Thursday, September 24, 2015

After a crop of reports on various landscaping issues over the summer, it's time to dig back into the subject of hardscaping - the placement of elements such as fences, water features, walkways, paving, and lighting in a planned outdoor area.

Fall, with its cooler temperatures and long dry days, can be perfect for a planned hardscaping project. And if you're looking for a unique material that has both indoor and outdoor hardscaping applications, look into limestone.

Ellen Jenkins at Gardenista.com believes that for hardscaping projects, homeowners should consider the unique natural feel and sense of permanence that limestone can bring.

While pricy, Jenkins considers limestone remarkably versatile, both inside and outside of the house. And, she says, limestone can easily be used to create a more affordable patio or terrace.

As dense as marble, limestone is known as a heavy, hard-wearing stone with a lightly textured surface which makes it an excellent material for patios. It's also known for its insulating properties; it's unlikely to get too cold in the winter or too hot for bare feet in the summer.

Many types of limestone can be used for a patio or terrace, she said, and then repeated for other exterior features, such as walls, borders and trim.

Expect to pay between $16 per square foot installed, and upwards of $40 per square foot at the top end, Jenkins says. And remember, mortar-set patios require a 3/4-inch-thick stone with prices ranging from $6 to $15 per square foot, while for sand-set patios, a 2-inch-thick stone is recommended, which is more expensive at $10 to $25 per square foot.

The US General Services Administration (gsa.gov) says to consider weather exposure because limestone subjected to exterior exposures deteriorates due to weathering or the natural effects of wind, rain, and thermal changes.

While the GSA affirms that limestone is extremely durable, it does absorb water and is highly reactive when exposed to acids or even mildly acidic rain water, suffering substantial deterioration. The most common effect of weathering and erosion, however, is loss of precise detail.

For more detailed information on limestone for use in home projects, click here. 

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