#sand stone wall cladding

[rajstoneandtiles]

Indulge in luxury with our exquisite range of stone cladding in Sydney. Elevate your property's curb appeal and interior ambiance with our superior quality and stunning natural stone options.

[jlheon]

𝓕𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒 ୨୧ 𝐍𝐑𝐊

(𝓹airing) ── nrk x fmr ꣑୧ 𝓮stablished relationship ; fluff (𝔀ordcount) five-hundred 𝓹eng's note. america core for my bf 🦅 𝓫ookshelf

𝓼ynopsis. spending the fourth of july with your boyfriend at the beach

you walk beside your boyfriend from the parking lot to the beach.

clad in his one of his hoodies due to the breeze and coolness being near the ocean gives off. your hair blowing in the wind slightly at riki grabs your hand.

the soft sand touching your feet as you maneuver through the crowds of families in the sand. sprawled out on mats, picnic blankets, towels, and beach chairs.

“i don’t think we’ll find a spot here,” riki squeezed your hand, “we can watch from the car.”

“no! i have a spot for us,” you dismissed him, “just follow me!”

you drag riki along amongst the crowd for a bit when you finally step feet off the sand and onto a grassier area. he quickly hands you your sandals and slides on his before continuing on your path.

walking uphill until you get to the top of the hill where there’s a couple of beach chairs and benches. the only two people there being you and riki as everyone else opted to watch the show from the sand.

you tug on your boyfriend’s hand a little harder as you climb to sit on the ledge of the stone wall looking down on the ocean and the beach. not to high up but enough to make you feel like you and riki were the only people on earth.

“look,” you tap riki’s shoulder, “they’re staring!”

as the noises register in his brain, he looks up at the sky over the ocean. sparking shots of red, white, blue, and other colors illuminating the sky.

though his vision quickly shifts to the girl next to him. the colors from the fireworks shining against your face that is grinning softly mixed with subtle light from the moonlight.

riki thinks he’s never seen anyone prettier.

your eyes brightening not just from the sky but the pure joy your body emits from sharing such an intimate moment with your boyfriend.

your lips curled into a soft smile as you gaze into the chilly summer night.

riki thinks how could there have ever been a time where he wasn’t in love with you.

in love with you.

riki finally feels that it’s the right time to utter the three words he has spent weeks stuck on.

was it too early in your relationship? did your other partners wait or say it immediately? did you love him back?

“ki, you’re not looking at the fireworks,” you interrupt his whirlwind of thoughts, your head tilted to the side in confusion.

“i love you,” riki returns your stare with an expression full of love.

you take a minute before responding, “i love you too,” flustered face turning to look back at the sky, hoping it masks the growing heat on your cheeks.

he smiles to himself at your cute actions and scoots closer. to when your legs are lightly pressed against the other’s and wraps an arm around your shoulders. bringing you closer to him and guiding your head to rest on his shoulder.

“i love you,” riki repeats again with a proud grin on his face as a fireworks goes off simultaneously.

[astralnymphh]

ellie with a back or shoulder tattoo..❤️‍🔥

ct; blurb, sub!ellie with a tinge of attitude, beach day, massaging (ellie receiving), very suggestive, tattoo is mostly up for reader interpretation, slight pussy play (ellie receiving). period started in the middle of jotting this, so apologies if it became rushed! otherwise, HUZZAH! [ellie img from keaneq_ on pinterest]

for all nerd intents— it would maybe be a dragon. unsure what else would be on her back (perhaps something cosmic?), but all is up for interpretation! so particular with the placement, though; it would peak out from her tanks, buying her the reason to wear them more frequently. and of course— she does. if there's a way to keep your eyes on her, she most definitely will deploy that advantage. "see how sick my tat looks in this shirt, babe? damn, best decision ever." (starts flexing her arms like an idiot) anywho, a scenario, if you will: waves crashing near, seagulls squawking off ears, and the scent of damp sand everywhere— you're at the beach, secluded in secret. ellie suggested you find secrecy, and it was right off the bat that you located the perfect, boulder-walled cove. situating yourselves between those stone giants, you could talk, touch, tangle, and canoodle to your heart's fullest content. in seclusion, instead of wearing a tank, ellie had clad this black sports bra. intentionally; it flaunts her freckles, her lean shoulder muscles, her new tattoo— so deep and dense soaked in sunlight, glistening since you're giving her body quite the pat-down with sunscreen. goddess knows that pale girl depends on it.

