Friday, February 27, 2009
Landscape Architects
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.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Curb Appeal
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.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Going Green
1. Organic fertilizer: You may like the results that come with fertilized plants and flowers, but synthetic fertilizer can be harmful to both the environment and people. Instead, choose a good organic fertilizer that uses things such as alfalfa meal.
2. Glass mulch: In some areas of your yard, glass mulch can add great texture and color. This glass mulch is made from pieces of recycled glass that have been tumbled until they are smooth. Glass mulch is growing in popularity because of the positive effects it has on the environment, as well as the modern look it portrays.
3. Compost: A compost pile is an easy way to recycle old food and plant matter to make a natural fertilizer. Find a location away from the traffic of your yard to add a compost pile.
4. Rain barrel: Set up rain barrels to collect and store rain water as it falls. Often, they can be placed under a rain spout to catch all that falls off of the roof. Rain water is great for watering outdoor plants.
5. Xeriscape: In some cases “going green” can actually mean giving up the green space. If plants are hard to grow in areas of your yard, rather than use a lot of water and resources to get them to grow, think of replacing them with rocks, pebbles, or glass mulch that are low maintenance.
Do It Yourself Landscape Projects
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.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Xeriscaping
It is important to plan out your xeriscaped lawn or have a professional do it for you before you begin. You will need to take into account the different needs you have for your property, such as play areas or vegetable gardens.
You can expect a xeriscaped lawn to have some grassy areas that are smaller and better maintained than a whole property full of grass. Choose the best area for your yard to sustain grass and put the turf there.
An irrigation system that is properly installed can conserve water, and be a part of xeriscaping. Drip systems work well and get the water more precisely to the areas you want watered. Run the system in the morning or at night to prevent evaporation of the water.
One of the main components to a xeriscaped project is the use of rocks or pebbles. Areas where things are hard to grow, like under a tree or in a high traffic area, can be completely covered with pebbles. Pebbles now come in a variety of sizes and colors to meet the needs of any landscaper. Pebbles require very little maintenance and will help cut down on water usage. Overall, pebbles are a great addition to a xeriscaped yard.
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Coral Castle
The Coral Castle, which now sits in Homestead, Florida, is said to be made from tons and tons of coral rocks. Much controversy surrounds the castle, especially the construction of it, because one man, Edward Leedskalnin, supposedly built it by himself. Rumor has it that much of his work was done at night in order to avoid spectators, and he constructed it while using only primitive tools. When asked how he could accomplish this he wouldn’t tell anyone how he assembled it. 1,200 tons of stones make up the castle, including one 30 ton stone, and two 25 foot tall stones. With precision in his measurements and carvings, Edward was able to create structures with rocks that few others can claim to do, even with modern tools.
While it is called the Coral Castle, most of the stones are not actually coral rocks, but rather oolite limestone, which is a sedimentary rock that contains fossil shells and some coral. These types of “coral rocks” are found in southeastern Florida, sometimes abundantly just under the earth’s surface. The castle is typical of other structures made out of limestone rock with coral, or those made from real coral rocks in that it is extremely strong. The Coral Castle even survived a direct hit by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, even when buildings around it were destroyed. Today the castle is a tourist attraction that brings people in every year to marvel at its workmanship.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Glass Mulch Becoming Popular in Landscaping
A new trend has made its way into the landscape arena, and Larry’s Cap Rock and Stone is proud to be a part of it. Recycled glass mulch is now a hit for decorating flowerbeds or gardens, and it is being featured by various designers every day.
The glass mulch is made from recycled glass shards that have been tumbled to make the edges smooth. They come in different colors, which have made them very popular among those looking for a little something extra for their landscaping.
With a little bit of planning and preparation, glass mulch can be practical for protecting plants and to cut down on dust, as well as provide a beautiful landscape. The colored mulch would be a great addition to complement simple plants and would add a bit of vibrancy among plain-colored foliage.
Virtually maintenance free, the glass mulch will only need to occasionally be blown clear of leaves and debris to maintain it. It is probably best used in an area without things like pine needles dropping or things that might become stuck among the glass. But overall, many projects this year across the country will be turned into a work of art with glass mulch. This type of decorating can be a welcome change to plain wood mulch that is so commonly used. With so many different possibilities of different color combinations and textures, glass mulch is bound to be seen more throughout the country soon.
Pebbles for Every Landscaping Need
If you are planting foliage in your yard or garden, you will want to cover the ground under your plants and flowers in order to protect the plants, keep moisture in, and provide a finished look. Pebbles are a perfect material for a variety of planting styles. Ranging in color from earth tones to colorful stones, pebbles are a very versatile cover material. With a range of sizes also available, pebbles can meet the needs of different landscapers with diverse planting projects.
Also a great material for rock beds and ponds, pebbles work great in wet areas to provide a textured surface. They are often used to line the bed of a pond and under plants surrounding ponds. These rocks show their colors more vividly when wet, which also makes them appealing for ponds and waterfalls.
Decorative rock beds are a great solution for drab areas of the yard, or ones that are difficult to grow plants in. Using pebbles as the base material is a great solution for areas such as these. Pebbles also are favorable in these areas of the yard because they don’t decay, they won’t blow away in the wind, and they won’t attract insects like typical mulch.
For those with an extra artistic touch, pebbles can be used in outdoor decorative pieces, such as mosaics and stepping stones. The variety of colors of pebbles that are sold can allow for a little bit of expression on the part of a designer or landscaper to create an outdoor masterpiece.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Recycled glass pebbles in stock for your design projects

