Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A router
Stonemasonry in 30 objects. 2/30 A router. It’s week two of the series and we’re homing in on the importance of technological advancements in stonemasonry tools. Some might argue using these kinds of tools requires less skill and craft. We think there’s far more to it than that. Capable of cutting and shaping stone on […]
Cantilever Stone Staircases – How do they work?
A cantilever staircase is one where the solid stone steps (also known as treads) are embedded into a supporting wall on one end, with the other end ‘free’, visible and seemingly floating: the treads are said to be ‘cantilevered’ from the wall. There are several very good reasons why this form of staircase is […]
The Directors’ Cut: Woburn Abbey Green Parlour Natural Stone Staircase
A Natural Stone Staircase for Woburn Abbey: The Director’s Cut showcases our Project Managers and Directors work on a project of their choice. They describe the key issues and the solutions needed to bring a project to successful completion. This week, Steve Byrne, our Senior Estimator and Master Mason at AF Jones talks us through […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A stone vacuum lifter
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 9/30: A stone vacuum lifter Much of our work is with large contractors and with that scale of operation comes the need to move stone quickly through production at our workshops and into place on site with precision accuracy. This workhorse of a lifter means we don’t […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A CNC wire saw
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 10/30: A CNC wire saw January 2023 – a New Year and a new investment for AF Jones. At the end of last year we decided to say goodbye to our trusted wire saw that had given us 20 years of service and replace it with the […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A circular saw
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 14/30: Circular Saws – a primary cutting tool Primary saws like these play a significant role in the AF Jones production process. They’re capable of cutting large amounts of stone in a short space of time which means we can put projects through at scale, cutting stone […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: carved stone capitals
Stonemasonry in 30 objects. Week 21/30 – Capitals: This week’s object is one of the most iconic and well-known features of finished architecture – the capital. Today, their decorative features have superseded their load bearing function in many cases, acting as decorative finished to steel and brick load bearing structure. At the AF Jones workshops […]
The Directors’ Cut: Structural Use Of Natural Stone for Marlands
Ken Jones, one of our Directors at AF Jones gives an outline of the key project points for our recent natural stone piano room project at Marlands, near Winchester. This project is for a client with an interest in principles of mathematics as well as music. AF Jones were commissioned as the specialist contractor and […]
Discover the Best High-Quality Stone for Architectural Heritage Projects
Architectural heritage projects require careful consideration when it comes to selecting the right materials. Stone, in particular, plays a crucial role in preserving the historical significance and aesthetic appeal of these structures. Understanding the importance of using high-quality stone is essential to ensure the longevity and authenticity of architectural heritage. In this article, we will […]