Mediterranean Landscaping

Many homes in warm areas of the country were built with a Spanish Mediterranean design. Many people have begun exploring the Mediterranean style of landscape design, which goes well with any type of warm weather architecture, but especially Mediterranean construction. Mediterranean landscape design is know for, first of all, its lush vegetation. While some of these plants are only found in southern Europe, they will grow in some of our warm weather climates also. A yard designed after Mediterranean style should be full of plants. Another important factor is stone. Ancient cultures of the Mediterranean used stone, like travertine, to create walkways in their gardens.

A homeowner creating this style could make a straight pathway through the yard with travertine pavers, or use the travertine pavers to create a sitting area in the middle of a garden, with plants all around. Travertine was used by ancient civilizations to build timeless structures, and travertine pavers take that same timelessness and put it into a form that is easy to work with today. Finally, statues are a big part of Mediterranean style. The size and type are up to the designer to decide, but the combination of lush vegetation, natural stone, and sculptures or statues will help give the feel of the warm Mediterranean.

Travertine Pavers in a Mud Room

A mud room is an essential part to so many homes these days. For some homes, it is a connection to the outdoors. It is the place where a family can shake of all the dirt and heat from the outdoors, where kids can take off and store things like backpacks and boots. An effective mud room will be located just inside the entrance that family members use most. The floor of a mud room should be made of durable material, such as travertine pavers or tile. Used as tile, travertine can cover the walls, floor, and steps. Travertine pavers can also be mortared in as the floor of a mud room. Travertine is durable and skid resistant. It is a beautiful, natural stone, which will make the area visually pleasing. Once the mud room is covered with easy to clean and maintain materials, it can be filled with storage containers and cabinets. Coat racks, shoe holders, a mirror, and bins for things like hats and gloves will make the mud room complete. By using durable materials like travertine pavers and heavy duty rugs and storage bins, a mud room can add a lot of function to an entryway.

A Backyard Gazebo

A backyard gazebo is a perfect place for enjoying the beautiful view of a landscape. Gazebos can be a range of sizes, shapes, and designs, and can be tailored to fit the style of the homeowner and the yard. A gazebo can go anywhere in the yard, but should be placed in a location from which the best view can be seen. It is also helpful to have the gazebo in a location secluded from neighbors, to ensure privacy. A gazebo that is placed away from the house will need a way for people to get out to it, such as a walkway or path. Travertine pavers make excellent and natural materials for the path to the gazebo, and travertine pavers can be placed and mortared to make a beautiful walkway. Travertine pavers can also be spaced farther apart to create a stepping stone look. Being natural stone, travertine pavers are durable, yet beautiful, and can help anchor the gazebo to the rest of the landscape. This ensures that the homeowners will be able to walk on a clean path to the gazebo, and enjoy the view around them.

Create a Backyard Paradise with Travertine Pavers

We all want our yard to be a place where we can relax and enjoy our surroundings. Because of this, people invest a lot of time and effort into flowers, plants, and a design that reflects their style. Brick patios and wood decks are commonplace, but to really make a statement, owners are turning to higher quality, more interesting looking materials and plants to create the perfect space. Things that are out of the ordinary will really make a statement about the homeowner.

Travertine pavers are very durable, and yet they look elegant and timeless. They can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer, or by a professional, and being natural stone, they will withstand the test of time. They won’t need to be replaced because they were rained on and they won’t crack because of the weather.
A patio made of travertine pavers in the middle of the yard, surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers can create a feeling of calm and relaxation. Potted plants, a fountain, and maybe a statue, will make any backyard area full and rich, and feel like a tropical paradise.

Travertine Pavers Show a Homeowner’s Style

Travertine pavers are a very versatile building material. Besides being heavy duty and durable, these pavers come in different shades and sizes, and they can be used for a variety of purposes. They can also portray a range of styles and interests. For example, homeowners that use travertine pavers for a patio or fire pit will show that they are classy and like a bit of elegance in their design.

