Stone Wall Aesthetics

An Attractive Stone Wall

Stone walls, especially those consisting of irregularly shaped field stones, may seem far removed from the realm of aesthetics; however, even the most lugubrious natural constructions are bound by aesthetic principles, and those produced by amateurs are readily discernible by their lack of conformity to these ideals of outdoor masonry composition. Common wall design aesthetic errors, which can even be committed by professionals, include misaligned patterns, staggered height of the wall caps (top of the wall), lack of unity in the construction, and lack of a sense of conformity with the look of the local environment.  

Blending a wall's appearance with the local structures and scenery - be it urban or rural – is an essential artistic consideration. A single wall segment that is out of place will be distracting and will diminish the visual appeal of the overall project. There are several creative effects which every mason should be mindful about when designing and erecting an outdoor stone edifice.  Top of the wall lines that are smooth and curvilinear are desirable. Varying stone color either by selection or stone staining can enhance the aesthetics of the project. Transitions in a repeating pattern must be handled delicately when constructing a wall with a tapering height or when creating corners.  The further away a typical viewer will be, the coarser the wall features should be. When constructing a wall that has directional changes, the mason must be careful to create attractive horizontal or curvilinear wall angle changes.   

Don't be fooled into thinking stone walls are bulky mechanical constructions with no artistic merit. That may be somewhat true of a "do it yourself" project, but walls created by professional masons and landscapers will often have a seemingly random stone placement that belies the skill and planning of the artisan who created it.   

For expert stone wall construction in the Yorktown Heights, Westchester County , Putnam County area, contact the Turf Barbers;929 Quinlan St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, United States; +1 914-302-2469