ARTICLES:Stonemasonry
Stonemasonry has been around for a long time creating structures, buildings, and sculptures and requires a lot of skill. Notice that all of the old churches, cathedrals, and ancient monuments were done with stonemasonry. It is not the type of job you would pick up a hammer and just begin thinking you know what you're doing. If in any case you don't know what you're doing then get your idea or plan together and call a stonemason near you.
A stonemason is a person who works with masonry materials and stone. Stonemasons will prepare and set materials used in building or repairing stone structures, walls or monuments. Stonemasons can also create projects like retaining walls, water features, fireplaces, stairways, barbecues, feature walls and chimneys. Some of the materials include marble, hard and soft stone, concrete blocks or slabs.
There are a lot of jobs a stonemason will go through besides laying materials. They give estimates on work orders by taking measurements of the job, reading the blue prints or work orders. Another job they do is cut and shape the masonry materials using the required hand or power tool. They will also cut and polish granite when it is used in construction. A few more things they do are: lay granite or paving or marble floor tiles, repair stone facades (which is a side of a building made out of stone; usually the front) and repair stone work or old or heritage buildings.
When hiring a stonemason, they should be qualified and certain states will require them to have a license. Your best bet is to make sure the professional you choose has the right insurances on the project if it is pretty big. Deffinitley make sure you both agree on a price for the job before they begin if you don't want any problems down the line. You also might want to check out some examples of their previous work to ensure you that they know what it is they are doing.
© 2008 BYHOMENGARDEN