When many people hear the word “masonry”, they may think of Victorian era stonework. A modern-day mason has plenty of relevant work in both the domestic and commercial arenas. Whether you are building a home, updating a business or are just generally curious, here is an overview of modern mason work as it relates to purpose, cost and application.
Masons often find themselves involved with custom residential projects. Flip through any home lifestyle magazine and you may find spreads of beautifully decorated stone living rooms, ornate stone fireplaces, and majestic stone patios. Elegant stonework is trend that seems timeless. Adding stonework to a custom design offers more than cosmetic benefits. A stone room can keep an area insulated for better climate control. Additionally, stone is more resilient than wood-based material. You’ll find that homes are more likely to include brick, concrete and stone in areas that are susceptible to severe weather and tornados.
The cost of quality masonry can vary depending on the scope and purpose of the project. Building an outdoor stone fireplace will cost much less than installing an indoor fireplace to an existing room because of the extra labor involved, for example. On the same hand, an ornately sculpted outdoor fireplace may cost more than one that is plainly decorated.
Installing stone to an existing structure can help with a building’s resiliency and energy efficiency. Though it is extremely rare for builders to suggest building an extra layer of stone around an existing structure, builders often add additional rooms made partially or entirely of stone. The addition of a room can benefit the insulting ability of an entire structure.
Whether a mason is tasked with designing a cosmetic structure or playing a key role the building phase of new structure, modern masons usually have their work cut out for them. Masonry is an art that can be applied various facets of modern needs and architecture.
