Stone
Stone possesses a great many qualities. It is an excellent material both for building and decorating.
Pieces of stone work need no other finishing off than that of the stone itself. What’s more, its diversity can satisfy all tastes.
It is without doubt first rate for giving increased value to one’s property and guaranteeing its authenticity. Money is best invested in stone, is it not ?
A natural material par excellence, it is in perfect harmony with other traditional material like wood, clay, lime mortar, but also in a more contemporary way with glass, metal or concrete. Stone is part and parcel of eco-construction, it presents no danger for the environment (even when abandonned it produces beautiful ruins !) and its exploitation uses little energy.
In spite of being a low insulating material it is a very good thermic regulator : the interior of a house built of stone remains cool during hot temperatures and warm during intense cold. It is also, according to its porosity, a very good regulator of damp.
Its lifetime is extremely long and demands very little upkeep : it embellishes as it grows older, which is what we call patina.
It is present all over the country, there is always a quarry nearby, especially in a region like Perigord, which means reduced transport costs. In fact, its one and only inconvenience is to be very heavy, but that requires the effort of only the stone cutter !
Considering all these qualities and contrary to what one often imagines, stone is not necessarily an expensive material and sometimes can even be quite economical. Which is why it is found in farm houses just as well as in grand residences.
So why not in your home ?
Realizations: