Stone Fireplace Surrounds and Mantels Are the Best Option

Fireplace is such a part in your house which gets the most attention by you and the people who visit your house. It is because at get together dinners and random socializing you prefer to sit in the room where there is a fireplace. It is extremely important to decorate or build your fireplace in such a way that looks attractive and elegant at the same time.

Fireplace mantels are built and are available in different materials such as stones and marbles and wood. Now a day's stone and marble mantel are in fashion and they give a decent and attractive look to the surrounding. Stone mantels are cost effective as they are extremely durable and safe and they do not get damaged easily.

Stone mantels are usually built of limestone, granite and concrete. The best from among them are the ones which are made of limestone because they look very attractive as they have patterns of limestone effects in them and they are available in different colors. You can make your mantels out of concrete but they are usually in brown or gray color and this will give a dull effect to the room. You need to keep fancy and elegant mantel so as to improve the look of the room.

You can get these mantels built according to your choice and this is a good option because you will design it yourself and there will be nothing extra in it which will be outside your choice. This tends to be a bit expensive than pre built ones but having your own custom built mantel will be your own master piece.

You can choose from different colors of stone to build your mantel which will be in contrast with the interior decoration and color of the room. You should take some time while making your decision but once you choose then you should stick to it because you will not change mantels from time to time.

If you are low on budget then you can buy stones and get fixed on the mantels which will cost low than having your custom built mantel. But one thing is for sure that stone mantels are extremely durable and you will have no need to change it from time to time as they can go on for a lifetime without causing any problems.

There are mantels which are made out of marble; they are more expensive than the stones which are usually limestone and granite. Marble mantels look very classy and they too easily blend with the environment giving a rich look to the place.

You can find huge variety of designs and colors to choose from for your fireplace in local fireplace stores in your city or you can find thousands of varieties on the internet. You should definitely search for designs on the internet as you can get overview of different styles and designs and then it will get easy for you to decide on the best one for you.

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Find the Perfect Countertop to Go With Your Double Vanity No Top

When you are decorating or remodeling your bathroom, the bathroom vanity should not only match your personal tastes and style, but it should also complement the theme of your bathroom and increase its usability and enhance its ambiance. Whether you like traditional, modern, more ornate or sleek designs, your vanities should to fit the space and the styles of your home.

Once you have purchased a double vanity no top, choosing the right counter top for the vanity is important to provide a stylish and perfect decor. The vanity top van can be purchased or custom-fabricated according to your choice. There are a number of options for you.

You will require a pair of sink bowls also to fit along with the top. The tops and bowls come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, materials and colors. You have to make the right selection of the sizes to ensure that top and sinks fit together the vanity in-depth and width. Overall, the look of the top and sinks must go with the vanity and the appearance of your bathroom.

There are solid surfacing and cultured marble that gives you the choice to go for a top with the integral sinks. The integral tops offer a seamless look can be easily installed and cleaned.

Solid Surface:

The solid surface vanity tops are made from composite resins and come in a huge variety of patterns and colors in a matte finish. These tops are stain-resistant and quite durable. You can easily maintain them by just sanding the surface. You can also get the bowls in a neutral color or a matching color. There is a choice to go for other types of bowls that can be attached to the top. You may also opt for a backsplash. These tops are comparatively less expensive than stone tops.

Cultured Marble:

This is a synthetic product made by casting polymers to form solid counter tops. Generally, these tops are pre- fabricated and come in several sizes, designs and patterns. You can choose between a glossy and matte finish. These tops are cheaper, but you get only a few options. These are susceptible to burns, scratches and wear. These cost almost same as the laminate tops.

Veneers:

Tops made of Veneers give solid surfacing. Solid Surfacing Veneer provides almost same look, feel and durability as other solid surfacing. They are generally glued to a base of fiberboard. Solid-surface veneers are much cheaper than the regular solid surfacing.