Travertine pavers that are used around a swimming pool show that the homeowner is smart and practical in their landscaping design, because these pavers are naturally skid resistant and stay cool even in the hot sun. On the other hand, travertine pavers can also be used to create a walkway around the house, or a path that leads through flowerbeds, and this might show a feeling of timeless beauty. There are many possibilities, and designers can incorporate travertine pavers into almost any landscape.

A Patio; the Symbol of an American Backyard

The patio is such a common feature to many homes that many of us take it for granted. We eat on it, we play on it, and we keep our lawn furniture on it. Those that live in warm climates may use their patio every day. Those that have to endure cold winters with snow will often spend their whole summer out on the patio, when the weather permits.

Patios can vary so much in size and design that they really speak volumes about their individual creator. A patio can be made of travertine pavers, bricks, coral rocks, or a variety of other materials. It can be full of furniture, or full of plants, or hardly filled at all.

A new trend is for patios to incorporate a fireplace. Sometimes it will be a moveable fire pit, other times people build the fireplace right into the patio out of coral rocks or cap rock. Tiki torches and lanterns are commonplace on patios, as are solar lights.  

Whatever the style, a patio can really improve a landscape. It is a common part of many yards, and the place where homeowners like to gather and relax.

Landscaping Increases the Value of a Home

These days many people are working to improve their home, especially if they are thinking of selling it in the near future. With home values plummeting and the real estate market at a standstill, most people are willing to do whatever they can to increase the value of their home.

One way to increase the value of a home and its curb appeal for potential buyers is to focus on the landscape. A good landscape includes well-maintained flower beds, lush lawn, and clean patio and walkways. But there is another feature that home buyers seem to always be looking for these days: a pool. While not everyone in America may want a pool in their backyard, it is often the selling point of a property. Pools can add so much beauty to a landscape if they are taken care of, and especially if flowers and plants are incorporated around them. By using natural materials to hardscape around the pool, such as travertine pavers, the area will be improved even more. Travertine pavers are made up of a classic stone that withstands the test of time and is perfect for pool areas. Travertine pavers are skid resistant and stay cool underfoot.

With a pool in place and a little work done around it, a landscape can improve the value of a home.

A Rich Landscape

How often don’t we wonder what it would be like to live in the shoes of the rich and famous? While we have to admit that not everything about their lives may be admirable, there are some things we might wish we could have. The fancy cars, the clothes, the houses with their beautiful landscaping - these are things we could live with.

For example, you can expect wealthy homeowners to have a crew of landscapers that take care of their lawn, design their flowerbeds, and weed their gardens. And while many of us won’t ever be living in a multi-million dollar home, we can incorporate some of the wealthy styles of the rich and famous to our homes. Travertine pavers are a very rich-looking material to build patios with, and coral rocks are just as beautiful and can easily be used to build a fireplace or border around a bed.

Many people are now incorporating things like glass mulch to create a touch of color and flair to their yard, and things like sculptures and topiaries can beautify any landscape. With a little bit of planning and the right resources, any landscape can begin to look like it belongs on the cover of a magazine!

Geology Plays a Part in Creating a Timeless Stone

Travertine is formed by geological processes, when water dissolves limestone and then deposits it as calcium carbonate. This usually occurs around mineral springs in various places around the world. Travertine can commonly be found in caves, as stalactites or stalagmites.

Because travertine is a naturally occurring stone, it can withstand the test of time. It is extremely durable, does not discolor, is naturally cool to the touch, and is non-skid. These qualities all make travertine pavers a popular building material for many different purposes. Pools, patios, and walkways can all be made from travertine pavers. Travertine tiles can cover walls and floors in a bathroom or kitchen.

Wherever it is used, travertine brings a feeling of calm, natural beauty. There is just something about a substance being created naturally over years and years that is appealing to many designers today. Unlike man-made stones and materials, the different textures and naturally occurring color patterns in travertine pavers are amazing.