right now, though, she need not wear anything on her torso at all. "fuck— that's the spot, oof," she rasps harshly, groans with pleasure into the netting of her beach chair. it just had to turn into a massage sesh. poor ellie works so hard to provide for you two. who's to say she doesn't need some tender touching care? you roll your thumbs along the sides of her nape, pushing and ruching her skin slow and sensual. ellie is convinced you were covertly trained for this. it feels like you are. "ah— babe, can you, uh, go lower?" her voice strains, and she reaches a hand back, nudging the band of her swim shorts downward. the tattoo's length is now revealed entirely, and it draws your pupils and fingertips to venture upon it. noticing where you two connect, you stare; her perky little butt had been pressed into your crotch for minutes now, and all the impulsive fibers in your brain wanted to do— was grope. but you palpate above it, acting unbothered. it serves for a bit, until ellie makes the usual sly and stupid remark about it, her tone clearer and louder, "enjoying the view? hmhm, 'can't say I let you do this too often." and you can feel the purpose hot on her flesh when she adjusts her hips, drives her ass a tad into your groin— so you grip one side. control filled that grip. it turns vice, and so does your question, "are you enjoying being touched here? seems like it." the top knuckles of your digits curling an inch under her pulled waistband. the auburn bun you shot gazes of daggers at just then, turns away so she can somewhat face you, given her position. playful eyes of green answer before her throat can, and they ring with the audacity to provoke you further. heavy-lidded, low-browed. "tchh— obviously. I did tell you to go lower," her tone laden in attitude, plastered with a shit-eating grin. now, ellie did tell you that, but her voice emphasized that you hadn't gone low enough. hadn't trailed past the tail of her tattoo.

pretty slick of her. it however, doesn't compete with the slickness you discovered leaking from her cunt. as one hand continued its caressing of her inked spine, the other ran fingertips over the fabric of her stygian shorts, slotting the damp material in-between her pussy lips, and stamping her clit down with your thumb. "mhh, huh, fuuck," through her whimpers, she freed a scoff; impatient-sounding, "is this all ur' gonna do? tease me?" the tight muscles of her thighs softly clench your wrist. you knit your brows at her, removing the pressure your thumb gave, "just admiring your back baby, be patient."

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Link sat patiently, still as a stone as he observed. The red clad strangers walked by the cell, one by one, a couple of guards who were patrolling in some sort of circular path.

The cell was small and cramped, and stiflingly hot. Speckles of sand told him the rest of the story - he was probably in Gerudo Desert.

So he'd been jumped and was in a cell in the Gerudo Desert. Then these weird people were Gerudo? He'd thought they'd stopped causing problems after Ganondorf was killed. And they weren't even dressed like Gerudo, and the ones patrolling right now were definitely men.

Link took a measured breath as the guard walked by once more. He paused briefly to watch the young Hero of Time, who just watched him in return with a blank face and piercing eyes. Eventually Link won the little staring contest as the guard resumed his patrol. If Link figured out the pattern, he could find a way out.

The wind blew, rattling cloth nearby. There was a strong smell of fruit in the air. The strange not-wolfos was panting, sprawled out on the ground in an attempt to cool off. Some dust flew down, and Link traced its path up to a small hole in the wall that served as ventilation between different rooms. He'd seen similar in the Gerudo fortress.

