Pavers from Arizona Stone

At Arizona Stone, we work with a number of companies to provide our customers with the best around. When you're looking for new pavers, we're proud to say that our product comes from these companies:

Belgard Pavers


All Belgard materials backed by lifetime warranty when installed under ICPI guidelines. They provide unique online tools for design and estimates, including Belgarddesignpro.com. The Belgard Environmental Collection provides an attractive, environmentally friendly alternative to typical pavers, so you know you'll be getting something unique and sophisticated. 

Not only is Belgard proud of their product, but their service as well. Belgard University provides continuing education for contractors, designers & dealers alike.

Pavestone

Pavestone Company provides the quality that sets the standard for its competitors and industry. The depth of selection in shape, color and texture, continue to place Pavestone as the leader of the industry.  

A timeless paving stone with an impressionistic embossed surface profile the Plaza Stone series provides an array of stone shape options.  Available in many colors, choose Plaza Stone in standard or Heritage Series finish to deliver unlimited design possibilities. 

Monarch Stone 


All Monarch Stone products are reproductions of European street stones and pavers, the most authentic in the world. Using natural pigments, each product has a unique patina of age with color that permeates throughout the stone. Their product is versatile & suitable for any interior or exterior use including patios and driveway.

How to Clean Natural Stone Shower Walls

Natural stone can be a beautiful choice for your shower, and you can maintain that brand-new sparkling look for years if you keep it clean on a regular basis. People often think that showers stay relatively clean, because, well, that’s the place we get clean ourselves. 

 

However, this isn’t the case. Showers that don’t get cleaned regularly can build up soap scum, mildew, and develop hard water and mineral stains. If you haven’t cleaned your shower in a while (or at all), we’ve got some tips that will get rid of the gross stuff, and that will keep your shower clean will no effort every day at all.

Before you start any type of cleaning with chemicals, make sure you are wearing rubber gloves and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. While it’s unlikely that you’ll ruin your clothing, it’s best that you don’t wear anything fancy or that can’t be replaced. Now you’re ready to start.

If you have an excessive build up of soap scum in your shower, don’t fool yourself into thinking you can just wipe it off with a sponge. Use a natural cleaning solution that won’t ruin the stone and spray it all over the soap scum. Use a plastic squeegee to wipe the dirty areas clean. 

If the soap scum is stubborn and won’t come off, it can help to use some ammonia on the stone to lift the dirt. Mix ½ cup of ammonia with one gallon of warm water. Carefully spray the solution onto the stubborn soap scum and wipe it off with a rag or microfiber cloth. 

Soap scum isn’t the only cleaning issue when it comes to the shower area. Because hot water is constantly spraying around the area, condensation and moisture often build up, creating mold and mildew spores.

Spray a good quality mildew remover around your shower and leave the product to sit for about an hour. This will allow the solution to sink into the mildew and really work it away from the stone. Then simply rinse the wall using the shower head.

You can also remove mildew and mold from your shower using a degreaser. Make a mixture of 1 part degreaser and 10 parts hot water. Scrub the solution onto the affected areas and rinse. 

Once you’ve gotten rid of all the strenuous cleaning, it’s time to finish the rest of your shower. You can buy an everyday natural stone cleaner at any home improvement or multi-purpose store. It’s important not to skimp on these cleaning solutions, as a cheap one can ruin the finish on natural stone. 

Even if you buy a high end cleaner, it’s a good idea to test the product in a small corner of your shower if it’s one you’ve never used before. Apply with anything you feel like, whether it’s a cloth, a spray bottle, or a scrub brush. After letting it sit and removing it, if your stone doesn’t have any reaction, you should be good to use it on a regular basis around the whole shower area.

How to Choose Stone Tiles for Your Pool Area

Summers in Arizona can be brutally hot, and most people deal with the heat by taking a swim in their pool. As the hottest time of the year approaches, homeowners all over the Valley of the Sun are having backyard pools either installed for the first time, or renovated to be just like new.

One of the most important parts of this project is deciding what the area surrounding your pool will be paved with. Stone is great option for many reasons, but the decision making does not stop there.

The first thing you need to do when choosing stone tiles for your pool area is to establish a budget for your project. The last thing you want is to fall in love with a product you cannot afford. Fortunately, thanks to the development of less expensive products made to look high end, you can achieve almost any kind of look you want for your pool area without breaking the bank.

After you decide how much money you want to spend on your pool area stone, narrow down your options by finding a style that you like. Do you want a sleek, sophisticated look? Or does a more family-friendly natural design appeal to you? This area will most likely get a lot of traffic and attention from guests, so make sure you really love what you choose, and do not settle with a style you are not happy with!

Both stone slabs and pavers have gained popularity over the past few years for pool areas. Stone slabs tend to be more fluid throughout the space that they are laid on, and many absorb excessive heat, which is great for the Arizona summer. Pavers, on the other hand, come in a vast variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Since they are smaller than stone slabs, they are able to move better with the ground, which diminishes the chances of cracking over the years.

While less popular these days than stone slabs and pavers, brick still remains an option for many homeowners. If brick is prominent throughout the home, or adds to an already natural or charming look to your backyard, brick might just be the way to go. There are types of brick that are smoother than others, thus better for walking around on.

There are a few other things to keep in mind when choosing your stone pool surroundings. Make sure the product that you choose is one of good quality. Stay within your budget, but choosing a cheap stone will result in replacing it sooner than you might want to, which could cost you more money. Also, make sure what you’re getting is slip resistant. Since these stones will be right by the pool, chances are they’ll be wet most of the time people are walking on them. The last thing you want is a fall during some fun!

Come on in to Arizona Stone today to find the right stone for your pool area, we can’t wait to help!