Six Things You Need To Check Before Buying Paving Stones in New Zealand

It is not surprising that more and more homeowners are now turning to the use of paving stones for the exterior flooring of their walkways, driveways, and patios more than ever before. The usages of paving stones in New Zealand is in high demand. People after paving stones for building or decorating their home or garden floors.  History tells us that the Romans have long been known to used paving stones in the construction of their roads. There is no doubt that an outdoor area paved with stones offers a lot of benefits, compared to one without paving. Apart from adding to the aesthetic look of the place; they are equally known to last longer, and cheaper to maintain, safer to live in, as they are not prone to damage from elements such as erosion, or heavy rainfall. Paving stones or Pavers are tiles, bricks, concrete pavers made from different materials such as granite, bricks, clay, that are molded into different shapes, and allowed to set, before being applied on the natural soil.  Concrete pavings is more popular in New Zealand. Beside, many stones suppliers supply Terrazzo paving stones in Auckland, New Zealand. According to our research, we found that most of paving stones are internationally sourced and can be different color and different sizes.  Though there are other alternatives to paving stones in the form of concrete slabs, and asphalt, none of these can offer the durability, and flexibility paving stones offers. Roads that are constructed with paving stones are known to be able to withstand heavy traffic at year round without deteriorating compared to those with ordinary asphalt, or concrete slabs.

It is indeed a welcome development that in the last two (2) years, we have witnessed a greater number of homeowners, and companies using pavers, and more new companies dealing in paving stones have emerged, compared to 5 years before now. Be it as it may, there is need for buyers to be aware of things to be taken into consideration when they need to buy paving stones. So, it is important to check some facts while purchasing paving stones . If you can deal this things nicely , you might save thousands dollar as well. I have been able to provide you below 6 things you need to check before paving stones.

Six (6) You Need To Check Before Buying Paving Stones

1. Determine The Usage Of The Paved Area

 So, there are different types of pavers for different types of usages. Some people use paving stones for home floor and some people use stones for decorating garden. Each type of use might require different types of stones. It is always a good practice before committing your money to have in mind the knowledge of the usage of the areas to be paved. Paving stones are known to come in different size, and thickness. The thickness of the stones would provide you an insight of the weights it can adequately and safely support without breakage. While the thinner options are more suited for walkways, and patios, but the thicker ones are ideal for roads, where heavy equipment passes through. So, it is very important to determine the usages of the paved area.

2. Determine the areas to be paved

It is always a good practice to know in advance of the areas you want to paved. A paving professional can help you measure the areas to be paved. This would provide you with the knowledge of the quantity of pavers to buy.  I can recommend to contact local stonemason before buying paving stones. A good stonemason can be able to estimate total amount of stones and might suggest good suppliers as well.

Be it as it may, it is advisable to buy some extra pavers, probably 5% more to what has been measured. This would help avoid some inconvenience such as accidental breakages of stones during the paving process.

3. Determine The Materials to use

There are indeed a lot of materials you can use for the paving of your outdoor areas. Depending on your choice you can choose to use a concrete paver, clay brick paver, natural stone paver or even a rubber pavers. All of them are known to have their merits, and demerits. The application of the paving stones in most instances should guide your choice of the materials to select. Cost wise, areas paved with natural stone materials are known to be very expensive, while those paved with rubber seems to be the cheapest. So, before buying pavers, talk to suppliers or stonemason and understand that which type of materials used for your desire products. 

4. Pavers Manufacturer Customers Base, and Certification Record

Well, in New Zealand, each stonemason or builders must have certain level of certification. They might carry different types of product certification as well. For example, Eco-friendly . As earlier mentioned, we have witnessed more new companies who are into the production of paving stones, and at such, checking on some information to ascertain their credibility’s is a welcome idea. Information like customers’ base, and ISO certification(s) can give a consumer the confidence that he is dealing with a reputable organization that is committed to producing only paving stones that meets the standard set. If you are not sure about it , talk to local council's trade department or local tradesman association regarding stones certification  or any obligation.  

5. Maintenance cost

Areas paved with paving stones are not known to last forever. There would occasionally be need to do some maintenance on them. The maintenance cost of different paving stones differs, since they are produced from different materials. Some stonemason provide regular maintenance support for their building products. So, you need to make sure that your care getting free maintenance support or quote for regular maintenance cost.   

