We work with all kinds of stone. From indigenous to imported materials, each has its own unique properties. We can source or price out materials for any kind of look you can envision. 

Most stone work on the West coast is either full bed (3-5” in thickness and requires structural support) or stone veneer (1” thick decorative covering for exterior/interior walls, lightweight so no structural support is needed). Veneer is especially good for renovations and interior fireplaces.

Why use real stone instead of faux stone veneers? Real stone is a superior product – it's stronger than concrete, more resistant to freezing, absorbs less water, doesn't fade and requires less maintenance. The cost may be the same or more in the short term, but over the long term it's actually less expensive because it doesn't wear. Real stone can also be cut, acid or power washed without losing colour or changing consistency. Plus it's the real thing. Every stone is unique.

Real stone is also more sustainable – it's a green building material (LEED certified) – and if it's indigenous it has a low carbon footprint.

These are the most common types of stone used in the lower mainland in recent years:

Basalt

Basalt is a dark coloured igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of lava flow. It's the most popular stone used in the Whistler area.

Brohm stone is a naturally tumbled basalt that ranges from soft grey to brown to hints of red. Native only to Squamish.

Bluestone

Bluestone is a sedimentary rock that is formed when sediment settles in lakes, streams and oceans. It gets compacted by pressure from overlaying deposits and solidifies by minerals percolating through the porous spaces between the sand grains. Native to Pennsylvania.

GRANITE

Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible with the unaided eye. It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth’s surface. Granite is composed mainly of quartz and  feldspar with minor amounts of mica, amphiboles and other minerals.   This mineral composition usually gives granite a red, pink, gray or white color with dark mineral grains visible throughout the rock.

LIMESTONE

Limestone is a sedimentary rock made from crystal forms of calcium carbonate. Most limestone is composed of skeletal fragments from marine organisms and fine sediment, so is often light in colour – white, tan or grey. It was used in ancient times by the Greeks and Egyptians.

Quartzite

Quartzite is originally sandstone, converted through heating and pressure. It's usually white to grey but can also be different shades from the iron oxide. Local quartzite is from the Kootenay area of BC.

RECLAIMED BRICK

Reclaimed brick is from historic buildings 80-150 years old. Aged mortar is chiseled off each brick, cleaned and reinstalled. It gives the building an authentic heritage feel that cannot be matched by new products. 

River Rock

River rock is just what it sounds like – it's indigenous river-washed stone. Tends mainly to be granite which has been rolled through creek beds during high river volume and glacier movement. We've found some of the best local river rock near Pemberton.

Feel free to talk to us about the stone you envision for your project.