Natural Stone:

Natural Stones comprise of marble, granite and a variety of other stones. They offer a wide range of beautiful natural colors and textures with highly polished glossy finishes. Mostly the stones are water and heat-resistant. Some are soft and must be sealed to prevent the formation of stains.

Natural stone tops can accept separate under mount type bowls made from different materials like glass, or cast iron, steel, porcelain or stone. The sinks are fixed to the vanity top by the fabricators. You can also get these tops with a separate backsplash for your double vanity no top. The natural stone tops are more expensive and a most popular. The price of the stone tops varies with the type of stone, color and veining or patterns.

Engineered Stone:

Engineered stones are artificially manufactured. Quartz and silica are bonded together under a high pressure at an elevated temperature. These stones are produced in an extensive variety with looks like marble, granite, and other stones. They come in various patterns, colors and polished glossy finishes. These stones do not require any sealing. These are more durable, less susceptible to stain, cracking and bacteria and will suit your double vanity no top.

Ceramic Tops:

Ceramic tile tops and porcelain sinks are also a common choice for many people. You can get a variety of them, mixed, and match in a countless ways.

You can choose a top for your double vanity no top from the above options depending on your liking and budget.

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Ancient Mosaics Can Now Be Brought to Life in Your Home: Get The Roman and Greek Look

Many people nowadays have followed the growing fashion to have mosaic tiles in their bathrooms or kitchens. Standard format tiles have dropped in popularity as the choice of other forms have become more affordable around the world. These smaller mosaic tiles are much more in keeping with what the original mosaicists of Rome and ancient Greece would have used.

Both the Greeks and the Romans incorporated intricate decorative designs into much of their tile work, much of which still survives today. Taking inspiration from the past, some companies are now recreating these ancient designs but with modern materials suited for the home, thus a range of ancient designs are coming on the market for people who want something a little out of the usual for their homes. These ancient designs include attractive decorative embellishments, animals like dolphins and lions., flowers and birds and a host of other elements. You can get the exact historical replicas originally found in the palaces of the rich and powerful, recreated on a slightly smaller scale and have them in your own home!

Luckily these replicas are much faster to fit than the originals were, all the tiles are pre cut and correctly arranged according to the design. They are then affixed to a special webbing so the design is complete and just needs to be adhered to your bathroom wall. Once this has been done, it just has to dry out for a day or two and then you are ready to grout the final piece to make it water proof and hygienic for your modern home.

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The Power of Paver Stones

Paving stones are pre-cast pieces of stone that interlock with each other to create a solid yet supple surface. They are available in a variety of different materials such as limestone, sandstone, brick, slate, or concrete to name just a few. This material is used to create aesthetically pleasing yet durable driveways, patios, sidewalks and roads.

Uses

Paving stones provide flexibility during extreme seasons like cold winters and hot summers. While concrete surfaces can and will crack, these materials are designed to sit close to each other and provide a flat surface but not so close they crack when they shift. When the temperatures change, the stones flex against each other without cracking or breaking. Should a stone happen to crack or break, they are exceptionally easy to replace: simply lift out the broken stone and put in the new stone.

Advantages

No matter what type of stone is used, they have many other advantages over traditional materials like asphalt and granite. They come in a variety of shapes, allowing for unlimited design possibilities. Rather than being stuck with only one shape to design with, different shapes can be combined to create the desired design.

Another benefit is that these materials are better for the environment. Unlike other materials that force things like rain water and melting snow to flood the sides of the hard surface, water is allowed to seep through and reach the soil underneath them. Not only does this help the soil underneath but it also prevents flooding to the home as the runoff water is not forced in any particular direction.

Cost

While it may seem like a more expensive option, paving stones are the cheaper decision in the long run. Since they last for many years and retain their shape and color, they are a worthwhile investment. Other materials that are commonly used for driveways and patios like concrete due to their cheaper price have high maintenance costs. Builders will make sure to place joints in the concrete so that when it cracks, it cracks in a straight line.

