Posted by James Snyder on Thu, Jul 21, 2011 @ 09:30 AM
Concrete block has long been a reliable method for constructing home beautification projects. Done correctly, a project using this method can be solid and durable. However, StoneMakers has created a proprietary concrete mix that trumps concrete block in several ways, most importantly, in durability, cost effectiveness and aesthetics.
Concrete block is made from poured concrete, and is typically composed of cement, sand and gravel aggregate. The blocks used to form foundations are hollow, and when stacked on top of one another you can see through the center of the foundation. The voids are normally filled with a cement-based mortar or poured concrete containing small pieces of gravel.
Concrete block has a large amount of compressive strength; however, when it is subjected to some sort of tension or stretching force, that strength is reduced by up to 90 percent. As soil, for instance, pushes against a retaining wall built in this method, tension is created that can eventually lead to a failure. Concrete block is also susceptible to decay due to moisture, so a waterproofing system has to be applied after the completion of a project.
StoneMakers’ propriety concrete product has the look and feel of real stone and is much stronger than traditional concrete block. Rather than relying on concrete blocks held together by mortar, a retaining wall, for example, built with StoneMakers concrete is one solid mass tied together with rebar, which makes it longer lasting, curing out at the incomparable strength of between, 6,000-8,000 PSI. No concrete building material in the industry can come close.
And the cost savings are just as impressive. Because artisans can build project using the StoneMakers product so much faster than by using typical concrete block, homeowners can save staggering sums of money. Since most projects are charged by the hour, the potential savings should be readily apparent.
Aesthetically, there also is no comparison between StoneMakers concrete and the traditional concrete block method. With the latter, you get exactly that – a project that looks like concrete blocks. But with StoneMakers, we can completely custom color and design options that, basically, are only limited by your imagination. We can shape StoneMakers concrete into almost any design, and make it just about any color you can think of.
If you are considering a home beautification project using concrete block, do not proceed any farther until you call us at (845) 283-8787. We can tell you how, by using the StoneMakers proprietary concrete mix, we can build a project for you that will cost much less, and take much less more time, than one using concrete block.
Posted by James Snyder on Wed, Jul 20, 2011 @ 09:33 AM
You’ve worked long and hard to afford the home of your dreams, and you’ve carefully and patiently made every inch of the inside something that truly reflects who you are. You should rightfully be proud of all you’ve accomplished.
And while there’s always something to tweak or change outright inside your home, now might be a good time to focus on the outside; to start concentrating your efforts on make the outside of your home reflect your individuality just as the inside does.
Thanks to StoneMakers’ new revolutionary and proprietary concrete mix, outdoor home beautification projects can be constructed to be more unique than ever before.
We recently became converts to the StoneMakers product line, and are extremely proud to be a certified StoneMakers dealer. With their innovative concrete mix, we can create much more varied hardscape designs than ever before. No matter what the project – a water feature, outdoor fireplace, walkway, patio, whatever – we can construct a custom, hand-crafted project that will be completely unique to you. We can build you a bench shaped like a tree if you like. If you want, we can build a waterfall that looks like cliff rock. Just about any shape you can imagine, we can build. And in just about any color you can imagine as well.
The beauty of natural stone is undeniable, but the price tag that comes along with it is another matter entirely. Properly installing stone used to be an incredibly time consuming and expensive proposition, but that is no longer the case Whatever your project, we can make it look like natural stone by using traditional concrete combined with the StoneMakers mix – and do it at a much, much lower price than if real stone was involved. And since StoneMakers has been perfecting their product for the last 25 years to mimic the look and feel of natural stone, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference.
StoneMakers brings homeowners all the benefits of natural stone, but with the strength of concrete – and without the cost of traditional stonework. We could not be more excited about this product. Call us at (845) 283-8787 and let us share that excitement with you.
Posted by James Snyder on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 @ 09:28 AM
A home beautification project like a walkway, patio, waterfall, retaining wall or the like not only makes your home’s outdoor area look spectacular, it’s also one of the best things you can do to increase the value of your home. Projects like these can significantly increase the amount of money you put in your pocket should you one day decide to sell the home.