This wasn't his first time breaking out of prison, after all.

And he was going to break out. He wasn't going to let these weirdos hold him captive, and he needed to help the guy in the cell with him. The not-wolfos was kind of nice too.

Glancing right, he saw his teenage cellmate, who had barely budged from the corner where he'd been cruelly thrown. Link had tried to arrange him comfortably, had tried to wake him up. When he'd gotten nothing, he'd figured he was sick. But this was a sickness he didn't understand, and it looked like he was hurt too.

Link wondered what was wrong with him. He wondered if this was what would happen to one of the Kokiri if they ever left the forest... what was supposed to happen to him if he ever left the forest.

What would have happened if he'd actually belonged there.

He shook his head. He didn't belong anywhere. He already knew that. Which meant he didn't belong here, either.

Link glared as the guard walked by again. He'd find a way out of here, and he'd rescue the two with him. He was a Hero of Courage, and not even this smelly, forsaken dungeon would change that.

He'd beaten far worse.

[megthemewlingquim]

wasteland, baby! | two: concerning your time away from the dreaming

Summary: Dream takes you through his home and offers you a gift.

Pairing: Dream of the Endless x Reader

Warnings: none

A/N: Here's Chapter Two! Time to enter The Dreaming.

I will reitorate that there are MAJOR SPOILERS for The Sandman graphic novel series here. If you have not read "Fables and Reflections", "Brief Lives", "The Kindly Ones", and "The Wake", I would recommend you wait to read this until you have done so.

Read the previous chapter: one | an eternity of sand

wasteland, baby! masterlist

You come to your senses slowly, groggily, beginning to feel the environment around you: soft grass, warm sun and cool shade… and a gentle breeze on your face. It's a caress compared to the harsh, stinging winds of your dream.

No. It wasn't a dream, was it? Or… you're still dreaming…? You can't tell.

The blades of grass seem to enfold you in an embrace and the sun seems to kiss your face. It's been a while since you've felt this. You think that this is what Heaven would be like… You’d like to stay here.

There’s a blot of black in your peripheral vision. It is Dream, you realize as you sit up, watching you with a curious sort of fascination. His gaze is one of close observation; but you are not unsettled by this: if anything, somehow, you are reassured.

Dream steps forward. The blades of grass… and even the trees surrounding him… seem to bend in the wind towards him. Fiddler’s Green likes you very much, he says, his eyes becoming brighter with amusement.

“What?”

Fiddler’s Green, he repeats patiently.

“What’s… what's that?”

Where we are. The heart of the Dreaming. All travelers dream of this place.

“Fiddler’s Green…”

You look around, surveying the immense forest that spreads out before you — green fields, huge trees, a sunny blue sky and clouds, flowers of all sorts (some you recognize, others you know could only exist in dreams), rocky cliffs in the distance with waterfalls and rainbows tumbling down their jagged ends…

He missed you. Then, softer, I missed you.

You turn to look at him again, your eyes widened slightly. “We’ve never met before.”

That is how you remember it. Dream looks at you with knowing behind his star-like eyes. We have met before. But you forget in waking hours.

You’re not scared — just a bit bewildered. “Prove it.”

He chuckles, a sound of amusement from his throat. You were born in the year 1641 in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. In your childhood, your dreams were plagued by witches and demons, which were a part of the local gossip. You lived through the Witch trials and barely managed to escape with your life, as you started to advance in years but not in appearance and they suspected you. You’ve had nightmares about the townspeople finding you. You’ve burned, drowned, been stoned, and been shut away in a lone room. The latter was the worst: you had no one to help you. You were alone, chained to the wall, hungry and terrified and lonely. You called out for someone to help you but no one came. Often, you’d wake up screaming. It was such a memorable nightmare that you've never forgotten it, and every night you would pray that you never experienced it again.

Your heart pounds. Everything Dream has been saying is true.

There was one moment, however, where someone did come, though. You remember him as a thin man, clad in black, with eyes like stars.

