Inspiration for a small timeless backyard tile patio remodel in Philadelphia with a fire pit and no cover

Example of a classic patio design in Austin

The rear of the house this back patio was raised and constructed out of travertine stone. Small, but functional outdoor kitchen over-looking the clients farmland.

Patio - traditional patio idea in Austin

Back travertine patio with mortared stone outdoor kitchen.
Example of a huge classic backyard stone full sun patio kitchen design in Minneapolis with no cover

Poynter Landscape Flagstone Patio
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless concrete patio remodel in St Louis

Curve steps providing borders also
Patio - mid-sized traditional backyard concrete paver patio idea in Portland with a roof extension

Elegant patio photo in Austin

Example of a large classic backyard stamped concrete patio design in Portland with no cover

Patio - traditional patio idea in Austin

Curve steps providing borders also
Example of a mid-sized classic backyard concrete paver patio design in Portland with a roof extension

Kansas City Brick & Masonry is the craft of shaping rough pieces of rock into accurate geometrical shapes, at times simple, but some of considerable complexity, and then arranging the resulting stones, often together with mortar, to form structures. Quarrymen split veins, or sheets of rock, and extract the resulting blocks of stone from the ground. Sawyers cut these rough blocks into cuboids, to required size with diamond-tipped saws. The resulting block if ordered for a specific component is known as sawn six sides (SSS). Banker masons are workshop based, and specialize in working the stones into the shapes required by a building's design, this set out on templets and a bed mould. They can produce anything from stones with simple chamfers to tracery windows, detailed mouldings and the more classical architectural building masonry. When working a stone from a sawn block, the mason ensures that the stone is bedded in the right way, so the finished work sits in the building in the same orientation as it was formed on the ground. Occasionally though some stones need to be orientated correctly for the application; this includes voussoirs, jambs, coping sand cornice. The basic tools, methods and skills of the banker mason have existed as a trade for thousands of years. Carvers cross the line from craft to art, and use their artistic ability to carve stone into foliage, figures, animals or abstract designs. Fixer masons specialize in the fixing of stones onto buildings, using lifting tackle, and traditional lime mortars and grouts. Sometimes modern cements, mastics and epoxy resins are used, usually on specialist applications such as stone cladding. Metal fixings, from simple dowels and cramps to specialised single application fixings, are also used. The precise tolerances necessary make this a highly skilled job. Memorial masons or monumental masons carve gravestones and inscriptions. The modern stonemason undergoes comprehensive training, both in the classroom and in the working environment. Hands-on skill is complemented by intimate knowledge of each stone type, its application and best uses, and how to work and fix each stone in place. The mason may be skilled and competent to carry out one or all of the various branches of stonemasonry. In some areas the trend is towards specialization, in other areas towards adaptability.

Elegant patio photo in Austin

Example of a classic patio design in Austin

Patio - traditional patio idea in Austin

Huge elegant stone back porch photo in Orlando with a roof extension

Photo Credits: Brian Vanden Brink
Large beach style backyard stone patio photo in Boston with no cover

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.
Large trendy stone patio photo in DC Metro with no cover

A beautiful piece of Ebel oversized flagstone was used for the fire pit cap. It was cut to shape and hand dressed for a natural rock faced edge. This backyard can be viewed from the house through the screened back deck seen in this picture. It is visible and can be viewed from a second story deck as well.