So in order to maximize the potential return on that investment in a beautification project, it needs to not only be aesthetically pleasing, obviously, it also needs to be durable and efficiently constructed so you’re not wasting your money on a long, drawn-out ordeal. Construction projects involving StoneMakers’ revolutionary concrete mix fulfill all three of those requirements.
Take the example of a retaining wall. The majority of homeowners who want a wall constructed want it to appear monolithic, looking like one continuous piece. It sounds pretty easy to build such a wall, but it’s impossible to do so unless the concrete used can stand on it’s own without forms. You could have one built the traditional way, either with forms or by using concrete blocks (and then later add some sort of veneer), but it wouldn’t be monolithic, and it would be very expensive.
By using StoneMakers’ proprietary concrete mix, however, we can create a monolithic wall, patio or other beautification project without forms. Plus, we can add texture, create it in the form of just about any shape you can imagine, and do it in just about any color.
But the best part is, compared to traditional concrete, a project constructed using the StoneMakers mix is incredibly quicker to build. We did a retaining wall for a homeowner that was 75 feet long and four feet tall. Using typical concrete, that wall would have taken about three days for our crew to build. But by using the StoneMakers mix, we were able to finish that job in less than six hours. That, put simply, is astounding. It doesn’t take much more than very simple math to figure out the cost savings involved using the StoneMakers mix when you’re paying by the hour.
In addition, StoneMakers concrete is much more durable than traditional concrete, and doesn’t require nearly the amount of maintenance. So when you decide the time is right to tackle that home beautification project you’ve been thinking of, give us a call at (845) 283-8787 and we’ll show you how we can build the project of your dreams at a fraction of what you might expect to pay.
Posted by James Snyder on Fri, Jul 15, 2011 @ 09:27 AM
Homeowners wanting to add an outdoor living area or hardscape design element such as a patio, retaining wall, water feature or walkway have choice when it comes to the materials use to construct those projects. The following is a comparison of StoneMakers’ proprietary design system and a traditional concrete paver system.
While a concrete paver system can be purchased at any local supplier or retail outlet, the StoneMakers system is only available through licensed StoneMakers dealers. The cost of concrete pavers can vary due to color, design and durability, while the cost of StoneMakers concrete ranges from between $95 and $125 per yard. Lower cost concrete paver material options are available, but they are made with low strength concrete that can eventually crumble, leading to steep repair expenses.
Depending on the manufacturing process used, the quality of a concrete paving system can lead to block disintegration. On the other hand, the StoneMakers system is two to three times stronger than typical concrete when cured, and the mix is designed to have very little expansion and contraction, which bolsters its durability.
While the warranty associated with a concrete paver system normally runs anywhere from one to three years, a StoneMakers system is guaranteed for three to five years depending on the service package purchased.
A concrete paver system is designed to look uniform and modern, and has only a moderate aesthetic appeal. It is not appropriate for historic properties, or for homeowners who want their home beautification project to have a more traditional look. On the other hand, a StoneMakers system has a lot of aesthetic appeal, as it is designed to mimic the look and feel of stone. And nearly any style of stone can be replicated.
Concrete paver systems do not hold well when exposed to salt, and require regular cleaning, while the only maintenance associated with a StoneMakers system is resealing that only needs to take place every three to five years.
While workers can only install about 30 to 50 feet of concrete paver material in a day, installers of a StoneMakers system can fit 100 to 120 of material in a day.
If you compare the two, it should quickly become apparent that the StoneMakers proprietary concrete mix results in longer lasting beautification projects that take less time to build and are much easier to maintain. Albert Group Landscaping proudly uses StoneMakers concrete in patios, retainer walls, waterfalls and many more of the projects we do for homeowners. We have done a wide range of such projects, and we consistently perform in a timely and professional manner. Call us at (845) 283-8787 and let us tell you what we can do for your home.