Maintenance

These stones are one of the strongest materials available and naturally require little to no maintenance short of replacing a cracked or discolored stone. To increase the life of the stone's color and look, sealants can be used to but they aren't mandatory since they last many years. In terms of consistent maintenance, simply sweeping the area is enough to keep the stones in good health. Cleaning agents can be applied should anything like grease or oil drip onto the stones.

Installation

One of the best advantages of paving stones is that they are easy to install and require few materials to do so. Materials that are usually required are things like sand, a spade, a rubber hammer, a tape measurer, a level, markers, a shovel, and the source material.

While many might opt to do installation themselves, there are plenty of experienced contractors who are available to hire.

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Reasons Why You Should Use Sandstone in Your Home

Rugged, beautiful, and reminiscent of colonial Australia when it was one of the most popular building materials, sandstone is still a hugely popular choice for builders and renovators alike. Its durability and capacity to withstand the extreme weather conditions of the Australian climate make it a sensible choice even now. Sandstone is so versatile in its uses yet always manages to convey a sense of grandeur and history, as if it contains a story in every grain. If you're building a home or renovating, extending or re-decorating an existing one, you should consider using sandstone in one or more elements. Here are a few reasons why:

Long-Lasting

When people say that Sandstone is 'timeless', they're not just talking about its continuing popularity and aesthetic. Once sealed, sandstone can last a lifetime, making it one of the most durable materials to use in your home

Fashionable Forever

Unlike the green-tiled kitchens of the sixties and seventies or the hideous linoleum that used to line every bathroom. sandstone has not come in and out of fashion, but rather has remained a constant indicator of class and style. Sandstone is not the type of material that experiences fads--it is as old as the earth itself and therefore holds a bit more gravitas in design terms than just a passing trend.

Low Maintenance

Apart from re-sealing your sandstone tiles every few years in order to prevent moisture entering and staining them, there is very little that you have to do in order to make sure they remain beautiful and in tip top condition. Simply sweep or mop your sandstone floors as you would any other type of flooring and they will last as long as you do.

Versatility

It's not just sandstone pavers or tiles that make a great addition to your home. If you have an outdoor pool or patio you can use sandstone as either a feature or an inclusion in the design, and can even have sandstone sculptures or water features. There are several very talented stone masons in Australia who create beautiful works of art with sandstone.

A home featuring sandstone, whether it be in the form of tiles, pavers, sculpture or some other design or structural element, is a home that exudes class. There is something awe-inspiring about a material that nature created all on its own, and harnessing that beauty is a wise and fruitful decision. Offering protection from the elements in both Summer and Winter, it is easy to see why sandstone was so favoured by Australia's colonists.

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Fixing a Stone House Number With a Single Hidden Pin

So, you have bought a lovely new stone house number, engraved beautifully with your house number, perhaps with an ornate border or a motif of your favourite pet. You have to fix the sign to your house. You could simply have the stone drilled and screw the sign using stainless steel screws and rawlplugs, however this will mean the screw heads showing on the face of the stone. Not a pretty sight! Or you could be smart and fix with a hidden pin.

You will need: A pencil, Ruler, An electric drill, cordless or mains. A suitable pin, stainless steel or copper or brass. (more later!) Two tungsten tipped drill bits. Epoxy resin adhesive. Cocktail sticks for mixing glue. Trimming knife. One stone house number sign 20mm or more thick.

The Sign: For this method the stone needs to be at least 20mm thick or thicker. Most natural stone house signs meet this requirement. The stone itself needs to be drill-able, not granite or quartzite. If you plan ahead, your sign-maker should be able to drill the sign for you. This single pin fixing will hold a sign up to 10 kilo's depending on the quality of the pin.

