Natural Stone for Coastal Homes
DESIGN FEATURE
Builder - Artefact. Stonemason - Aspen Stone Construction
Aspen Stone Construction Director Michael Sergi explores the important elements to consider when selecting stone for your coastal home.
Stone is a timeless raw material, used in construction for thousands of years. As stonemasons, we’re privileged to shape and craft it into custom finishes for curated homes and projects across the coast of South East Queensland and Northern NSW.
Types of stone
When designing any architectural residence, careful consideration must be given to stone selection. Traditional Queensland homes have long favoured sandstone and solid bluestone, while in the Northern Rivers, local basalt fieldstone has been the natural choice. In recent years, the international stone market has opened the door to a broader palette sourced from Italy, Greece, Turkey and beyond. This allows architects, designers, builders and their clients to specify stone to match the brief.
On a recent project designed by Chris Clout and built by GRAYA, we installed a marble cladding, laid in a random, dry-joined format. The material complemented the brutalist, subtropical residence co-existing seamlessly with the raw concrete to form an architectural stone masterpiece.
Builder - GRAYA. Stonemason - Aspen Stone Construction
Location
In the approach of designing a coastal home, we find the areas that are sun-drenched with natural light, provide a perfect area for the stone to be showcased. This natural light can accentuate the texture and shadow lines of the stone, along with amplifying the colour to create an exquisite showpiece.
Practical considerations
From a technical perspective, particularly in coastal environments, proper sealing, waterproofing, and the correct selection of products are vital to ensure the stone endures and withstands salt exposure and the elements.
When installing solid stone, engineering considerations come into play. The sheer weight of natural stone requires appropriate structural planning for load-bearing performance. These engineering solutions also provide opportunities to introduce solid stone lintels over doors and windows, allowing stone to become both form and function.
Stonemason
Sourcing the right stonemason is just as important as selecting the stone itself. Every stonemason or stonemasonry firm carries its own style, discipline and creative approach.
These must align with the design brief, and open communication is essential to achieving the intended outcome. Stone is a natural raw material used on coastal homes as a modern finish, not only for its organic beauty but for its functionality and durability to withstand the sun and surf that come with coastal living.
About Aspen Stone Construction
Aspen Stone Construction is a multi-award-winning, Brisbane-based stonemasonry company specialising in luxury stone projects and developments.
Email info@aspenstone.com.au or visit aspenstone.com.au.
