When people first think of a roaring fireplace, they often picture a cute little cabin and a burning log right in the middle of a cozy room. Often when thinking about or discussing fireplaces, people forget to consider an outdoor fireplace in the middle of a patio or in a backyard. The truth is, these can often be some of the most spectacular fireplaces you can build and can serve a number of purposes. While a fireplace in your home can offer a cozy place to cuddle and a nice source of heat, an outdoor fireplace can provide even more benefits. There is a vast array of purposes that an outdoor fireplace can be used for and there is an even greater number of styles and designs you can incorporate to give your home that special elegant feeling.

When you first begin to consider an outdoor fireplace, you should put same careful planning into your decisions. When a fireplace of this style is added to your yard, it can extend the space of your house a great deal and when positioned properly it can be used all year round. You can almost instantly turn your bland, bare backyard into a unique and comfortable setting as long as you plan and build your outdoor fireplace appropriately. So here are some important planning tips that you should consider before making a final decision on an outdoor fireplace of your very own.

First things first, you need to research and determine all the building codes that are designated and applied to your surrounding area. Some communities will have very strict rules and regulations regarding and others will be extremely relaxed and lenient. It is in your best interest to call your local municipal buildings and find out the exact regulations before you get your heart set on a certain design or placement for your outdoor fireplace. If you skip this step, you could be out a lot of money as you may be forced to remove the structure after you have just spent the money to put it all together.

In some cases you may have to apply for a permit before you can add any sort of structure to your yard. You should ensure that you have all the necessary application forms and information regarding these policies. You can never be too safe when it comes to areas of this matter, and you will be far better off in the long run if you take all the necessary precautions.

Once you have taken all the preliminary steps you need to choose which style will best suit your home and your tastes. Stone fireplaces are some of the most popular units available these days but there are a number of other options that you can consider. While stone units are usually self contained, you may want to look into a more open concept and take advantage of some of the benefits that brick fire pits can offer you in terms of a non traditional set up. While there are many choices when it comes to design, once you choose one and build it, it is very difficult to make any changes or adaptations. So it is strongly suggested that you do a lot of research and be positive you are in love with a certain unit before you come to a final decision.

Read more about Outdoor fireplace designs and Stone Fireplace Designs

Caithness is a county in the extreme northeast corner of the Scottish mainland. It is here that Caithness flagstone can be found, though the stone can also be found to the north of Caithness too in the island groups of Orkney and Shetland.

The stone comes from the Old Red Sandstone, which is of Devonian age. It has the characteristic of being very finely grained. It is dark grey in colour and it will weather to a lighter fawn shade. It is a very durable stone, though its resistance to air pollution and acidic moisture is not particularly good.

As a form of sandstone it has a surprisingly high resistance to flexing. This makes it suitable for areas that are heavily trafficked where there is a lot of wear and tear. It can resist salty environments well and has been used effectively in harbour walls and as the building material in houses situated close to the stormy northeast Scottish coast where salt spray is often in the air.

Devonian House in Halkirk, a few miles south of Thurso in the northeast of Scotland, is a very good example of how the timeless beauty of Caithness flagstone can be put to use. The stone has been used to build the house walls and thin sections of flagstone have been used as slate for the roof.

The garden wall is also made from this versatile stone. The wall contains no mortar, being built in a traditionally patterned manner. Inside the house the true aesthetic qualities of this amazing stone come to life. It is used in a highly polished form as a kitchen worktop, and as tiles on the bathroom floor.

Perhaps the most impressive use of the stone in Devonian House is in the entrance hall floor where the flagstones are interspersed with oak beams. The effect is extremely impressive.

As early as 1793 this stone that has taken some 400 million years for nature to perfect was being exported from the northeast of Scotland to all over the world. The city of Boston in the USA, for example, had its streets paved with the timeless beauty of Caithness flagstone.

One of the great benefits to be gained from this remarkable stone is the fact that it is virtually maintenance free. It has been described as indestructible, and that is indeed close to the truth. It stands up extremely well to the extremes of temperature and humidity, making it suitable for use just about anywhere in the world.

When Scotland built its parliament building in Edinburgh they wanted the best materials. The northeast corner of Scotland supplied both of the two main types of stone used: Kemnay Granite from Aberdeenshire and the famous flagstone from Caithness.

In fact, wherever you find important prestigious buildings you are also likely to find beautiful, timeless Caithness flagstone. For example, it can be found in the British Memorial Garden in New York and the in the Belfast Concert Hall, as well as in dozens of other well known places.

David A Robinson
Help and information about using natural stone for your stone flooring project.

Drive along any old, winding country road and you’ll pass dozens of structures built out of fieldstone. Really… you say? Yep. Just about anywhere you can drive a car you will encounter this common building material and in a very short period of time. You could say that this common though beautiful stone has the right to be classified as one of the foundations of civilization… quite literally!

