Maintaining Your Outdoor Brick and Stone

You’ve spent a lot of time and money installing your brick façade, and your hard work has paid off. Using stone and brick is one of the most beautiful ways to decorate the outside of your home, but like everything else, even they need care and attention every once in a while.

Weathering of brick and stone façade will happen over time, most often the problem being moss growth. While some people enjoy the look of moss on the outside of their houses, others prefer a clean and polished look. Aside from aesthetics, too much moss growth on a stone or brick pathway can be dangerous for you and your family. If you don’t want moss and weeds to become an everyday staple of your outdoor décor, follow these steps to make sure your stone and brick stay sparkling. 

Before you start, you will need a few items. Make sure you have:

Latex Gloves

Bucket

Oxygen bleach (Ex: OxiClean, Ajax Oxygen Bleach or Oxy-Boost)

Warm water

Push broom

Handheld brush

Hose

1.    Put your latex gloves on before you begin cleaning the brick to ensure your hands will be protected from start to finish.

2.    Mix one cup of the oxygen bleach with one gallon of warm water. Using your gloved hands, dissolve the powder in the water by swishing it around for a minute or two, making sure the ingredients are completely combined.

3.    Pour your homemade cleaning solution directly onto the brick or stone, covering all areas, even ones that aren’t affected by moss or weeds. Allow the solution to sit for about 20 minutes. Once the product has been soaked up, take your push broom and brush and diligently scrub the stone and brick.

4.    Once the desired amount of greenery has been removed, rinse the remaining solution off with a hose. If growth remains, repeat the process as desired. To maintain your brick façade and keep it looking like new, use this process on a regular basis, depending on how fast the moss grows in your area and the time of year.

With regular care and maintenance of your outdoor stone and brick, your home and landscaping will look as beautiful as the day you had it installed. With just a little effort, regular attention to this part of your home will have long lasting results over the years.

Stone Fountains 101

Stone fountains are beautiful and can serve as an interesting touch in your yard or even inside your home. When it comes to choosing exactly what you want, however, the possibilities can be overwhelming. Even choosing where to put your fountain can be a debate. Don’t fret; we’re here to simplify the process and give you some helpful starter information.

Design

The first decision many people will make when adding a stone fountain to their home is choosing the design. While there are no real limits to the design of a fountain, typically there are two main options: abstract and traditional. An abstract stone may not have any designated shape or structure, but rather looks simply like a rock plucked from nature with a water feature built into it. An abstract stone fountain can bring a bit of edge and unique style to your décor. A more traditional style may be what most people think of when they hear the word ‘fountain’. These could be shaped like birdbaths or even have multiple levels for water to cascade down serenely. 

Outdoor Fountains

Once you’ve determined what you want your fountain to look like, it’s time to decide where to put it. If you want your fountain to be outside, it’s important to keep three factors in mind: appearance, durability and weight. You want your fountain to last as long as possible and be able to withstand weathering that will happen over time. Natural stone can be a great choice for an outdoor fountain, seeing as how it’s naturally found outside. Who knew?

Indoor Fountains

You can also choose to bring a bit of mature indoors, and put your fountain inside your home. There are more options when it comes to the material of this home accessory since it won’t have to stand up to the extreme Arizona weather. The sky is the limit when it comes to the type of indoor fountain. They can run along the floor for contemporary and sophisticated feel, down the walls, and even arrange small ones the middle of coffee or dining room tables. 

To discover all the different types of stone you can work with to create a fountain masterpiece for your home, go to www.arzionastone.com and see everything we have to offer. We can’t wait to help you fall even more in love with your home!

Add Flair to Your Stone Landscaping

It’s no secret that the Valley of the Sun gets hot, hot, HOT in the summer. Keeping cool and maintaining your home during these months can get expensive quickly. Stone landscaping is a pretty and practical way for Arizonans to keep their yards looking spectacular without drowning in the monthly water bill. 

When it comes to this popular option, however, there are many nontraditional uses for stone that people tend not to think of. We’ve got a few ideas when it comes to mixing up your desert décor.

1.       Turn your backyard into nature’s playground. By dispersing large, odd shaped rocks around the designated area, you’ll create an organic play space for your children. It’ll save money on playground equipment that will clutter the yard, while also adding to your beautiful landscape. To top it off, kids love climbing rocks. As always, keep safety in mind by ensuring the stones are not jagged or too tall. 

      Create the illusion that your backyard is one area made up of many ‘rooms’. Bricks and smaller stones are a pretty way to set up designated areas in your yard, almost making it a second home. By separating the swimming or BBQ area from the lounging area, you’re giving your backyard a clean, organized look.

Finally, take the time to enjoy the work you’ve put into your yard. Use larger stones as makeshift benches and chairs to really emphasize a ‘desert landscape’ theme. Add a few outdoor pillows for extra comfort and to give your seating area a more sophisticated look. 

The next time you decide to update your landscaping, keep these fun and innovative uses in mind. Visit our website at http://www.arizonastone.com/ to learn more about adding some stone touches to your home. We can’t wait to help you design the yard of your dreams!  

Outdoor Kitchen Maintenance Tips

See our outdoor kitchen display at our
Phoenix/Mesa showroom:
4502 E. Virginia St.
Mesa, AZ 85215
Call 480-641-1042

You've put time, money, and effort into your outdoor kitchen. Or, maybe you're planning a kitchen now. The important thing is that you know how to protect and preserve your outdoor cooking space, here are some tips to help extend the life and enjoyability of your cooking oasis:

• Do a light cleaning and maintenance on the grill every time you cook on it, this will help in delaying times between serious cleaning jobs, but...
  
• Sometimes the grill just has to be deep cleaned, don't be afraid to take it apart a couple times a year and really scrub it all out. Not only with this keep your grill functioning well, it will also give you an opportunity to check all of your hoses and connections, this is important for your safety and the well-being of your grill.
  
• Know how to care for your surfaces, if you have stainless steel remember to clean with soapy water, not harsh chemicals and go with the grain, this will keep it looking shiny and new for years to come. If you have granite or other natural stones, you really won't have to worry much about getting the stains out of your stone, most of the time the elements will do this for you.
  
• If you know you won't be using your outdoor space for a length of time, get the tarp out and cover it up. This will extend the life of your appliances, especially in the case of the unforeseen, you never know when a monsoon or snowstorm (depending on where you live) might hit. The last thing you want to do is watch your investment get ruined by inclement weather.
  
• Finally, as almost any outdoor cook will tell you, enjoy your space, you put time, effort and money into it, the most important thing is to enjoy your hard work. So don't forget to grab a steak, slap it on the grill, sit back and enjoy the great outdoors.