Posted by James Snyder on Wed, Jul 13, 2011 @ 09:26 AM
If you’ve owned a home for a long time, then you’ve probably had quite a bit of work done on it, both inside and out. You know all too well that certain home improvement projects can take an interminable amount of time to complete, causing an extended disruption to your normal home routine. No matter how professional and efficient the crew conducting the work may have been, you probably wish they could have been done and out of your hair a lot sooner than they were so you could get back to normal.
But those of you contemplating an outdoor home beautification project, such as a patio, walkway, waterfall or the like, are in luck.
These projects require concrete, obviously. And traditional concrete projects take a lot of time to construct. But a company called StoneMakers has changed the home beautification game forever with a proprietary mix that drastically reduces the time it takes to build a project that will not only be aesthetically pleasing and durable, but will significantly improve the value of your home.
We recently built a retaining wall for a customer using the StoneMakers mix, and the results were incredible. We had heard all about this incredible product, but we remained skeptical until we actually saw it being used before our eyes in a product demonstration. But even then, we didn’t know just how revolutionary the StoneMakers concrete mix could be until we put it to use ourselves.
The retaining wall was 75 feet wide by 4 feet tall; not a huge job, per se, but a substantial one. Previously, that kind of project would take one of our crews about three days to complete. Astoundingly, though, when we built this particular wall using the StoneMakers mix, it took less than six hours to finish the job. That’s simply incredible, and calculates to some extreme savings for the customer when you consider most jobs are charged by the hour.
The main reason StoneMakers’ proprietary mix is superior to traditional concrete is that the mix allows an artisan to build, say, a wall, without having to use forms such as railroad ties to support the concrete. Not having to do so not only greatly speeds the construction process, it also results in a longer lasting and more aesthetically pleasing project that doesn’t require nearly the amount of maintenance that a project made of typical concrete needs.
It should be pretty obvious to you that we are true believers in the StoneMakers’ mix. To find out how we can put it to work for you, call Albert Group Landscaping at (845) 283-8787.
Posted by James Snyder on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 @ 12:25 PM
It’s finally time to tackle that home beautification project you’ve been thinking about for years; you’ve saved your money, now it’s time to pull the trigger. It may seem like it has taken way too long for you to finally be able to tackle this project, but in fact, it’s actually worked out better. The reason is that now more than ever, homeowners have unprecedented options when choosing the concrete block used to construct most beautification projects.
The reason is the amazing advancement in concrete pioneered by StoneMakers. They’ve come up with a proprietary ingredient that, when mixed with concrete, creates longer lasting patios, retaining walls, water features and several other types of home beautification projects that are far less time consuming than ever before.
Let’s take the example of a retaining wall, which is a popular project with a lot of homeowners. Normally, to build a 75-foot long by 4-foot tall retaining wall, it would take an average of three days. By using StoneMakers concrete, we’ve been able to shave that down, incredibly, to less than six hours. You do the math; the less time it takes to construct a project, the less it will cost to the homeowner.
And by using StoneMakers’ product, we can make a wall that mimics natural stone, but is exponentially stronger than either stone or stacked block. That not only enhances the beauty of your outside living area, but also leads to a significant reduction in the cost to maintain a home beautification project. And StoneMakers offers a much larger variety of colors than you’ll find in traditionally constructed block retaining walls, and blending them gives you an infinite number of looks to choose from.
As recently as two years ago, you basically had two choices if you wanted to make a wall look like natural stone – buy natural stone of use cultured stone as a type of veneer over a concrete wall. And it wouldn’t be monolithic, or look like one continuous piece. With the StoneMakers product, we can provide not only the monolithic look that is more aesthetically pleasing, we can do it at the fraction of the cost associated with natural stone.
And finally, because StoneMakers concrete does not need wooden forms, there is no waste. Even a small retaining wall requires hundreds of pounds of wood which eventually is thrown away. So StoneMakers concrete is not only more affordable and more durable than traditional concrete, it’s also much friendlier to the environment.