What is fieldstone? - The name is – the definition: a stone found in fields and used in its original shape.

Farmers clearing their fields for cultivating would remove stones that prevented plowing and collect them into large piles usually by the side of the fields. Since it was a by product of their farming efforts these stones were free and abundant and were an invaluable source for use as a raw building material. Eventually the piles of stone would find their way into walls and foundations as the homesteaders improved their properties with addition structures.

What do they look like? – Most fieldstones would have been left by glacial deposits and are rectangular to oval in size and shape. Fieldstones are also whole stones of a manageable size, so that men can place them into walls for construction.

The larger stones that may be found in fields are called boulders and have been used for centuries for markers for property lines or decorative pieces for property entrances and landscaping. Before heavy equipment was available though they were generally left where they were found, due to the extreme difficulty and work effort required to move and place such heavy pieces of stone.

They can range in color from dark gray, light browns and rusts to light buffs. Some locales may have unusual colors but most places will have the colors common to granite and limestone.

What makes fieldstone different than rubble stone? – Fieldstone and rubble stone differ in that a deposit of fieldstone will usually have a larger quantity of whole stones within the deposit. The corners will also be softened by thousands of years of weathering and tumbling. A rubble stone will tend to have sharper edges because they are mostly chips and chards from larger stones and haven’t had the aging of Mother Nature to soften their edges.

Where is field stone used? – Even though fieldstone do vary is size and shape overall, they tend to have flatter characteristics and are of a size that one or two men can carry. This makes the fieldstone most desirable for barn and house foundations, retaining walls, fences, fireplaces and chimneys or any structure that requires large and wide stone wall thicknesses.

Even though this is a very beautiful stone for building it is not used much for home facings due to the depth of the stones. However they can be collected and run through power splitters to form the necessary shapes needed to fit residential house wall construction but done so rarely.

Like the lowly rubble stone the fieldstone is considered a common stone and used where an earthy, natural appearance is desired. Because of the general size of the individual stones, a fieldstone wall has the look of durability and strength.

If you ever decide to build terrace walls, foundations or retaining walls you have to consider the fieldstone as a material choice. For its’ price you won’t find a more favorable appearance.

Michael Olding is tradesman and consultant in the field of restorations and repairs and currently operates a restoration and repair business in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also a Master in the field of masonry construction, restorations and repairs.

In addition he is a writer and speaker as well as a marketing, training and business consultant for the contracting industry. If you interested in his services he may be contacted by visiting http://www.cincihomepro.com

Rocks are important to any landscape. They give functional characteristic and they also have a distinct beauty. When designing a beautiful landscape it is necessary to plan and choose with care the type of rocks to be used.

Landscape: Hardscapes and Softscapes

When it comes to landscaping, it will be helpful to be familiar with the terms softscapes and hardscapes.

Softcapes pertain to the living elements of the landscapes, like plants and flowers.

Hardscapes are those non-living elements that include the rocks and stones.

Rocks and Stones

Rocks are particularly durable and not easily destroyed. They are perfect to use for pathways and retaining walls. They enhance the appearance of a pond mini-waterfalls.

Rocks and stones will make any landscape design more interesting and pleasing to the eye. There are many kinds of stones to choose from. One must only discern which ones will be appropriate effect.

Boulders

These can come in different sizes. They are ideal for water landscapes, like falls or cascades. Large boulders can be used for marking a driveway or for the entryway to a garden. They can provide a dramatic effect to the design. Make sure that they are strategically situated as attract much attention.

Flag Stones

These stones are perfect for walks and patios. They are very thin and smooth and come in various shades, sizes, and distinctive shapes. They are usually placed above a layer of sand. The flag stones can be adjusted to make a pleasing design.

River pebbles

When it comes to drier locations, river pebbles are the best choice since they help with water conservation. They can also be used as a decorative balance to a plantings.

Granite

Beautiful and versatile, granites can be carved into garden furniture like the tables and benches or simply used for decoration.

Other Tips in Choosing the Appropriate Rock

1. You must consider the space available when making your choice. Take note of the proximity of one to another. Make sure that these do not a path or an important view.

2. Color is also a distinct feature in the landscape. Some implement specific color schemes. There are different colors to choose from like red, yellow or white or you can carefully use in combination.

3. Porous rock is a better choice for a weathered look. They are receptive to growth of mosses and other plants like creeping phlox..

4. Avoid using sharp rocks near the pathway.

5. For a more natural look, choose rocks that are of similar appearance, considering texture, color and form.

Utilize rocks in the best way possible. Choose well. Simply use the imagination to make the stones functional in the design. Remember always to make the area look as natural as possible and nature will be closer to home than ever.

Good Luck and Happy Landscaping