6. Understand What Each Pavers Offers

As earlier mentioned, there are different types of paving stones you can use for your outdoor areas. It is important you have an understanding of the advantages, and disadvantages of each paving stones. The use of paving stone has come to stay, and as we progress into the future, I’m optimistic that more and more people would embrace it use. The above six listed points can serve as a guide to anyone on things to check for before buying paving stones.

I understand that it is hard to ensure all of features before buying paving stones. Some people might look for affordable or cheap stones, then there are no option for making sure 100% quality products. However, i can recommend to buy quality products for your local suppliers. It might save your  products transporting cost as well.

How to deal with landscaping suppliers in New Zealand

There are many company supplies locally or international sourced landscaping in New Zealand. Some company offer affordable price and some not. It is not easy to pick good suppliers for buying garden stones, dart or other landscaping material with reasonable price. 
For some people, finding the right stonemason or garden stone suppliers may be a Herculean task, especially if you do not have any prior knowledge of the entire process. Finding a special landscaping suppliers in Auckland, New Zealand should not be a difficult task, if you knows few golden rules for dealing with tradesman or suppliers.  This is because professional landscaping suppliers have unique features that can help customers identify them without stress. According to my research, i found that most of suppliers based on Auckland and Christchurch based. However, most of them deliver stones nationwide. May be they charge bit but it might be hassle free for your construction work.   Is your quest for how to select good landscaping suppliers in New Zealand? If this question is creating a problem in your mind, then you have come to the right page. In this content, you will discover simple tips on how to find your next professional garden stone supplier.

Ensure The Stonemason Supplier Offers The Service You Want:

It is a huge misconception to presume that all landscaping suppliers in New Zealand provides the same services. This is an understatement because no two landscapers operate in the same way. For this reason, it is expedient to check through the list of services that New Zealand landscaping supplier offers. Some suppliers may basically deal with only garden stones or special stones. In some cases, a landscape supplier may decide to only provide services on only stonemason. So, it is very important which type of landscaping products you after and with whom you should deal with. If you contact with broker who has not same products, it might cost you bit as he needs to outsource these product from some other company. So, you should contact directly with responsible suppliers, do not go via other suppliers.


Research Garden Stone Landscaping Supplier Qualifications:

I understand that it is not easy things to justify qualification for any stonemason or suppliers. However, you may check their website or local review regarding which type of trades qualification they have and what should be standard. By doing a bit of research, you will be able to save yourself some headaches. This should be done at the beginning of the vetting process for selecting the right landscaping supplier. You can ask colleagues residing in New Zealand for a reliable landscape supplier with respect to your requirements. You can request references and visit the supplier's website to get an unequivocal view of the services offered. You can reach out to the supplier if you still have some intricate questions. Ensure that the supplier hold proper licensing and certifications for supplying special stone, garden stone and stonemason. Check to determine if your preferred landscaping supplier is insured and can provide documentation. It is important to know if the supplier is able to provide top-notch landscaping equipment, materials and the manpower to do the job. In New Zealand, you can easily verify your tradesman qualification. By verifying tradesman qualification , you might get some people who is expert in these industry. 

Do The Landscape Supplier Employ Sustainable Practices?

When exploring for professional landscaping suppliers in New Zealand, it is important to check the practices they employ to deliver their service. Ensure that supplier is able to provide solutions that will transform your landscape to a sustainable one. Your will be moving in the right direction for your property if the supplier is able to provide sustainable solutions. To make an impact on the environment and your budget, creating landscapes that are environmentally conscious, water saving, energy efficient and cost-effective remains a great deal.

Features Of Good Suppliers:

There are some common sign to check good suppliers. A good tradesman never finish work contact with out your satisfaction. They must continue as long as project done successfully with pleasure. So, check following sign to your local tradesman. Hope, it help and work out to deal with good supplier.
 
1. Production Capabilities: The supplier should be able to provide service that suits your specifications and preferences.

2. Accountability: The supplier should be able to admit to mistakes when delivering items such as stonemason, garden stone or special stone.

3. Ethics: To make it to the spotlight, ethics remain a great virtue and feature.

4. Ease Of Communication: Cultural and language barriers can pose real challenges some times. For this reason, a good landscaping supplier in New Zealand should be able to establish successful communication with clients.