Tropical Landscaping

It sure seems like folks in tropical climates like to landscape. Maybe it’s the beautiful weather of these tropical places, or maybe it’s the pride that homeowners in these areas have for their vast array of foliage, but it almost seems effortless to maintain a landscape in the tropics. It is fun to plant big, tropical plants that burst with beautiful flowers, and lawns can look so green and beautiful in this kind of climate.  

Some features that many tropical landscapes incorporate may be palm trees, lots of greenery, and big, bright flowers. But other things really help give that tropical feel, such as a big coral rocks waterfall, or a cap rock fountain. Fish can be used in ponds, as well as water plants. Hardscaping around these structures is important, and a professional look can be created by using pebbles or travertine pavers to finish off the area. Water features like these add both sound and smell to the sight of the landscape, and give a definite tropic feel.

Potted plants can also add a tropical feel to a backyard or patio. By using native plants that are lush and green, all areas of the yard can be brought to life. A bamboo fence can also add a great deal of aesthetics to the area.

With a little research and planning, it is possible to create a beautiful landscape that celebrates the tropics.
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Landscaping in today’s economy

Homeowners today might be caught in a slight predicament when it comes to tackling new outdoor projects.  Some people have dreams of what they want their property to look like, and all sorts of projects they would like to undertake.  The problem is that many homeowners today are pinched for money and even things like landscape projects are often put on the back burner for a better day.  Many people are wondering what projects they should work on and what can wait until the money is there.

Most would agree that it is important for a house to look well-kept and cared for.  Certainly anything that is in disrepair and an eyesore should be fixed to at least make it look better.  For example, an old cracked or stained walkway can be taken out and replaced by an inexpensive pebble walkway, or even a glass mulch path.  Other things, such as the paint on the house, can be touched up if there isn’t enough money to redo the entire thing.  Flower beds should be kept up and weed-free, and the grass should be maintained at a healthy level.

While it might not be necessary at a time of restricted funds to put in a brand new travertine patio with a cap rock fireplace, those people that take the time to come up with a plan should be able to keep their house looking pleasant, while budgeting and planning for these larger projects in the future.

Travertine Pavers

Travertine pavers have been increasing in popularity in recent years, although the use of this kind of stone has been going on for thousands of years. Historical structures, such as the Colosseum in Rome and a 1000 year old Burghausen castle in Europe are made out of travertine and have withstood the test of time.

In modern times, travertine has been used extensively for pool paving, building structures such as fireplaces and walkways, and tiling bathrooms and kitchens. The natural color and beauty of travertine makes it a timeless material that will continue to impress those that invest in it.

There are benefits to using travertine pavers, besides the great look it provides. Travertine stays cool to the touch, even in heat and sunlight. This makes it a perfect material for paving around an outdoor pool. It also is a non-skid surface, even when wet, which is important for safety around a pool.

Travertine is easy to install, and can usually be done by those with experience in laying regular pavers. Because travertine is a natural stone, it is made to uphold through time, and will not fade or scuff. It is also a great choice in a variety of climates, because it can withstand freezing and thawing without cracking.

Travertine can be cut to different sizes, and is usually offered as tile or pavers. Travertine pavers are thicker than tile, and are a good choice for paving outdoor areas. The extra thickness makes them stronger and allows them to be placed in many areas without mortar.

Landscape Architects

As you look to improve your yard and property, you might want to make it easy on yourself and hire a landscape architect. These licensed professionals can provide homeowners with great expertise when it comes to designing the perfect plan for their space.

After formal schooling and years of experience, a good landscape architect will find work easily at places such as public parks or golf courses, working in the actual design of the area. Many others own nurseries where they sell many different types of plants and spend their days helping customers plan out their yards. Still others work full-time at clients’ homes, designing their yards and coming up with a complete plan for landscaping.

It is possible to plan out your yard on your own, but a landscape architect will have a broad base of knowledge about things like what plants would look good together in a certain bed, or how to use things like brick, pebbles, marble or travertine pavers to create a walkway. These professionals might also suggest you try something you might not have considered, such as adding a cap rock waterfall, or a dry bed of recycled glass mulch. Landscape architects should know what things will work well in your area, and will know other things, such as coral rocks should only be used in very warm climates, or else they will crack.

