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Author: Stonehunter

Oyster Travertine for Eloquent Outdoor Designs

In outdoor design, the choice of materials plays a crucial role in shaping the ambiance and functionality of a space. Oyster travertine stands out as a timeless and versatile choice among the myriad options available. It is admired for its understated elegance and practical benefits. From patios and pathways to pool decks and outdoor kitchens, it lends a touch of natural sophistication to outdoor environments, enriching them with its subtle beauty and enduring charm.

Stays Cool in the Sun

Travertine pavers and coping remain cool under the sweltering sun, making it an ideal choice for hot climates, pool decks, and patios. Concrete, brick pavers, and PA/NY Bluestone absorb and retain heat. Travertine stays pleasantly cool to the touch, ensuring comfort and enjoyment for barefoot strolls or leisurely outdoor gatherings. This heat-resistant quality makes oyster travertine particularly well-suited for pool decks and patios providing a welcoming retreat from the heat of the day.

Freeze-Thaw Climates

Moreover, the travertine’s versatility extends beyond its aesthetic appeal to its practical functional benefits for outdoor living. Travertine is well-equipped to withstand the rigors of outdoor use, from heavy foot traffic to exposure to the elements. Its durable composition ensures long-lasting performance, maintaining its beauty and integrity even in high-traffic areas or harsh freeze-thaw climates.

Oyster Travertine has Warm and Cool Tones

Another advantage is its compatibility with a wide range of design palettes, making it a versatile choice for outdoor projects. Create a rustic retreat in a woodland setting or a sleek oasis in a contemporary urban environment. It harmonizes effortlessly with its surroundings, enhancing the visual appeal of any outdoor space. Its neutral color palette complements warm and cool tones, allowing for endless creative possibilities in outdoor design.

Oyster Travertine has Minimal Maintenance

Oyster travertine offers ease of maintenance requiring minimal care to preserve its natural beauty. With regular sweeping and occasional washing, travertine retains its luster and allure for years, providing enduring beauty for outdoor living.

In conclusion, the subtle elegance of oyster travertine makes it a premier choice for outdoor spaces seeking to balance beauty and functionality. From its heat-resistant properties to its compatibility with diverse design schemes, oyster travertine pavers & tile embody the timeless allure of natural stone, enriching outdoor and indoor environments with its understated sophistication. Whether gracing a patio, pathway, pool deck, pool house, or kitchen, oyster travertine is a testament to nature’s artistry, offering a harmonious blend of form and function that enhances the allure of outdoor living.

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Limestone: the better alternative to Bluestone

SEAHAZE SEA LIMESTONE

SEAHAZE SEA (grey) and SEAHAZE SAND (beige) Limestone large format pavers in 2cm/3cm/4cm/5cm/6cm thickness for even the most industrial applications.

Watch the video! 
Gothicstone’s African Collection of Limestone, Travertine and Marble SLABS, PAVERS, COPING, TREADS, and DRIVEWAY SYSTEM.
Gothicstone was the 1st company in the US to market travertine pavers, from Turkey, nationwide.
In addition to our long-term strong partnerships in Turkey, dating back to the 1990’s, we’ve excited to announce our new portfolio of materials we are producing in Africa.
This is in response to the market demands and our customers’ requests for new and exciting materials, as we have been known in the industry, to embrace “cutting edge” materials, technologies and fashion forward aesthetics.   We are consultants, we are at the quarries, around the world, and embrace……….
Our specialties

  • We specialize in large format stone for a more sleek and modern look
  • Now we’re providing more cutting-edge offerings of limestone and marble.
  • Full range of marbles and limestones, focusing primarily on exterior applications but provide interior, as well.
  • We specialize in consulting on projects for value engineering
  • We have engineering materials experts on staff where we offer gratis consulting on projects re: installation and other design consulting to ensure the most successful project.

Customer Benefits-Value

  • Fashion forward, innovative products.
  • We specialize in large format stone.
  • Upgrade to Bluestone ie: SEAHAZE SEA for driveway pavers, curbstones, patios, pool decks, and coping. 
  • Surprisingly, low prices.
  • A long history of consulting, value-engineering on projects.
  • We produce all the piece parts for your project – pavers, slabs, treads, block treads, coping, veneer/cladding, tiles, and driveway pavers, ensuring that we have the perfect solution for every aspect of your project.

