The Finer Detail of Interior Stone: vents, cracks and fissures
The Finer Detail of Interior Stone: Vents, cracks and texture – the skill of delivering a durable stone finish See our FAQs The complex veining and patterning that makes marble so popular for stone interiors Stone is a natural product and the variations in every piece of stone mark each finished product […]
insideSTONE – Natural Stone Post-tensioned Staircases
insideSTONE – Natural Stone Post-Tensioned Staircases Ken Jones, Director at AF Jones Stone Interiors speaking at our recent insideSTONE event at our workshops in Ipsden. This is the section about post-tensioned staircases. Post-tension staircases represent a pinnacle of engineering innovation and aesthetic grace. Unique for their structural integrity and the visual statement they make, post-tension […]
Honing Polishing and Finishing: The Finer Details of Interior Stone
Honing Polishing and Finishing: The Finer Details of Interior Stone See our FAQs Honing, polishing and finishing is the first in a series of short posts focussing on how some of the finer details of interior stonemasonry really come into their own when carefully worked into broader project planning. AF Jones Natural Stone Interiors: […]
Time and Detail: Why these are two key factors when planning a heritage stonemasonry project
Steve Byrne, Master Mason and Senior Estimator at AF Jones outlines why working with new techniques and methods alongside old skills and installations means paying careful attention to timescales and detail – and demands a thorough understanding of the unique nature of each building requiring work, care and attention.
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 […]
Some basics about British Limestones and Sandstones
The British Isles has a diverse geology with so many different stones available. An early map of the geology demonstrates this diversity very clearly. GEOLOGICAL & MINERALOGICAL MAP Showing also the inland Navigation of Rivers and Canals Published by J.A.Knipe 1842. We get asked for “sandstone” so often, but not many understand what they are […]
21st Century Stonemasonry – Arts, Crafts & Technology
The debate about the influence of increasing technology and mechanisation, and whether it detracts from the arts and crafts aspects of stonemasonry, is ever present and will continue forever. With five generations of continuous operation spanning three centuries, A F Jones Stonemasons have a perspective on this issue that few others can boast. Even […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects – week 20/30: CNC Lathe
This week’s object is a CNC lathe. Computer-driven, the lathe at AF Jones is used to turn shape and detail on items such as a series of balusters that need multiple uniform finish. It can work with either a router or a circular saw and with careful programming it can often to a level of […]
Stonemasonry in 30 Objects: A Pierced Panel in Hartham Park Bath Stone
Stonemasonry in 30 Objects Week 20/30: This week, it’s a Pierced Panel worked in Hartham Park Bath Stone. Producing a pierced panel requires careful setting out and a methodical approach to working the apertures to a uniform size. Here you can see one of our masons working through the process from start to finish on […]
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 […]