You may be able to get this information on your own by doing your research, but a landscape architect will simplify the process for you.

Curb Appeal

For those that are looking to sell their home, or even just improve the value of their current home, one thing that can help is curb appeal. Homeowners that take the time to improve their yard and landscape, as well as the outside of their house, often find a nice return on their money. A well-kept yard and house will usually sell better than a run-down property.

Starting with the simple things, it doesn’t take much time or money to make sure the garden is free of weeds and looking healthy. Inspecting and, if necessary, replacing gutters and downspouts will improve the home, as well as installing a new front door. Planning out and installing lighting can make a yard beautiful at night. These things, while rather small, will make a big impression on those looking at the house from the curb.

Other improvements, such as painting the house and trim, will take more time and labor. If the homeowner is willing to take the time, or can hire help to do it, adding or rebuilding a patio made out of a nice stone like travertine pavers, or a fireplace out of coral rocks would add much to a home. A homeowner could also build a walkway leading to the flowerbeds, made out of colored pebbles or other stone.

One more thing that can help would be to take pictures of the yard and then use them to see what needs to be improved. Sometimes taking a step back helps us see things we tend to overlook.

Do It Yourself Landscape Projects

Many people today are trying to save money because of the current economy. For those that take pride in the way their yard looks, there are ways to go about maintaining a beautiful landscape without spending too much hard-earned money. One way is to do the work yourself. Countless websites and television shows give tips to complete certain projects that increase a house’s curb appeal. Investigate some of these, or check your local library for do it yourself books that will walk you through the process.

Be aware, that some projects will require more time and labor than others. Perhaps you will find it easy to enhance your area with some colored pebbles, or maybe some glass mulch will make a big difference with relatively little work. Other things, such as installing a patio with travertine pavers or making a cap rock planter, will be require you to have a carefully laid-out plan, a good eye for detail, and some knowledge about these types of materials. But after doing the research and finding the answers first, even beginners can take on and accomplish these projects.

Other things, such as designing the area and planning what plants and flowers will work best in certain areas, may be something that a professional could be consulted about, or you could ask at your local garden center. Once the plan is laid out and the work is done, more and more homeowners are now finding they can save money by maintaining their yard on their own.

One Stop Resource for Natural Stone

Larry's Cap Rock & Stone is a "one-stop" resource for all your natural stone needs.

We understand the dynamics of designing with stone. Experience and knowledge allow us to simplify the selection and fabrication process by effectively collaborating with architects, designers, builders and installation contractors. The results provide the most discerning client, the look they desire.

Our services include:
Stone / product research
Your specs call for rubble. And you aren’t sure what is or where to get it. Larry’s Cap Rock Inc. can help you distinguish the difference between rubble strips and coral rubble pieces so you accurately quote your job.

Sample submittals
Your client is discerning and requests samples to be included with your design plan. Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone will provide samples of any rock free of charge. We only ask that you pay shipping charges on anything that needs to be expedited.

Priority list, production and delivery schedules
Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone works diligently to provide you with realistic timelines and delivery schedules. Our sales people are committed to answering your questions and needs with honesty and candor about market conditions and weather events.

Factory/quarry liaison
Our business has been built on over 13 years of relationships with quarries throughout the United States and the world. We are committed to providing all clients with the widest variety of stone at the lowest prices.

Stone inspection/quality control
Quality control is a key element to our business. What many contractors don’t realize is that with any natural product, especially any sandstone you will have breakage. We work to minimize the amounts incurred by partnering with trusted quarries as well as by training our excavating staff on what we require. This is one of the areas that truly separate us from the pack.

Coordinating National and International Shipments
We have extensive experience coordinating loads throughout the United States and the Caribbean. The Port of Miami is 30 minutes to our North. As such we are familiar with all seaboard shipping companies and will work to get you the lowest estimate on any load leaving the United States. Those loads in the state of Florida are typically handled by our own trucks and are quoted on a case by case basis. On LTL shipments in the state of Florida, we use FedEx Freight. Call our office for up to the minute quotes as rates change monthly.

