| They used it some 4,500 years ago as the | | | | or less the same predetermined size. This allows |
| primary building material for one of the most | | | | for a uniform covering for driveways and paths, |
| awe-inspiring of the world's seven wonders, the | | | | for example, though gravel has many more uses. |
| Giza plateau pyramids of Egypt. And about 2,000 | | | | It is a satisfyingly low maintenance material that is |
| years earlier in Britain they used it to build one of | | | | relatively inexpensive and easy to use. |
| the world's greatest enigmas, Stonehenge. Natural | | | | Natural stone is increasingly becoming popular as a |
| stone, the timeless sustainable choice of experts | | | | flooring material. It works well with underfloor |
| is not a new idea, but it is still being avidly used as | | | | heating, retaining the heat and thereby making it a |
| a building material today. | | | | very cost-effective choice. It is a naturally durable |
| The experts who designed and built such potent | | | | type of floor covering requiring little maintenance |
| edifices in Scotland as the Scottish Parliament, the | | | | and looking extremely elegant almost forever. |
| Weston link at the National Gallery of Scotland, | | | | It also works well as the base of a patio, |
| and the Museum of Scotland all chose natural | | | | especially in a damp climate where a wooden |
| stone as a predominant building material. Its | | | | deck can warp. It doesn't need annually painting or |
| unembellished beauty always shines through and | | | | protecting and it will fit right in with the general |
| its timeless enduring quality sustains down the | | | | landscape, which of course is where it came from |
| ages. | | | | originally. |
| A stone is "a piece of rock or hard mineral | | | | Natural stone is an inspired choice for a large open |
| substance (other than metal), of small to | | | | fireplace surround. There's nothing quite like an |
| moderate size," according to The Oxford English | | | | open fire on a cold evening to bring out the best |
| Dictionary. However, that does not tell us that | | | | in people. Relaxing by an open fire as the flames |
| there are many different types of stone, born | | | | lick lazily up the chimney while sipping a glass of |
| from many different kinds of lithification, or rock | | | | something strong is a great time to appreciate |
| making, processes, such as sedimentary, igneous | | | | the expert workmanship of stone in such a |
| and metamorphic stone. | | | | fireplace, and it is indeed a shame if it isn't there. |
| Over the centuries stone masons have | | | | This article could go on and on about the virtues |
| discovered which type of stone is best suited for | | | | of natural stone; there's hardly a situation where it |
| a particular task. Some stone types like granite | | | | cannot be used to some extent. It is completely |
| are best suited for pure strength, while limestone | | | | sympathetic to the environment, it looks great, it |
| and marble work well for decorative and | | | | needs little time and effort to maintain and it is |
| aesthetically pleasing uses. | | | | relatively inexpensive. Surely that alone is enough |
| Stone can of course be broken down into little | | | | good reasons to love it, and certainly why it is the |
| pieces and become gravel. A crushing process | | | | timeless sustainable choice of experts. |
| breaks the stone down until the pieces are more | | | | |