Things To Avoid While Contracting Suppliers:

Do not make an upfront payment without agreeing to contract terms

Do not accept everything the supplier say until you make a strong confirmation

To sum up, landscaping material is getting very expensive in New Zealand. Beside, trades work also expensive too. So, it will be better idea to find affordable trades work for sustainable building procedures. 

With the information in this content, you can be sure that finding your next landscaping supplier in New Zealand will not be difficult. By carefully using the steps above, there is every possibility to land a professional supplier.

6 Things to Consider When You’re Swimming Pool Coping

Whether you’re building your own swimming pool from scratch, repairing your old pool, setting it up for better safety or going for an off-beat renovation, pool coping can make or break your pool installation.

Pool coping is the edging that covers the rim of swimming pools. The tiling extends throughout the pool and gives it shape; separating it from the ground, protecting its structure from caving in and leakage, defining its edge and giving it an aesthetic finish that fits your ultimate decor direction.

If you intend to do pool coping , you might get many stonemason services provider in New Zealand. Most importantly , there are many local tradesman who offer affordable & quality swimming pool coping in Auckland, New Zealand. Beside, you may look different micro job site or local deals site for getting local stonemason. To be honest, it might cost you thousands buck, if you fail to find local and efficient service provider. Although many pool coping materials are available and easy to install or DIY , it’s recommended to employ a stonemason’s services for safety, and the added value of aesthetic. If you’re not familiar with terms such as caulking, cutting out pool cleaners with the budget or think a salt system is extravagant and needless, you need a person who can take you through the process; which is where a local stonemason’s services will come in handy, worth the long-term buck and absolutely necessary! Some people recommend portable or ready-made pool for their residential property. However, i am strongly against with portable pools. A pool should be authentic and really adjust with your house and it might increase value of your house as well.  

Before you go into pool coping; there are 6 main things you need to consider:

Name Your Price.

 I already mentioned that price is very important for building nice and colorful pool.  If you’re working with a tight and affordable budget, you might want to opt for precast concrete as material for pool coping services. While it offers a wide range of textures, patterns and colors, and is simpler to install consistently – thus saving contractor money and time – precast concrete is a cheaper option than poured concrete and natural stone. So, you can consult with your local stonemason or check local deal site to get affordable quote for doing pool coping locally.

Do you have a look in mind?

If you don’t mind investing in a better look, natural stone is a beautiful and durable option. While being on the pricey side of pool coping, it is also the most durable material, with a wide variety of stones to choose from; from granite, limestone and blue-stone to travertine, sandstone and slate. Normally, locally sourced pool stones might be cheaper than internally source colorful stones. Check 2 or 3 stones suppliers before selecting.

Size Matters.

Well, money and looking beauty depends on size. if you have large yard to set up pool , you should go for that . Otherwise , you may select small or adjustable pool with your yard. Working with a small pool? Poured concrete is best. Normally, poured concrete based pool is very popular in Auckland. 60% pool based on these concrete based. Since it’s one unit with the pool without a break in the finish, poured concrete can really make a small pool look bigger. Z Platforms also cut the cash, time and energy while giving users a lot of textures to choose from, as opposed to the less consistent Styrofoam.

Is Your Pool Up to Safety Standards?

Safety is the first and last thing you need to think about when you’re doing pool coping. Cutting expenses here and there can make for slippery surfaces, leakage, uneven thickness, non-sturdy joints, and exposure to elements and decay – a lot of maintenance costs you can save by investing in proper pool coping. It might be not safe for you young kids as they might not look all time while swimming in pool.

What’s Your Edge?

A prominent element in safety, edging is also vital for aesthetic. If you’re going for a contemporary look, a square edge is very popular. Traditional? Go for a rounded bullnose edge. Rustic? A tumbled edge is great for landscaping. Seamless and futuristic? Drop down face is a great choice.

Inspection is Key

We’ve already went over how important it is to hire a stonemason to do the dirty work, but it couldn’t be more important to inspect how clean his work is before you do. Check out his past work, visit pool owners with similar layouts, ask around and test your stonemason. Can he suggest time-saving tweaks? Is his design up to par with practicality? Is he cutting costs or adding to them? Ask the right questions, and don’t rush into choosing the right one!