How to Install Coralina Tiles in 4 Easy Steps

Coralina tile provides a beautiful, long lasting wall that's easy to take care of and is almost impossible to mark or stain. You can install wall tiles literally any place you want to be able to enjoy their beauty, but the obvious locations are in outdoor kitchens (as backsplashes or countertops) and in bathrooms and showers. Although most people think a coralina wall is difficult to install, the reality is it's not beyond the range of a handy DIY'er who is willing to spend some time understanding the process and take his time installing the wall.

Here's what you'll need:
• Coralina tiles
• Cement board or green drywall
• Galvanized cement board screws
• Fiberglass tape
• Level
• Pencil
• Tile adhesive
• Notched trowel
• Tile cutter (rented)
• Tile nippers
• Grout
• Rubber float
• Sponge
• Buckets of clear water
• Utility knife
• Silicon caulk

Preparing the Wall
Coralina tiles can be installed directly on drywall, plaster, or if they are in moist areas, onto "green" drywall or even better cement backer board. Green drywall is specifically designed for use in bathrooms. It's as easy (or as hard) to work with as ordinary drywall, but it's specially formulated to resist moisture. Its best use is in a kitchen or bathroom where the environment will get moist, but not where it will actually be exposed to water.

Cement backer board is actually made from a fiberglass mesh and Portland cement, so moisture won't bother it at all. It is available in 1/2 and 5/8-inch thick sheets (similar to drywall), and is usually sold in 32 or 36-inch wide panels 5 or 8 feet long. Cement board is cut the same way as ordinary drywall - score it with a utility knife and then snap it at the line. It's installed by screwing it to the underlying studs; place the screws about 6 inches apart and use special galvanized screws that won't rust. The seams are finished by taping with special fiberglass seaming tape. Cement board is the best thing to use in a shower installation and even makes sense if you are installing a backsplash close to a sink.

Laying Out Your Tile Pattern
Find the center of your wall and use a carpenter's level to mark intersecting plumb (vertical) and level (horizontal) lines. Dry fit the first row of coralina tiles starting at the center and working your way to the ends of the wall. You want the coralina tiles at both row ends to be approximately the same size, so you may have to adjust your vertical reference line to make them match up.

Installing the Tile
Starting in the center, on one side of your reference line, apply a coat of tile setting adhesive to an area about 3' by 3' square. Take care not to cover your lines. Spread the adhesive with the smooth side of your notched trowel and then go over it with the notched side to create ridges in the adhesive.

Firmly press each coralina tile in place and give it a slight twisting motion to be sure it makes good contact with the adhesive. As you work your way along, place tile spacers on all four sides of each tile, so your grout lines will be consistent. Take your time and work on the wall in three square foot sections.

At the end of a row or around fixtures, you'll probably need to cut some tiles. A rented ceramic tile cutter is the easiest way to make your straight cuts. Using this tool, score the cut line on a full tile and then snap the tile along the scribed line. Smooth the edge with 80 grit sandpaper (the edge of a cut coralina tile is very sharp).

Cutting irregular shaped tiles or around obstructions will require using "tile nippers." These are a heavy duty hand tool that you use to "nip" or bite off little pieces of a tile, one at a time, until you have cut the needed shape.

Grouting
After the coralina tiles have all been installed and the adhesive has set up (probably overnight), it's time to grout the tiles. Depending on the width of your grout lines, you will need to choose either sanded or unsanded grout. If the spaces between the tiles are bigger than 1/8", use sanded grout. (Sanded grout actually contains sand particles that help make the grout joint stronger.)

Remove all your tile spacers and mix the grout following manufacturer's directions (it should end up with a peanut butter-like consistency). If you're grouting in a bathroom or kitchen area, be sure your grout includes a waterproofing agent.
Using a rubber float, apply the grout at a 45-degree angle to the grout lines.
Press firmly; you want to get grout all the way down to the bottom of the seams. Work in your 3' x 3' areas to be sure you get uniform coverage of all the grout lines. Wipe off any excess grout with a wet sponge and clear water.