You feel faint.

He healed your wounds and gave you bread and water. He set you free from that place. And you have not had that nightmare since then. Dream's small smile comes back again. Do you remember me now?

You put out a hand behind you to steady yourself from falling backward. "How do you know all of this?"

I know you, he says simply. When you do not respond, he elaborates. I've created your dreams and nightmares, and your hopes and loves for all your life. When you sleep, I am there with you. I travel through your dreams each and every night. You enter the Dreaming and so, you are with me.

"..... What?" you ask, voice trembling. You're still not scared, but you are overwhelmed.

It is a lot to take in, I know. May I show you what I mean?

"Sh-show me?"

He walks over to where you are sitting and holds out a hand for you. It's time that you see what you have missed.

Hesitantly, you take his hand. With ease, Dream helps you up from the ground and begins to walk. You follow beside him. It wasn't your imagination, you realize — the trees are bending, bowing to him.

"You said that… F-Fiddler's Green… missed me?"

Yes. He did. This is one of your most frequently visited places in the Dreaming. You spend time resting beneath the trees and running on the beaches with friends long gone. Fiddler's Green told me that he missed seeing you and knowing that here, in dreams, you were happy. When you were absent, he said, he did not know if you were alright.

"And.. Fiddler's Green…" You reach out a hand and place it on a nearby tree. "It… It's… not a person, is it?"

For a while, he was. But some time ago, he took up his position again. But I can still converse with him.

The bark underneath your hand pulses, slightly, as if a heart lies beneath it.

"When I spoke to… " You stop yourself. The gaze that Dream had at the mention of his son still lingers in your mind. "Lady Johanna…" you lie, "she told me that you are the creator of this place, and of all dreams and nightmares. That you are this place."

She spoke truly.

"When you say… you missed me… er…" You stop, not wanting to seem rude.

Speak your thoughts, dear one.

"Did you mean that you missed seeing me… in this dream-world?"

More than that. Dream ends the sentence and lets it sit in the air. Then, I missed seeing you grow up and change and love and find joy and face your fears. I missed seeing you, in dreams, escaping from the hell you have suffered in the waking world.

Stunned, you don't know what to say. "I don't remember you," you say. "I'm sorry."

While you go back over to him, he says, Tragic, is it not? I remember each and every human from the day they are born until the day they die. They spend a third of their lives in my realm, and not even once do they truly remember it. He leads you on, walking closely beside you.

But I do not need their remembrance. It is enough for me to know that through my work, I do what is necessary to keep humanity safe.

Soon, the forest starts to shrink and the trees become more sparse. You reach the end of a cliffside, with hills and valleys and cliffs all around you at the bottom. Up ahead, you see a castle — a huge, tan colored structure with brass dome roofs. Around it, or perhaps connected to it, are smaller structures and statues — you see Middle Eastern architecture, statues of ancient Grecian and Roman figures like Athena and Hephaestus, two five-story structures that you perceive to be theater boxes, a large statue of Siddhartha Gautama, and towers from your own time, ones you used to see in London. In the center, there are three smaller statues — a gryphon, a wyvern, and a pegasus. The castle is a hodge-podge of many cultures and structures, and it takes your breath away. Bridges that expand over a gigantic lake lead up to the castle from a few different directions — one, you notice, is held up by a gigantic stone hand. A pirate's ship rests on the glassy surface of the water. Further back, you see a multitude of different types of homes and other buildings, and even further still, in a shadow-y and dark area, two lonely, scary looking houses next to a huge cemetery. Beyond those is a large wall, with a gate that stands at the center.

This is my home. The Dreaming.

You turn back to Dream, who is looking out at this land with an expression of pride and adoration on his face. "It's beautiful," you say, awed and stunned.

You like it? he asks, looking at you now. His eyes are even brighter than you remember — you have never seen him so happy, so excited.

