Color, Paving and Other Materials

by Ruth S. Foster | Jul 18, 2011 | HowTo, Masonry & Paving, Miscellaneous Masonry

Materials like brick are not too reflective or too absorbent. The darker the color, the more heat it will absorb and the hotter it will become. White reflects the most heat and light — it is the coolest to touch. A blacktop driveway may get hot enough to fry...

Inspirational Ideas for Using Concrete in Your Home

by Lisa Iannucci | Apr 10, 2009 | Concrete, HowTo, Masonry & Paving

Faythe Willis of Lula, Ga., has a husband, three boys and three pets, so she wanted to install a low-maintenance and durable floor that would last. After all options were considered, Willis chose to install a concrete floor.     Throughout the years, concrete has been...

Updating Interior Brick and Stone

by Diane Benson Harrington | Dec 1, 2008 | HowTo, Masonry & Paving, Stone

Your dark brown brick focal wall may have looked au courant in the ’60s, but BEFORE. This washed-out fireplace has no pizazz. Faux painting and a refinished mantle subtly enhances the bricks, offering more depth and character. Photo courtesy of Brick Transformers....

Cleaning and Maintaining Stone Countertops and Flooring

by Tanja Kern | Dec 1, 2008 | HowTo, Masonry & Paving, Stone

Many homeowners opt for natural stone countertops, flooring or pavers as a way to add elegance to their homes. What they might not bargain for, however, is the unique maintenance stone requires to keep it looking new. Slate Floors and Countertops Stone floors and...

Stone and Brick Veneer

by Pat Curry | Dec 1, 2008 | Brick & Stone, HowTo, Masonry & Paving

There’s something soothing and timeless about natural stone. It’s both elegant Oklahoma City-based kitchen designer Karen Black-Sigler appreciates the texture that stone and brick veneer can bring to a room. She’s incorporated both into her own kitchen. Photo courtesy...

Flagstone and Fieldstone for Walls and Paths

by Maureen Blaney Flietner | Jun 22, 2007 | HowTo, Masonry & Paving, Stone

Stone veneers or split stones can be used for facing or siding on an exterior wall. Flagstone. Fieldstone. They may sound related but they’re not at all alike, says Mike Buechel, marketing manager for Buechel Stone in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. As building...