You may have had to wait a long time to get the project of your dreams started, but in the long run you’ll be ahead of the game thanks to the innovation of StoneMakers concrete.
Posted by James Snyder on Wed, Jun 08, 2011 @ 02:28 PM
Deciding to build a backyard sanctuary is almost like adding another room to your home. Outdoor water features create a setting of peace and tranquility, giving you an easy means of escaping whatever different types of stress the day can throw at you. From a practical standpoint, they can also add significant value to your home. Water features like waterfalls or pondless waterfalls used to be extremely expensive, time-consuming projects. But thanks to a revolutionary concrete additive pioneered by StoneMakers, these projects can now be done at a fraction of a cost, and completed much faster than before, with minimal disruption to your home routine.
Whether they are large or small, water features like those mentioned above can bring a feeling of serenity to your backyard. The tranquility associated with the sound of trickling water can really help you unwind after a long, tiring day. Here are seven reasons to consider adding a water feature to your backyard home beautification projects.
1. A backyard water feature is incredibly appealing from an aesthetic viewpoint. There’s just something special about both seeing and hearing running water; there’s a certain aura to it. StoneMakers concrete mimics the look of natural stone and allows for a nearly limitless choice in colors, so you will not only have a work of art in your backyard, you can have it custom made so it’s unique to your style.
2. It’s very low maintenance. You only need to spend a few minutes a week to take care of a water feature constructed with StoneMakers concrete.
3. It’s an attention grabber. A beautiful water feature will turn a lot of heads and make your neighbors and friends admire your home even more.
4. Backyard water features are relaxing. The sound of trickling water combined with the soothing sight of a waterfall can help your daily stress melt away.
5. They don’t take up a lot of space. A pondless waterfall, especially, can be designed and constructed to fit in just about any area of your backyard.
6. If a backyard water feature is built using StoneMakers’ proprietary concrete mix, it will not only be beautiful, it will be durable as well. StoneMakers concrete is much stronger than typical concrete.
7. A water feature using StoneMakers concrete can be quickly constructed, often taking less than 24 hours from start to finish.
We will be more than happy to detail how we can bring a feeling of peace and tranquility to your backyard, and do it in a way that won’t bust your budget or create extended disruption to your home routine. Call (845) 283-8787 to find out more.
Posted by James Snyder on Mon, May 30, 2011 @ 06:12 AM
The term “hardscape” means outdoor landscaping other than plants or other greenery. It is becoming increasingly more popular among homeowners, as evidenced by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry ranking outdoor living areas at No. 4 on the list of top remodeling trends.
Thanks to StoneMakers’ proprietary and innovative concrete mix, it’s possible to construct these kinds of projects in a fraction of the time it used to take. Not only that, but they are a lot less expensive to build than before because crews can finish in hours what used to take days. Plus, the resulting projects are much more durable than before, because StoneMakers concrete is much stronger than typical concrete.
The following is a list of five hardscape projects that homeowners are using to spruce up their backyards.
1. Retaining walls
Retaining walls were originally used for simply holding back earth, but they have evolved from merely a functional item to one that can be a centerpiece of a home beautification project. Stunning retaining walls can be a great component of a home landscape.
2. Walkways and water features
Steps and walkways not only serve a utilitarian purpose, they can add a very nice aesthetic touch to your outdoor living area as well. And since StoneMakers concrete mimics natural stone, you can have that look without the accompanying expense.
3. Backyard patio
Done correctly, a backyard patio will not only improve the appearance of your home, it will make it look larger as well. A patio can be other attached to a house or detached from it, and can be constructed in a variety of shapes.
4. Sitting bench
Benches give you a way to have a seat and appreciate the tranquility of your outdoor living area. The StoneMakers concrete mix gives artisans the flexibility of building a bench in nearly any shape imaginable, so homeowners can have them custom made for a truly unique look.