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The Power of Geocells, Geotextiles, and Geogrids to Bulletproof Paver Installations

Paver installations are an excellent way to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of outdoor spaces. However, ensuring the longevity and stability of these installations can be challenging, especially in areas prone to soil erosion, shifting, or settling. In the quest for a robust and enduring paver foundation, advanced technologies such as geocells, geotextiles, and geogrids have emerged as indispensable tools. Explore the transformative impact of these technologies in fortifying paver installations such as driveways, patios, pool decks, walkways, and other paver areas.

Geocells: Reinforcing the Foundation

Geocells are also known as cellular confinement systems. They are 3-D honeycomb-like structures made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or other durable materials. Geocells create a reinforced grid that distributes loads and prevents lateral movement when filled with gravel.

– Load Distribution: Geocells excel in distributing the weight of pavers evenly, minimizing the risk of uneven settling and surface deformations.

– Erosion Control: Geocells act as a barrier against soil erosion, ensuring that the foundation remains intact over time, even in areas with high water flow or heavy rainfall.

– Versatility: Geocells are adaptable to various soil types and terrains. They are an ideal choice for stabilizing the base of paver installations.

Geotextiles: Enhancing Stability and Drainage

Made from synthetic materials like polyester or polypropylene, Geotextiles are permeable fabrics. Placed beneath the paver base, geotextiles serve multiple purposes, including weed suppression, separation of soil layers, and improved water drainage.

– Weed Prevention: Geotextiles act as a protective barrier, preventing weeds from penetrating the paver base and compromising its integrity.

– Separation of Soil Layers: By preventing the mixing of different soil layers, geotextiles enhance the stability of the paver foundation, reducing the risk of settling.

– Water Drainage: Geotextiles allow water to drain through the paver base. Preventing water buildup that could lead to soil erosion or the destabilization of the foundation is critical.

Geogrids: Strengthening Structural Integrity

Geogrids are geosynthetic materials with a grid-like structure, commonly made from polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene. They provide additional tensile strength and stability installed in the paver base.

– Load Distribution: Geogrids reinforce the paver base, distributing loads more effectively and reducing the risk of surface deformation.

– Improved Load-Bearing Capacity: By enhancing the structural integrity of the base, geogrids increase the load-bearing capacity of the paver installation, allowing it to withstand heavier loads.

– Resistance to Soil Movements: Geogrids resist soil movements and lateral pressure. This helps to maintain the stability of the paver foundation over time.

Conclusion:

The integration of advanced technologies such as geocells, geotextiles, and geogrids represents a groundbreaking approach to fortifying paver installations. By addressing familiar challenges such as soil erosion, settling, and uneven loads, these technologies contribute to the creation of durable and long-lasting outdoor spaces. As the demand for resilient infrastructure continues to grow, the adoption of these innovative solutions will likely become a standard practice in the construction and landscaping industries, ensuring the longevity and stability of paver installations for years to come.

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8 Stunning Selections of Grey Natural Stone

Grey natural stone has gained immense popularity in both exterior and interior design projects. Its timeless elegance, durability, and versatility make it an excellent choice for various applications, from outdoor facades, pool decks, and driveways to indoor countertops and flooring. In this article, we’ll explore eight stunning selections of Gothicstone’s grey natural stone that can transform your spaces into works of art.

Grey Travertine

Grey Travertine is a timeless classic known for its durability, beauty, and versatility. It can be used in a variety of applications, both indoors and outdoors. This type of natural stone is resistant to freeze-thaw weather and does not get hot in direct sunlight which makes it a perfect choice for pool decks, coping, patios, and walkways. Its neutral grey and silver colors work well with a wide range of design styles. 

Grey Limestone

Grey limestone offers a soft, elegant look that works well in a variety of design styles. Its neutral color makes it suitable for both interior and exterior applications. Limestone can be honed to a smooth finish for indoor use, such as kitchen countertops/flooring, or a bush hammer or brushed surface for outdoor projects like pool decks, patios, or driveways. It can add a touch of sophistication to any space. 

Basalt

Basalt is a dark grey to black volcanic rock known for its durability and natural beauty. Subsequently, it is an ideal choice for outdoor projects, especially in areas with high traffic. Basalt’s consistent color and texture make it perfect for driveways, pathways, and exterior cladding. Its contemporary appearance and strength make it a favored choice for modern architectural designs.