7 Artsy Ways to Make Your Landscaping Stand Out Using Natural Stones

You say that your landscaping is complete? Then show me your stones! That's right, landscaping stones. The artful application of landscaping stone could enhance the natural elements that you've already employed -- namely, your plants. And the aesthetic and functional use of stone can even raise the value of your property. You tend to your trees and lawn, and you lavish your vegetable plants with attention. Why, your posies even get to rest their pretty little heads on something we dub "flower beds." With all this attention to the animate denizens of the landscape, don't forget their inanimate counterparts, which include soil and stone. Without proper soil, of course, plants will not grow well; no amount of artistry will make up for a flawed canvas. And without the skillful arrangement of stone and other hardscape components, the most artistic of landscapes would lack a frame to set it off tastefully.

For many, a boulder at a driveway entrance, with their name/address painted on it or chiseled into it, will suffice. But the possibilities are limited only by the time you wish to spend. Or by the money you are willing to pay professionals to do it for you. For some hardscape projects, you will need to combine your landscaping stone with mortar -- or perhaps use concrete, brick, or tile, instead of stone. These and other variations must be considered when taking on one of the most popular hardscape projects -- building a patio. Whether composed of concrete, stone, or some other hardscape material, patios are a wonderful way to tie the indoors with the outdoors, thereby uniting house and landscape effectively and creating outdoor living spaces. In regions plagued by drought, or for homeowners who want a low-maintenance landscape, an interesting alternative to lawns is the extended patio, which is simply an enlarged patio that takes up space where lawn grass would otherwise be planted.

The use of stone includes, but is not limited to:

• Patio floors/walls

• Paths, including garden stepping stone walkways

• Columns to support car ports

• Outbuildings made entirely of stone

• Foundations for porches and decks

• Accent pieces for water gardens and, of course, rock gardens

• Stone walls

How to build a dry creek bed river rocks

Do you have a slope on your property down which excess water flows, causing erosion on the slope and/or a landscape drainage problem below? Homeowners often get rid of such pooling by building dry creek beds. Besides the practical aspect of improving landscape drainage, dry creek beds can also be attractive. In fact, some folks with absolutely no landscape drainage problems build dry creek beds just because they like the look of them!

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 4 hours/10 feet

Here's How:

1. First plan the course that the dry creek bed will take down the slope. Mark the 2 edges of that course with landscaper's paint. A meandering course looks more natural than a straight course. How high up the slope should you start? In some cases, there's little choice. For instance, if a landscape drainage pipe that's already in place is dumping all that excess water onto your property, your decision is clear-cut: begin the dry creek bed by grading the land right under that pipe....

2. But in cases where you have more leeway (especially for dry creek beds that are purely decorative), attempt to disguise the "headwaters" of the dry creek bed by making it bend out from behind a large boulder or some plant material. When the source of a stream is mysterious, viewers have to use their imagination. And what we construct with our hands is rarely as pleasing as what we construct with our minds!

3. We've talked about how high up the slope to start. But what about where to finish down below? Some homeowners redirect excess water toward the street. But it's best to contemplate a worst-case scenario when dealing with public property, because that means dealing with the government -- which can be a real stickler when it comes to issues like redirecting excess water. So check with your local public works department first. If their response is positive, get something in writing that says so....

4. What if you're not allowed to redirect the water to the street? Unless you already have a landscape drainage system in place (allowing you to route the runoff into that system), you have 2 main options. You could channel the water to a location on your land (but make sure it's your land, not a neighbor's!) where it's less troublesome and where, if the soil is sandy enough, it can percolate harmlessly down into the ground. A second option is to build a pond and funnel the water into it.

5. So much for the course of a dry creek bed. What about its depth and width? These dimensions don't have to conform to any rule exactly. Look at dry creek beds in nature: they're obviously not all of the same depth and width. But there's a general rule you can follow: dry creek beds tend to be wider than they are deep, which is good news for you -- less digging! A 2:1 ratio is about right, meaning you could make the dry creek bed 3' wide x 1.5' deep, for example.