Largest selection of recycled glass in South Florida. Recycled glass pebbles in stock for your design projects. Recycled architectural glass in a variety of colors and sizes.Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone is going green. Our recycled glass mulch is available in 4 dazzling colors. Recycled glass is LEED certified. It is also available at the most competitive pricing in the United States. Recycled glass mulch provides a maintenance free modern landscape. Use it as an exposed aggregate or for decorative
ground cover.
The right combination of recycled glass rocks, plants, and careful planning can create a beautiful glass garden for your yard, business property, or even an indoor environment. Our proprietary production process produces recycled glass rocks that are lightly tumbled and safe to handle with bare hands. These recycled glass products also qualify for LEED credits. Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone offers architectural recycled glass at the most competitive prices in the USA.
Recycled architectural glass comes in a large variety of colors, sizes, and textures. We offer the sizes of recycled glass most suitable a variety of landscaping purposes. Recycled glass qualifies for LEED credits. LEED was created to define green building by establishing a common standard of
measurement.
Friday, June 13, 2008
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.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Introduction to Beach Pebbles

Mexican Beach - Black

Mexican Beach - Red Polished

Polished Black
PEBBLES ADD COLOR & TEXTURE TO YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
Pebbles in native colors from the oceans and the
seasides of Mexico and Asia are naturally
smoothed by the movement of water.
Note:
Larry’s Cap Rock and Stone mesh-backed pebble
tiles are available in 12 x 12 inch squares for
flooring and veneers.
FINISHES - Smooth, polished and seaside
APPLICATIONS - Landscaping ground cover,
dry garden beds, southwestern and Japanese
gardens, water features, building veneer,
exposed concrete aggregate, swimming pool
decks and patios
SPECIFICATIONS
Stone Sizes Unit
Mexican Pebbles 0.5-1 or 1-2 inches 40 lb. bag
2-3 or 3-5 inches 40 lb. bag
5-8 inches 40 lb. bag
Mexican Confetti 0.13-0.25 inch 40 lb. bag
Polished Pebbles 0.5-1.5 inches 40 lb. bag
1.5-2.5 inches 40 lb. bag
Friday, May 30, 2008
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.
Friday, May 23, 2008
7 Artsy Ways to Make Your Landscaping Stand Out Using Natural Stones

• Patio floors/walls
Friday, May 16, 2008
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
• Landscaper's paint
Friday, May 9, 2008
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.
Friday, May 2, 2008
We offer a large selection of beach pebbles for your next pond or garden project. Amazing and inspiring Mexican beach pebbles



We offer a large selection of beach pebbles for your next pond or garden project. Amazing and inspiring Mexican beach pebbles, pebble tile, and river pebbles to compliment your home.
Our collection of beach pebbles is one of the largest in the Southeast. Whether you are looking for black Mexican beach pebbles, earth toned pebbles or vibrant color pebbles, Larry's Cap Rock and Stone has a product that is right for your project.
Beach pebbles provide a finished look for your landscape project and offer protection for foliage. Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone offers a wide variety of beach pebbles, gravels, and pebble tile both from domestic and imported sources. Our beach pebbles typically range from ½ inch to 5 inch. However, we are happy to special order sizes not reflected in our catalog. Our signature line transforms any landscape into a visual indulgence.
• Most competitive beach pebble prices in southeast United States
• Most diverse selection of beach pebbles available in Florida
• First Quality: We don’t stock commercial quality.
• Safety: Natural stone is non-skid even when wet
• Environmentally friendly through water use reduction
• Beach pebbles available for immediate shipment
• Family owned & operated with integrity & honesty
Please note that due to variations in PC monitors it is best to make your selection based on actual samples or after conversing with one of our skilled sales professionals about your color specification needs.
All beach pebbles come in a variety of sizes ranging from 1/2 inch to 7 inches. Please specify the sizes you need when ordering.