Grey Marble

Marble, although traditionally associated with luxury, is available in various shades of grey, offering a more subtle and contemporary aesthetic. Grey marble is often used for interior applications such as flooring and countertops BUT it is perfectly suitable for exterior pool decks, coping, treads, and outside kitchen applications in any climate including freeze-thaw areas. Marble’s natural veining and sophisticated look create an air of elegance in any space.

Grey Natural Stone Conclusion

Natural grey stone, in its various forms, can transform both interior and exterior spaces into stunning works of art. Whether you prefer the timeless beauty of grey travertine or limestone, the rustic charm of Basalt, or the sophistication of grey marble, these stone selections offer endless design possibilities. The choice of stone should be based on your project’s specific requirements, including style, location, and durability. Regardless of your selection, grey natural stone will undoubtedly add elegance and functionality to your projects, creating spaces that stand the test of time.  Gothicstone offers free consulting and value engineering for any size project.  Contact us today!

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Noce Travertine for Unforgettable Hardscape Projects

Step into a realm of enduring beauty and sophisticated charm with our featured product spotlight on Noce Travertines. These exquisite stones, characterized by warm, earthy tones, are the perfect choice for elevating your exterior hardscape projects. Whether you’re an architect planning a backyard oasis or a contractor seeking top-tier products for your clients, Noce Travertine promises to bring timeless elegance to every outdoor space.

 Noce Travertine: A Symphony of Warm Tones

  1. Rich Color Palette:
    • Noce Travertine highlights a rich palette of warm browns, tans, and creams, creating a captivating visual tapestry. This versatile color range effortlessly complements a variety of aesthetics and design styles, from classic to contemporary.
  2. Natural Variation:
    • The inherent beauty of this Travertine lies in its natural variation. Each stone boasts unique patterns and veining, ensuring that every hardscape project is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. This distinctive quality adds character and authenticity to any outdoor space.
  3. Unmatched Versatility:
    •  From patios, walkways, and wall veneers to pool surrounds, copings, and driveways, Travertine is an incredibly versatile choice for exterior hardscape projects. Its warm hues create a welcoming atmosphere, making it ideal for both residential and commercial settings.

Why Choose Travertine?

    1. Durability in Every Detail:
      • Engineered by nature and perfected over time, Travertine is renowned for its durability. Its robust structure ensures resilience against the elements, making it an ideal choice for enduring hardscape projects that stand the test of time.
    2. Easy Maintenance:
      • Enjoy the beauty of Travertine with minimal maintenance. Its natural resistance to wear and tear simplifies upkeep, allowing you to relish the stunning aesthetics of your hardscape without the stress of constant maintenance.

    Distributors and Architects Love Working with Gothicstone Travertine

    1. Extensive Stock Availability:
      • Our Travertine collections are readily available and special requirements can be produced in record time, ensuring that you have the stock you need for projects of any scale. Whether you’re a contractor with multiple clients or a designer embarking on a new project, our products are available to meet your demands.
    2. Customization Opportunities:
      • Elevate your exterior space with custom creations using Travertine. Its natural variation and versatility make it an excellent choice for intricate designs, patterns, and layouts (including water-jet cutting capability). We can produce any size or thickness for projects or stock and have (12) surface finish textures to enhance the aesthetics.

    Conclusion: Elevate Your Outdoor Experience with Gothicstone Noce

    In conclusion, Noce Travertine is more than just a stone; it’s an invitation to elevate your outdoor aesthetics. With its warm tones, natural variation, and enduring charm, Travertine stands as a testament to the beauty that only nature can create. If you’re envisioning a cozy patio, a serene garden path, or a magnificent pool deck and outdoor entertainment space, Noce Travertine is the key to turning your hardscape dreams into an outdoor living reality.

    For inquiries, quotes, or to explore our extensive Travertine collection, please contact us. Let the journey to a more elegant and inviting outdoor space begin today.

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    Designing with Surface Finishes: Elevating Aesthetics and Functionality

    Introduction

    In the realm of interior and exterior design, surface finishes play a pivotal role in enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. Whether you’re designing a home, commercial space, or outdoor environment, the choice of surface treatments can dramatically impact the overall look and feel of a space. In this blog, we’ll explore the art and science of designing with surface finishes, highlighting how these choices can transform ordinary surfaces into works of art. 

