What does a stone mason do?
A stone mason cuts and prepares stone to build or repair stone structures and surfaces. This includes structures and surfaces in domestic homes and historical buildings, headstones, statues and monuments. Stone masons work with various materials, including natural stones like granite and man-made materials like composite quartz. Stone masons are responsible for helping to repair and maintain stonework. They have other duties, including:
- Designing, fabricating and installing stonework
- Dressing stone and building stone walls
- Creating and repairing monuments, headstones and statues
- Interpreting technical drawings and working with different tools and materials
- Working alongside architects, historians and conservationists
Can a stone mason help with memorial restoration?
Our team of stone masons at Coulon Stone have been working on memorial restoration throughout their careers and since our conception in 1990. We have worked on various projects, including a memorial for the Ghurkas opened by Joanna Lumley in Folkestone, church restoration projects across The Chilterns and the restoration of the Henry 7th Arch at Windsor Castle. If you have a memorial that needs restoring, contact Coulon Stone today.
How should I clean my stone?
How you clean your stone will depend on the type of natural stone you have chosen for your home.
Granite, marble, slate and limestone – Clean it with a gentle surface cleaner, ideally PH neutral. Use a soft cloth when cleaning, do not use a scourer pad which will scratch the surface and remove the sealer. Avoid bleaches and other harsh cleaning chemicals that can lift the seal’s layers from your slate.
Composite Quartz – Because composite quartz is made from resin, it’s non-porous and doesn’t need to be sealed. Clean it with a gentle surface cleaner, ideally PH neutral. Use a soft cloth when cleaning, do not use a scourer pad which could scratch the surface. Avoid bleaches and other harsh cleaning chemicals which can damage the surface.
Which stone is the easiest to maintain?
When you install natural stone in your property, you will want to maintain its beauty for as long as possible. Some types of stone are hardwearing and therefore easier to clean than others. For example, granite is very hard wearing and, once sealed, can stand the test of time, whereas marble is a much softer stone and requires more care. If you are looking for a stone that is easy to maintain and long-lasting, why not consider granite?
Get in touch and we will let you know which stone is most suitable for your project.
How do you power your workshop?
Coulon Stone has invested in a solar panel system to power the factory. A whopping 90 solar panels have been installed onto our factory roof, meaning that, on average, 75% of our electricity will be renewable. Any extra power the panels create will be put back into the national grid. This is exciting news as it massively decreases our environmental impact and will save some money.
The new water recycling system we have installed holds around 4000 litres of water and uses a flocculent system, causing the dust and sediment to settle on the bottom of the tank so they can be collected and removed from the water. Stone Masonry tools use a lot of water, and it’s crucial to Coulon Stone that we minimise our environmental impact.
Can I commission you to do bespoke work?
Whether domestic or commercial, your stone project should be bespoke to you. Coulon Stone loves working on unique projects that benefit our clients most. If you would like examples of some of the individual projects we have worked on, take a look at our gallery page.
Do you have a showroom I can visit?
Our showroom is a great place to start if you are looking for stone inspiration. We stock a great range of natural stones, from granite to marble to limestone, as well as man-made materials like composite quartz. If you need samples to take home, we can organise some to take away with you.
If you know what you are looking for but can’t seem to find it in our showroom, we are sure one of our suppliers will have it available. We recommend visiting one of our local suppliers where you can pick out your slab. They will then reserve that stone for you and deliver it to us. Once your stone from our suppliers has been delivered to us, our workshop will complete fabrication.
If you are planning on visiting our showroom, give us a call ahead of time, so we can ensure a team member is available to support you and so that we can manage the number of visitors in line with COVID safety recommendations.
Should I be sealing my natural stone?
If you have chosen a natural stone for your property, we recommend sealing it to protect it from hot pans, foot traffic, and debris. Natural stone must be sealed to decrease the chances of staining and scratching. Your stone mason should ensure that their product is correctly sealed before fitting; however, it’s always worth double-checking yourself. You can then reseal your natural stone surface every 1-2 years to stop the staining. We recommend Dry Treat’s Stain Proof Plus; you can find a list of their stockists here.
What stone type is best for outdoor paving?
To get the best from your outdoor space, you need to choose a paving stone that will bring your area to life and offer a practical solution for gatherings and parties. We recommend selecting a stone such as granite or man-made composite quartz. Either will be perfectly up for the job! Your outdoor stone will need to stand up to the heavy foot traffic and adverse weather in England!
Where are you based?
Coulon Stone is conveniently based in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, just outside High Wycombe and less than a mile from junction 5 of the M40. Close to Beaconsfield, Marlow, Henley and Oxford, we are involved in many projects across the region. Your trusted stone mason team are happy to work across the Chilterns, London, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and beyond.