I’ve been working with stone in Maine for over ten years. As the sole owner and operator of my company, I have the opportunity to see every job through from start to finish. Stonework is a difficult art, and in my opinion it’s not worth the labor if it’s not done right.
Stone is permanent. I’m driven to masonry because I know that what I build will outlive me by a long shot. A stone wall should have an attractive facade, but it should also have internal durability. I can’t count how many walls I’ve seen fall apart because there were too many gaps inside or the stone relied on mortar to hold together.
I practice “dry stone” or mortarless masonry for the aesthetic appeal, but also because it lasts longer. A common misconception holds that if a wall doesn’t have mortar it can’t be as strong. The main factor here, especially in a cold climate like Maine, is drainage. Frozen water gets trapped in mortared seams and pushes the joints apart, whereas a dry stone wall allows water to drain freely. Dry stone walls have a slight flexibility that allows them to conform to foundation shifting and settling without damage; because the sides slope inward, ground movement can actually lock the structure more tightly together. On the other hand, mortared walls tend to crack and come apart in sections.
For walkways and patios I use large slabs of flat stone, generally bluestone or granite. The more weight the stone has the more it tends to stay put. Small bricks and pavers are susceptible to settling and heaving. Stones can be fit together extremely tight for a formal look, or more loosely assembled to allow room for moss, thyme or grass to fill the joints.
But enough of my stone-preaching. I invite you to take a look through the photo gallery. My hope is that the work will speak for itself.
-Ethan Stebbins