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.