We know that kiwi people always love to have a house or residential property with large or small swimming pool. In summer , it is really fun when you have owned pool in house. You may spend some time with your kids and partner and it increase social engagement with your family members. However, some people may not affordable a pool with house as price of own property is getting higher and higher. So, if you intend to set up small and big pool in your residential property or commercial property, you may look through above six important facts. 
Hope that helps! If you got any questions, leave a comment and don’t forget to ask around. Happy coping!

Pros and cons of having local stone mason in New Zealand

Stone masonry is the technique of building structures using individual components which are laid in, then fastened together by mortar. Among the stones that are most commonly used in New Zealand are marble, concrete blocks, cob, cast stone, granite, travertine, limestone and glass block. In general, stone masonry is a really durable form of construction, although the quality of work highly depends on the workmanship as well as the quality of mortar and the patterns of assembling stones. There are many reputed company offer affordable and experienced stone mason services in Auckland, New Zealand. Some company offer one off services or some company offer regular maintenance services. However, it is always prioritize to deal with local tradesman as they can provide cheap and ongoing services.   To ensure that the whole masonry work is durable, be sure to choose a quality stone supplier and a quality local mason.

Pros of Local Stone Mason in New Zealand

1. Choosing a local stone mason will enable you get a structurally sound and complete building within the shortest time possible. Stone masonry structures go up faster and are durable. With the required materials on site, your local stone mason can begin working immediately. This will save you time and you will have the benefit of early occupancy.

2. Using local stone masons is cost effective. This is because you will be able to make use of the local labor as well as readily available materials that won’t cost you more. In addition, an economic ripple effect will be created on the local community. You will also be creating a good rapport with your neighbors.

3. Hiring a local stone mason ensures single contractor responsibility. Employing fewer people on the job and using locally available materials provides the load bearing. Continuity of progress on the job helps in reducing construction problems as the same people return to the same work day after day. This will also help in accountability since you will be dealing with the same people.

Cons of local stone mason in New Zealand

1. Paying more than necessary. Local stone masons do not face much competition and this prompts them to hike their charges.

2. Low quality products and services : Due to lack of exposure and the tendency to use only what is available, you might end up getting poor services as well as low quality products if you choose to hire a local stonemason.

3. Reduced competitive ability. Local stone masons are less efficient compared to their larger counterparts. This is because there isn’t much innovation happening in the local areas for the local stone masons to get challenged.

Stone masons use natural stone, bricks, concrete, man made stones and concrete blocks to build walkways, fences, walls and other masonry structures. Stone masonry requires more skilled labor and it is good to carefully select the right person for the job. Even though it will greatly affect your budget, hiring a qualified stone mason is what will give you excellent results. Whether local or international, a professional stone mason should be able to offer you some tips on ways of saving money and keeping your expenses lower. However, hiring a local stone mason will give you more advantages than going for an international one. It is always satisfying to work with someone familiar and one whom you can easily get their references.

Professional & Quality stonemason VS cheap stone mason work

Masonry refers to the construction of structures from individual components laid in and put together by mortar; the word can also mean the units themselves. The commonly used materials in masonry construction include: brick, building stone like marble, travertine, granite, and limestone, concrete block, cast stone, glass block, and cob. Generally speaking, masonry is a highly durable mode of construction. However, the quality of mortar and workmanship, materials used as well as the pattern in which these units are assembled can largely affect the durability of your overall masonry construction. An individual who constructs masonry is known as a mason.

Masonry is often utilized for walls of buildings and retaining walls. Concrete block and brick are the most commonly used types of masonry in industrialized nations and they may either be a veneer or weight-bearing. Concrete blocks, especially the ones with hollow cores, offer many possibilities in masonry construction. Generally speaking, they offer great compressive strength, and they are best suited for those structures that have light transverse loading when cores remain unfilled.

What does a Stonemason do? 