    The Significance of Surface Finishes

    Encompassing a wide range of treatments applied to materials such as wood, stone, metal, concrete, and ceramics, serving several essential purposes:

    1. Enhancing Aesthetics: Surface finishes can add texture, color, and pattern to surfaces, elevating their visual appeal. They create visual interest and contribute to the overall design style.
    2. Improving Safety: Some finishes, like non-slip coatings on floors, a bush hammer, or sandblasted stone finish, enhance safety by preventing slips and falls. These finishes are especially crucial in commercial and public spaces.  
    3. Adding Functionality: Surface finishes can also enhance functionality by making surfaces easier to clean, more resistant to scratches, or more suitable for specific tasks.

    Popular Surface Finishes

    1. Honed Finishes: Honed surfaces have a matte or satin appearance with a smooth texture. They provide a subtle elegance and are often chosen for countertops, flooring, and bathrooms.
    2. Textured Finishes: Textured finishes add depth and character to surfaces. They can range from subtle patterns to dramatic textures, such as Etruscan Texturetm, providing visual interest and tactile appeal. Textured finishes are popular in wall coverings, pavers, tiles, and exterior cladding.
    3. Anti-Slip Finishes: These finishes prioritize safety, especially in wet or high-traffic areas. They incorporate slip-resistant materials or textures to reduce the risk of accidents. A bush hammer surface finish is ideal for residential or commercial step treads.

    Design Considerations

    When designing with surface finishes, consider the following factors:

    1. Design Style: The choice of finish should align with the overall design style of the space, whether it’s modern-contemporary, traditional, industrial, or eclectic.
    2. Functionality: Determine the intended use of the surface. High-traffic areas may require more durable and easy-to-clean finishes, outdoor step treads will require a more textured finish for safety purposes, and decorative elements, such as accent walls, can benefit from unique textures and patterns.
    3. Maintenance: Consider the level of maintenance required for the chosen finish. Some finishes may need regular cleaning and sealing, while others are virtually maintenance-free. For example, we don’t recommend a bush-hammered surface for interior flooring because it is difficult to clean inside.  Outside, it can easily be hosed off.
    4. Color and Material Compatibility: Ensure that the finish complements the color palette and material selection in the design. A harmonious combination enhances the overall aesthetic. When a natural stone surface is bush-hammered or sandblasted, the stone becomes lighter in color. 

    Conclusion

    Designing with surface finishes is a multifaceted endeavor that blends aesthetics, functionality, and practicality. These finishes have the power to elevate the look and feel of interior and exterior spaces, making them more inviting, safe, and durable.

    Whether you opt for polished elegance, natural authenticity, or textured character, surface finishes offer a wide array of design possibilities. By carefully considering the style, functionality, maintenance, lighting, and material compatibility, you can harness the transformative potential of surface finishes to create spaces that are both visually captivating and highly functional.

    Gothicstone Surface Finishes
    Chart – suggested finishes for the various landscape applications
    Cream travertine mini split face building facade veneer
    Split Face

    Travertine Tile Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between travertine, limestone, and marble?

    Limestone is the youngest of all these stones. Limestone is a sedimentary stone usually found in ocean beds. Typically, limestone is not interesting, however, most of the buildings around the world (i.e.: Washington, DC, Empire State Building) have been built with sedimentary limestone. It is the most common building material in the world. Travertine is a type of “morphed” limestone, but it is created from Artesian wells which means lime has been deposited by water. Travertine is an excellent use for any indoor or outdoor area because it never gets hot (no metal content in the stone), it is twice the strength of concrete and is non-slippery. Travertine is durable for any application both commercial and residential – it is about 50 million years old. Marble, on the other hand, is about 100 million years old and is perfect for the same applications as Travertine. Since marble is older, it typically will be “veinier” and less “wild” than the travertines.

    Continue reading

    TERRAZZO PAVERS

    Introducing Terrazzo pavers to our product line offering CUSTOM DECOS and sandblasted LOGOS which can be specified for any size project and to accommodate any size budget.

    This is NOT “poured in place” Terrazzo…. which is quite common, on elementary and high school floors back in the day and big in institutional construction implementation. Terrazzo materials are available for commercial, institutional, and residential projects.

