design. They are fairly large and come in a variety of shapes. The boulders have an acute-angled shape, and the boulders are rounded, similar to river pebbles, only very large in size. Blocks and boulders become the central figures in the composition and attract the main attention. They emphasize the strength and beauty of nature;
Cobblestones have a streamlined shape and medium size;
Crushed stone is formed during the extraction of ore. The size and shape of the material may vary, depending on the grinding method used.
In the next and final part of the article we will anwer the questions how to chose the proper stones for your lanscaping project and where to use them.
In the meantime, see some interesting products:
Rocky Ledge Stone: https://canyonstonecanada.com/rockstone/rockwalls/Rocky-Ledge
Polymer Stone Siding: https://canyonstonecanada.com/polymer-stone-siding
Quartzite Ledge Stone: https://canyonstonecanada.com/stonetiles/stonetile/Quartzite-Ledge-Stone
Quick-fit Ledge Stone: https://canyonstonecanada.com/wallpanels/wallpanel/QuickFit-Ledge-Stone
How to Install Stone Veneer Manuals: https://canyonstonecanada.com/Installation/Manuals
Cobble Stone: https://canyonstonecanada.com/cobblestones/cobblestone/Cobble-Stone
Lime Stone: https://canyonstonecanada.com/limestones/limestone/Lime-Stone
Natural Stone Veneer: https://canyonstonecanada.com/naturalstones/naturalstone/Natural-Stone-Veneer
Antique Brick Veneer: https://canyonstonecanada.com/wallbricks/wallbrick/Antique-Brick-Veneer
Field Stone: https://canyonstonecanada.com/fieldstones/fieldstone/Field-Stone
Photo by VJ Von Art on Unsplash