6. With the planning done, now it's time for the first real work in the project: the digging. It's easy to build dry creek beds for landscape drainage, provided that the soil you'll be excavating isn't strewn with roots and rocks. Those with difficult soil to excavate can take solace in the fact that excavating the dry creek bed will be the toughest part of the project!

7. Take the soil that you're excavating and mound it up along the sides of your dry creek bed, as you go. This will reduce the amount of digging that you have to do, since you'll be lowering the base and raising the sides in one motion. Tamp down this excavated soil with a tamping tool.

8. After the trench for the dry creek bed has been excavated, lay down landscape fabric along its whole length. You want the fabric to cover the mounds of earth on both sides, as well as the trench. Hold the fabric in place using fabric pins or garden staples. Now for the part of the project that will be visible to viewer's: the rock....

9. For projects intended to improve landscape drainage, all rocks need to be mortared into place to form a solid channel that will carry water away (for ornamental dry creek beds, this is optional -- and probably undesirable). Apply mortar only to short sections of the fabric at a time, since mortar dries quickly. Use at least 2" of mortar. Lay the rocks in the mortar, then repeat the process with the next short section. It's easier to work from the top of the slope, down.

10. You can use rock of various shapes and sizes, but many homeowners prefer to select more round rocks ("river rocks") than flat ones. Round rocks conjure up an image of the water that has been gushing over them, knocking them about and causing them to become round over time.

11. Place small river rocks in the center of the trench; the water will flow over these.

12. Place your larger rocks on the sides of the dry creek bed, where they'll help channel the water and where they'll have the most visual impact. Save any boulders for the biggest bends in your stream's course and to disguise the "headwaters" of the dry creek bed (as discussed in Step 2 above).

Tips:

After you build dry creek beds, you can dress them up a bit. Plants will soften the edges, for instance. If you're more ambitious, you can install a landscape bridge over the dry creek bed and plant tall ornamental grasses to serve as "bookends" at both entrances to the landscape bridge. Adorn the landscape bridge with hanging container gardens to create a knockout focal point for your yard.

What You Need:

• Landscaper's paint

• Landscape fabric

• Fabric pins or garden staples

• River rocks and boulders

• Mortar

• Wheelbarrow for mixing the mortar

• Tamping tool

• Shovel

How to Select The Best Travertine For Your Next Project

Do your research! Ask questions of the experts the salespeople, local paver installers such as Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone, owners of travertine pavers, and other sources. They can help you make an informed purchase. Knowledge is the best means of achieving the results you want.

Consider where you wish to install your travertine pavers; what kind of conditions will it need to be able to withstand? Foot traffic and moisture levels should be the most obvious considerations, as well as any spillage or staining problems that may arise from your young children or pets.

With the location in mind, think about the issue of finish. This should help you to choose the kind of finish that would be the most suitable. Tumbled or brushed travertine pavers may answer the slip-resistance question. But honed or polished may meet your visual requirements. Weigh the pros and cons, always balancing visuals with practicality.

Choose an appropriate sealer. This is an important step regardless of which type of travertine paver you choose. Consult the experts your local retailers of stone products can help with this on which products are best for your particular choice in travertine paver. As always, follow the instructions on any the labels of any products you do buy to make sure you get the results you are after.

When you finally get your travertine, expect there to be slight color variances. Despite the fact that there has already been a selection process for color variation, travertine tile is still a natural product with varying degree of mineral deposits from tile to tile. But you can use this to your advantage. Open all boxes and try a dry run using all of the tiles in your batch. Be creative!
A travertine paver installation links your interior or exterior with a architectural tradition that goes back thousands of years, as well a linking it to an ongoing tradition likely to last for thousands more!

Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone offers travertine tile and pavers. They offer subtle yet rich tones to any interior or exterior, as well as a level of long-lasting durability which makes it a reliable material as well as a decorative one.