5. Waterfalls and other backyard water features
Waterfalls add to the serenity of an outdoor living area, as do other water features. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, depending on the type of landscape on which they are constructed. Ponds are another popular water feature, and they normally are stocked with various forms of aquatic life, including both fish and plants.
All of these and more hardscape projects can be made quickly and inexpensively thanks to the marvel of StoneMakers concrete. Call us at (845) 283-8787 and we’ll tell you how we can put StoneMakers to work to build the backyard living area of your dreams.
Posted by James Snyder on Fri, May 27, 2011 @ 06:07 AM
A home is a sanctuary, and as such, the space surrounding your home should inspire the same kind of tranquility and warmth that you experience inside. A beautifully designed landscape, along with hardscape features such as waterfalls, walkways and the like will not only increase the value of your home, but also adds to its charm.
Traditionally, homeowners looking to incorporate a hardscape feature into their outdoor environment have relied on natural stone to enhance the look of various home beautification projects. And while stone can, indeed, play a pivotal role in the construction of spectacular outdoor home improvements, it comes with a significant cost to the homeowner. Plus, projects using natural stone can take what seems like forever to complete, disrupting your normal home activities for an extended period of time.
Natural Stone Alternative
But StoneMakers has developed an incredible product that mimics natural stone by using concrete and a proprietary concrete mix. Again, constructing a typical natural stone wall can be extremely expensive and take several weeks to complete. The StoneMakers process adds this proprietary mix to concrete that allows artisans to mold a wall or home beautification project just as if the concrete was clay. The result is a much faster completion time that can save homeowners a huge amount of money. Plus, a wall made with StoneMakers material will be more durable and require much less periodic maintenance. StoneMakers has been developing this unique mix for 25 years, so you know their products come with a very well established track record.
The StoneMakers method of working with concrete is not only structurally sound and affordable, as we’ve already mentioned, it is also aesthetically pleasing. Just about any form or shape you can imagine is possible with the product, and the color possibilities are nearly endless.
We are proud to be a licensed StoneMakers Dealer, and as such we are trained and certified to construct projects using their system, and bring your hardscape visions to a beautiful reality.
StoneMakers has established a new standard in both home improvement designs and innovation. Call us at (845) 283-8787 to learn more about how we can utilize the StoneMakers product to create the home beautification project of your dreams, not only at a price you never thought possible, but in a time frame you never thought was possible.
Posted by James Snyder on Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 05:57 AM
Concrete is the most-used man-made material in the world, powering a $35 billion industry in the United States. Nearly 60,000 miles of U.S. highways are paved with the material.
But normal concrete has some limitations for structural applications. It has relatively low tensile strength, so in residential use it is usually necessary to bolster typical concrete with steel bars in order to resist tensile forces, which can lead its breaking down.
StoneMakers concrete is 300 times stronger than typical concrete, and so it is a much more reliable material for use around your home. The ingredient used in StoneMakers products is a water reducer, and water significantly weakens concrete. So a StoneMakers patio, walkway, retaining wall or other hardscape project is much more solid than one that uses traditional concrete construction methods. The proprietary mix StoneMakers uses cures concrete at 7,000 to 10,000 PSI, making it incredibly durable. After as little as one day of curing, you probably wouldn’t be able to break it, even if you were using a 12-pound sledgehammer.
For a quarter of a century, StoneMakers has worked to replicate, in complexity, texture and hue, the feel and look of actual stonework. StoneMakers is known throughout the world as a superior outdoor hardscape specialist, providing not only an attractive, but also extremely cost-effective alternative to block, veneer and natural stone. StoneMakers products result in home beautification projects that are elegant, durable, reliable and very low maintenance. StoneMakers concrete not only passes the aesthetics test, it passes the common sense test as well.
Albert Group Landscaping is proud to feature StoneMakers concrete as a vital component of patios, retainer walls, waterfalls and many more of the projects we undertake. Since 2005, Albert Group Landscaping has performed a wide variety of projects for homeowners in a timely and professional manner. Give us a call at (845) 283-8787 and see what we can do to beautify your home.