Monday, May 18, 2009

Coral Rocks Add Texture to Landscape

Coral rocks are made up of ancient rock that is found throughout the world.  This type of building material is oolitic limestone, or “egg stone”, which is known for its texture.  Oolite is a sedimentary rock that consists of many small holes.  This type of rock was formed over time when particles floating in the ocean became coated with calcium carbonate and fell to the ocean floor.  After many years, the area that was once covered with water became land; leaving the coral rock compacted under the soil.

Coral rocks are mined in the southern tip of Florida, using environmentally safe practices.  After the rock is removed, the land is reclaimed and is used for farming.  Once the rocks are mined, they are cut to different sizes for building materials and landscape supplies.

The coral rocks are known for their use in Floridian architecture.  Often called “old Florida” style, many structures can be built with coral rocks including houses, garden walls, patios, and walkways.  The texture in this type of building material makes it very popular among designers.  Each piece is unique, with different pores, colors, and sometimes fossils found in different sections.

Another advantage to using coral rocks is the variety of sizes it comes in.  It can be found in boulders, rocks, and different size flagging and tile.  For any landscape project, coral rock can be the material that adds interest and texture to the construction

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