Simply put, a stonemason is an individual who works with stone. For doing stone masonry work, you need to have registration. Registration level or authorization depends country to country. Stone mason in Auckland is getting competitive day by day , because of there are may professional and handy service provider available in New Zealand.   There are some stone masons working in quarries, making stone slabs from rocks. Others work in factories, cutting stone for sale. Homeowners mostly employ stonemasons who lay stones after being prepared for laying. Typically, these stonemasons have the below features:

1. Lay stone pavers or brick for pool surrounds driveways and various other large outdoor surfaces.

2. Construct stone paths or walls.

3. Lay stone wall tiles or floor tiles.

4. Build stone buildings, brick or block work

5.Though less common, a skilled stonemason can be called upon to build a brand new structure in heritage style or repair a heritage building using sandstone or any other stone material associated with the period. 

How to select affordable & local stone mason?

1. Choose a stonemason who specializes in the kind of construction you require. If for instance you need a stone retaining wall, you will require a stonemason with substantial experience in that area. Laying the coursework, preparing the ground and determining factors like load and water courses will all contribute to a properly made wall. 

2.  Compare quotes from more than 1 specialist before settling for one. 

3. Select a fully insured stonemason especially if your project is expensive. This way you will not be liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur on the job.

4. The stonemason should give you a fully detailed contract that spells out each aspect of the construction, including materials, labor as well as any special considerations. Be wary of any rough estimates.

5. Consider the experience of the stonemason and one who has newer engineered stone products. These may include: faux stone facades, different styles of concrete pavers, reconstituted stone floor tiles among others. Most of these products are remarkably realistic looking, but will cost you a fraction of the cost of genuine stone.

A mason can help you detail your home with unique designs.  They will assist from the start by helping you estimate materials, get a better deal from the stone seller and finish out your design work. Be wise when choosing your stonemason in order to get the desired outcome.  Other than considering the price, ensure you choose one who has experience constructing what you want.

 

Local Stone Suppliers VS Overseas Stone Reseller

Nowadays, many things are made of stone- from jewellery to floors to outdoors etc. Stone has become one of the very important things in life. An important issue is how fairly natural stone compares, in terms of sustainability with other building materials. Natural stone is known to be strong and with good thermal traits that tend to stabilize the conditions in the structure: thus keeping it cool during summer and warm during winter. This helps in reducing operational costs. Stone is also durable for many years if selected and placed correctly.

Before the industrial revolution, construction stone was generally manufactured and used locally with just a few instances of imports. However, the development of railways and canals led to wider use of particular types of stone, and this caused an increase in international trade. In the past few years, stone manufactured in England has increasingly been in competition with stone from Africa, Asia and South America. 

In this article, i am going to point our local stone supplies and overseas stone re-seller. 

 

Benefits of Overseas Stone Re-sellers

1.  Natural stone with excellent qualities can be found in many different locations all over the world. Some sources are however better than others because of the stone appearance, its hardness as well as other qualities.

2. Cost is one of the factors that make people source for overseas stone supplies as compared to the local ones. The low cost of processing in overseas countries leads to low costs of stone in those particular countries. This is because these locations have been using natural stone as a construction material for many years; which has led to long-established systems for quarrying as well as processing these stones. The efficiency and economical nature of these systems is what is enabling these regions to sell their stone cheaply as compared to other regions.

3.One more reason to seek overseas stone suppliers is that stone from different regions contains a different mix of rock formations and mineral deposits. For instance, some countries quarry more granite than limestone. Therefore, natural stone from certain regions may be well suited for a particular application than another.

You may find that you actually don’t have to go through all the hustle of importing natural stone because you can still find the same from your own local supplier.

Benefits of Local Stone Suppliers

  1.Stone from local suppliers minimizes the environmental impacts of transportation so, inherently, securing supplies from further away is less sustainable.

 2.When you visit your local supplier in person and get to see the different types of stones they have, you will be greatly inspired on how to use the stone in your landscape.

 3. One more benefit of local stone supplier is that if you want to perform a small DIY project, you can purchase smaller quantities to experiment with before settling for a particular stone type.

 4.Just like locally sourced wood, natural stone is a sustainable construction alternative for the landscape when sourced from a nearby supplier.

Also bear in mind that your cost savings from overseas purchases may be lost if the long-distance delivery fails to turn up on time, is incomplete or arrives damaged. This could lead to major delays for your project and an additional burden to your budget with contractors hanging around as they wait for a delayed delivery.

Remember a useful context is to think globally but act locally. Therefore choose your local stone supplier and enjoy all the above benefits.