"I do," you say. "I wouldn't ever want to leave."

You may stay, if you wish.

You’re not sure if you’ve heard him correctly. "I'm sorry?" you ask, disbelieving.

Dream speaks slowly. You have been absent from this place for one hundred and ten years. Your mind has been devoid of true dreaming. If you wish, I will let you stay here for the same amount of time, and when it is over, you may leave. You still suffer from the ‘sleepy sickness’ - though it is now known as encephalitis lethargica. Not everyone has been cured of it yet… millions around the world still have the 'sickness', and it will take years of work on my end to cure them all. But… you may stay.

You ponder over it, and surprisingly come to a decision very easily. You have nothing in your real life; your parents and siblings are long dead, and you have lived your life in fear for hundreds of years. It is tempting, you know, to want to escape in dreams. And this temptation wins.

"I accept. Th-thank you."

It is done. Dream seems content with your answer. You are free, then, to do as you wish. And do not be afraid of what lies before you: as long as I am in the Dreaming, neither you nor anyone else here can be hurt — and I rarely leave the Dreaming these days.

I shall prepare a room for you in the castle.

"Thank you," you say, humbled and overwhelmed, "but you don't need to do that."

You are a guest here, and I offer hospitality to all of my guests, including those I do not know about. You are free to stay wherever you wish, of course, but if you do choose to reside in the castle, there will be a room waiting for you there.

A sudden change of emotion comes over Dream. His face darkens. Is it your imagination, or does the sky change — does the bright blue become a dull gray?

As quick as it comes, it is gone.

There is someone I would like you to meet, Dream says, lightening up once again. Lucienne, the Dreaming's librarian. She is my chief advisor. If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to ask me… but if you do not feel comfortable doing that, or for some reason I am unavailable, you may go to her.

He holds out his hand and you take it. His skin is smooth against yours. Your eyes meet.

"Thank you… your grace."

Dream laughs. The sound is quiet and reserved, but still filled with mirth and joy. The formalities are unnecessary. You may call me Morpheus, if you wish.

Morpheus. A mysterious-sounding name, one filled with darkness and intrigue. You like it immensely. "Alright," you say. "Morpheus."

In the way of dreams, you are suddenly within the castle that was once in front of you. You do not remember walking in, or even ending up at the bottom of the cliff. A second has passed since you were holding Dream’s hand on the cliffside, and now you are in a long hallway, walking on a red and gold carpet. Above you on either side are arched open windows, sunlight streaming in and lighting up the top half of the room. The carpet leads up some steps and goes to the right into another room. On either side of the steps are two pictures: one of William Shakespeare and one of someone else you do not recognize: Chaucer, perhaps?

In the next room is the library of dreams, which holds all of the stories that have ever been dreamed, imagined, or lost. Lucienne would be happy to give you a tour if you wish. The space and magnitude of this library may be disorienting but I assure you, you will not lose your way.

There are three others who frequently roam the castle and perform tasks for me. There is Matthew, my raven. There is Mervyn Pumpkinhead, the caretaker of the Dreaming. And there is Nuala, a little elf-woman from the land of Faerie. Should you need anything, they will help you, too.

“Faerie?”

Do you think that Earth is the only plane of existence, little dreamer?

You like the nickname, but you do not show it. “I did, maybe. Until… just now.” You chuckle, somewhat uneasily.

It would be wise to open your mind, then. You are in The Dreaming, and many things are possible here.

A thought rises and you ask, “Um… Morpheus? I’m… dreaming, right? Does that mean that… none of this is real? I’m going to wake up and… none of this will have happened?”

Dream comes up with an answer quickly — of course he does, he’s Dream. But it still surprises you. In the year 1593, I spent Midsummer’s Eve in the Waking. As part of a bargain I had made with him, I had asked a then-unknown Will Shekespear and his troupe to write and perform a play for me on the Sussex Downs, near the Long Man of Wilmington. Alongside me in the audience were the citizens of the land of Faerie, as well as their lord and lady: Auberon and Titania. The play was, in a way, about them. I had wanted them to be remembered through the ages, since the people of Faerie had chosen to leave the earthly plane forever, and would soon descend into myth and legend. Stories.