The Pin: The pin needs to be as rustproof and corrosion proof as possible. The ideal pin would be 3-5mm diameter stainless steel approx 50-75mm long. Some hardware stores stock stainless steel rod. Alternatively look for copper or brass rod. Another option is to improvise, use a stainless steel or brass bolt and cut the head off. Or have you got any tent-pegs? These are often made from strong rust resistant steel alloy, and will be a perfect 5-7mm thickness. For a lighter weight sign 2-4 kilo's you could use a three inch galvanised nail. You may be thinking that if you cut the head off a nail (which you have to do!) the end will rust, it will not, Trust me!.

The Drill Bits: The first drill bit needs to be near to the diameter size of your chosen pin, just one or two millimetres larger than the diameter of the pin. The second drill bit needs to be bigger than the pin. Quite a lot bigger, Twice as big is good, three times as big is OK too, but the exact size is not critical. Adhesive:

Epoxy usually comes as a two part adhesive or with a separate hardener. It is ideal for this job but it can be expensive. Normally you mix the two parts together in equal quantities and the resin cures within a few minutes. Check the packaging for the normal curing times, this will vary according to temperature. As Epoxy resins harden they go through a stage where they are touch dry but can be easily cut with a knife, this is the ideal stage to clean off excess glue.

You could also use a car body filler adhesive based on polyester resin or even a gunned builders adhesive. Have a look at what is on on your workshop shelves before lashing out. Simply make sure the adhesive is suitable for exterior use and is waterproof.

Step 1. lay your number sign face down on a workbench with the top of the sign facing away from you. Mark a small cross in the centre of the sign and about 40mm from the top. Fit the smaller of your drill bits into your drill. You do not want to drill through you beautiful new sign so wrap some bright coloured electricians tape around the drill bit 10mm or so from the tip to act as a depth gauge. (If you have a thicker sign you can drill deeper!) Start drilling as normal at 90 degrees to the stone, then when you have a shallow start tilt the drill back towards yourself and drill an angled hole into the stone at approx 45 degree angle. (The exact angle is not at all critical, do not worry about it too much!) Caution do not drill too deep! 10-12 mm is sufficient, watch your depth gauge! Do it in small stages, clear the drill frequently to remove the build up of dust in the hole.

Step 2. Mix a tiny amount of epoxy, blow the dust out of the hole in the back of the sign, and using a wooden cocktail stick or long matchstick fill the hole with glue. Push in the pin and then pull the pin in and out of the hole twisting backwards and forwards to ensure the pin is coated with adhesive and the dust is no longer lining the hole acting as a barrier between epoxy and stone. If necessary remove pin to add more epoxy. Allow to harden, keep checking the hardness and cut off excess glue when just touch dry.

Step 3. You now have a secured pin sticking out of the back of your stone sign at a downward angle. Mark on your wall where you want the sign to be located. I suggest if you are drilling brickwork you try to drill into a horizontal joint of the wall. Using the larger of your two drills drill a downward angled hole at least 10-12mm deeper than the length of your pin. The angle needs to be as near to the same angle as possible as your pin. Get a friend to help you eye up the right angle and guide the drill. Now try locating the pin in the hole, if the hole is nearly right the sign will drop into the hole and the number will simply hang securely in position! At this point the stone sign is quite secure and would hang safely like this for decades!

If the pin does not fit correctly, do not panic, simply use the drill as a router, angling it up and down reaming the hole wider and wider until the pin drops into place. You will notice you can swivel the sign to the left and right as the stone hangs on the pin, it is simple to set the numbers upright and level simply by tilting the sign.

Step 4: Now to fix the sign permanently. Blow the surplus dust out of the hole, mix more epoxy, enough to fill the hole and a bit more. Fill the hole and stir the epoxy around in the hole with a cocktail stick to mix in the brick dust. Put a dab of epoxy on the back of the stone around the pin and push the number sign into place. Use a spirit level or carefully level the sign by eye. Once the epoxy has cured the sign is securely and permanently fixed. You will notice that the pin, be it stainless steel or galvanised nail is completely encased in waterproof resin and so will not rust or corrode.

Your number sign will hang there safe and sound as long as the wall survives!

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