    Finishes, Custom Decos and Logos

    ADA-compliant products are also available in a multitude of colors and formats. Standard surface finishes are polished, sandblasted, and honed. Any design can be submitted. Below are some of our popular “stock” options.

    Examples of our Terrazzo Pavers

    A LARGE COLOR selection is available other than what is shown below.

    GOTHICSTONE PROVIDES FREE VALUE-ADDED CONSULTING SERVICES

    CONTACT US for a quote and/or to discuss our Terrazzo Pavers

    Reference: Terrazzo Wikipedia

    SALE: Grey Limestone Pavers and Tile in stock!

    SUMMER 2023 SALE

    SEAHAZE SEAtm Grey Limestone Pavers-TileTreads-Coping

    • SEAHAZE SEAtm Limestone 18x36x2cm, $3.99 /SF
    • SEAHAZE SEAtm Limestone Treads-Coping, 12”x48x5cm, $13.00/SF
    • SEAHAZE SEAtm Limestone Treads-Coping, 16”x48x5cm, $14.00/SF

    In stock and ready to pick up at our Bridgeport, PA warehouse or we can arrange delivery. Limited availability while supplies last.

    Also, Special pricing on ALL project orders placed before August 15. Delivery 8-10 weeks.

    Contact Us for a quote or to discuss your project.

    See our LIMESTONE COLORS.

    Everyone Loves Bluestone

    But not all are created equal!

    Gothicstone SEAHAZE SEAtm is a Bluestone quarried in the Atlas Mountains of northern Morocco. Several other countries quarry Bluestone, like Belgium, Germany, France, Vietnam, China, and the USA. By comparison, the notable difference between PA/NY Bluestone and SEAHAZE SEAtm is that SEAHAZE SEAtm Bluestone is characterized as a limestone whereas the PA/NY Bluestone is characterized as a sandstone. And, typically, limestone stays cooler than sandstones.

    8 Reasons to choose Gothicstone SEAHAZE SEAtm Limestone for your bluestone pavers.

    The Technical Differences

    1. Limestones typically stay cooler than sandstones. Therefore, an additional benefit to using SEAHAZE SEAtm Bluestone over the PA/NY option for copings, pool decks, or any outdoor hardscape areas.
    2. PA and NY Bluestones are quarried from sandstone deposits. And commonly suffer from chipping, delamination, and flaking due to the way the deposit is formed in striated sedimentary layers.  The striations (layers) do not commonly occur in limestone deposits.  For this reason, the SEAHAZE SEAtm limestone is easier to work with and will retain its natural beauty without the delamination issues that can be quite common with the PA and NY Bluestones.
    3. Due to many of the advantageous technical characteristics of limestone plus a more exacting manufacturing process, SEAHAZE SEAtm Limestone is often less expensive to implement compared to Bluestone originating from PA and NY.
    4. These Limestone pavers are greater than 5,000 PSI compressive strength. They can be used in most industrial applications.

    The Aesthetic Differences

    1. We produce extra-large format pavers which are available according to your specifications. Example sizes are 18×36, 30×30, 24×48, 48×48, and varying thicknesses according to your project needs (2cm/3cm/4cm/5cm/6cm/7cm, etc.). We work with you to determine the best thickness and surface finishes for the best technical and aesthetic balance in your hardscape design.
    2. These limestone pavers are cut beautifully and are processed with more precision and accuracy than the typical PA and NY Bluestone processing plants can produce. The resulting aesthetic is the ability to “butt install” the pavers or tile without extra-large grout joints.
    3. All SEAHAZE SEAtm products are available for your patio, pool deck, driveway, interior stone flooring, and general building projects are pavers, steppingstones (extra-large), slabs for countertops and wall caps, step treads, block treads, coping, veneers & cladding, tile and driveway pavers or cobblestones.
    4. Finishes varieties: Suregrip Moleskintm – a mechanically sandblasted surface; Ancient Etruscan Texturetm – bush hammered with a mechanically sandblasted secondary finish applied; Tumbled; Honed; Bush Hammer – mimics the ancient art of point chiseling/texturing the surface of the stone.   A great combination of textural visual aesthetic and tactile interest without being too aggressive, and yet it significantly raises the coefficient of friction (for those who have that concern); Micro Bush Hammer – a finer more delicate version of the above. 

     

    Contact us for your free project value engineering consultation.

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