When it was nearly finished, Auberon made it known to me that things in the play had never happened to them. Titania had never rutted with an ass, and four Athenian lovers had never been put under a love potion by the incompetence of a Puck trying to fulfill his Master’s wishes.

You reach the end of the hall and turn to the right. A door opens and you step through, looking at a much smaller room lit up with golden light from long windows on the left side. The room is decorated with arches and chandeliers, and on the right side, a small sitting area with stained glass windows. There is wallpaper on the left side that looks like it would lead into a longer hallway, one filled with rows upon rows of books… a library…

I told him what I tell you now: ‘Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot.’

He lets you ponder on this. You both step forward, facing the wallpaper now. Morpheus looks down at you.

“Anything can happen,” you tell yourself, staring at the wall. “Anything can…”

The worst that could happen is you would bump your pretty little head on the wall. I wouldn’t do that to any of my guests. You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?

You look up at him.

I… I meant no harm by it.

Morpheus looks almost… embarrassed. Nervous.

“You have caused none,” you say softly.

Together, you step through the wallpaper. You go through it as if you were just stepping into another room. Your bodies meet no resistance. It’s as if the wallpaper has opened up another hallway, one that is much larger than the one you just left.

All you see are books. Rows upon rows, shelves upon shelves… Books of all shapes, sizes, and colors and their titles are also of different lengths and subjects. An absolutely massive structure, the Library of Dreams seems much larger, even, than the castle itself. You have never seen a structure in all your life, and you know you will never see something like it anywhere but in dreams. It’s an awe-inspiring world of its own. You look up and you see floors above you that stretch upward… the ceiling never comes… and neither does the floor below you: you’re not on ground level. You’re somewhere entirely different. Everywhere you go, you are surrounded by books and shelves. There are some tables here and there, and spiral staircases leading up to different floors. Anyone could wander this library, you know, and wander it for their entire life, and never find their way out, or explore a passageway more than once.

You don’t dare touch any of the books. You would, you feel, disturb the sacredness of this place.

“You said… every book that’s ever been dreamed of?” you ask.

Morpheus nods. As Lord over that which is fleeting and fragile and strange, but even more so solid and strong and mundane, I am also Prince of Stories. I have dominion over these Stories that have never seen the comforting valley of a page of paper, and I have dominion over those that have, the ones that have traveled through time and down generations and across the worlds. Stories have existed since the beginning of time, and cultures have made them something to revere and love. They have had a multitude of changes and revisions, but they will always return to their original forms. But these… Morpheus takes a book from a shelf above you and flips through it. These stories are the original works of every dreamer in the universe. He looks back up at you. His eyes shine with what you can now only describe as love. It’s a beautiful look on him: he looks so happy, so fascinated with the world he has… is… Past, present, and future. Each and every dreamer is connected to this place in more ways than one. They are all authors of their own stories, even if they are not destined to be authors in their earthly lifetimes.

You, too, have books written here — a great many of them. I enjoy them immensely.

Your mind is racing, your eyes are wide with wonder, and it takes a moment for Morpheus’s words to register with you. “I’m sorry?”

“My Lord?”

A new voice. A softer, more melodic voice than Morpheus’s. A young-looking female in large spectacles and a long waistcoat approaches the both of you from the end of the floor. Her eyes meet yours.

“I noticed you were in the Library. We have a guest?”

Lucienne, this is our new guest. Morpheus introduces you by name. She will be staying with us in the Dreaming for the next hundred years or so.

Lucienne’s eyes widen. “You’re one of the mortals that disappeared from the Dreaming, aren’t you?” she asks, mostly to herself. “I recognize your name. You have a book in the library that documents your dreams. Since the year 1915, your pages have been blank. Where were you?”

She was in a ‘soft place’.

“For a hundred and ten years?” Lucienne gasps. “Mostly those in the soft places accidentally end up there while in the Waking, not while they dream, and they don’t lose time when they are there. What happened?”

Dream shakes his head. I do not know. The soft places are areas of the Dreaming that even I do not know much about. But let this be known: if a mortal becomes lost from the Dreaming from now on, we should send forces to go looking for them in the soft places first. We should have looked there first, Lucienne. We would’ve found her sooner.

“You — you looked for me?” you ask, incredulous.

“Yes,” says Lucienne, turning to you. “We did. Ever since Jed Walker… we have looked for any dreamer that has become lost to the Dreaming. You were one of them. The Dreaming is vast, sometimes overly so, and the soft places are unpredictable. We did look there, on occasion, either Lord Morpheus himself or other servants of the Dreaming, but found nothing. And then…”

Morpheus finishes for her. …other things occupied me and I regrettably could not continue the search. Many things happened and I will not trouble you with the details. Things have been… difficult… for the past five years, you must understand.

You don’t know what to say. “Why… Why were you… in the desert? When you found me?”

Morpheus stiffens. Lucienne looks up at him. They converse, silently, to themselves. Then Morpheus speaks, slowly: I often come to the soft places, the shifting zones, to think, in times of distress. How fortunate is it that I stumbled upon you, little lamb? He smiles. I am relieved that I found you. Your presence in the Dreaming has been missed dearly.

Morpheus's smile fades, and it is replaced by a tight line. It is here that I must leave you. If either of you need me, I will be on the shores of night.

"What are you going to do?"

I shall be working on a nightmare.

You blink, and Dream is gone.

[aioledreams]

FFXIVWrite 2024 Day 2: Horizon

Ciel is on her way to the Waking Sands for the first time.

They had stopped at the Thanalan settlement to rest the chocobos. Ciel climbs out of the back of the carriage and stretches her long limbs, arms above her head, hands not quite catching the sky. She does a few paces around the worn stone streets. She briefly shields her eyes from the ever beating heat and glare of the sun to get a better view of the sand coloured buildings that crowded the walls of the surrounding plateau. Between the spindly trees with their wide leaf crowns, the high stone walls, the plateau itself, and the cheerful red awnings, there was more shade in Horizon than there had been the whole way from Ul’dah. 

When she comes face to face with the driver, a smile crinkles his tan skin. Years in the sun had made it like leather, and it was clear he smiled often. “We’ll be continuing on to Vesper Bay in a few hours, but if your business needs more haste, it’s a short ride by chocobo porter.” The elder hyur gestures toward a yellow clad lalafell. They are surrounded by crates and a small cluster of chocobos nearest the gate and the stone steps leading down toward the village’s towering aetheryte. 

“Thank you for taking me this far,” Ciel replies with a smile of her own, fishing out a sum of gil to press into the carriage driver’s waiting hand. The man dips his head in thanks and the two part ways, the driver to tending his chocobos, Ciel toward Horizon’s chocobo porter. 

When she arrives amongst the crates and chocobos she isn’t the first in line to talk to the porter. A dark skinned man is already negotiating with the diminutive merchant. He had the sun bleached clothes of a desert native, but the telltale long pointed ears of an elezen. Curious, she thinks. She hasn’t run into many fellow elezen in Thanalan; but she hasn’t been here long. “For Vesper Bay” she hears him say, “Reckon this should cover.” Gil is exchanged and the man swings himself up on one of the chocobos, navigating it around her in a trot before disappearing through the gates at the other end of the village at higher speed.

She catches sight of the glare off a pair of red lenses, and for a moment her head reels like a lightning bolt has sliced its way into her skull. Foggy images assault her all at once, drowning out the nearby stone buildings and the noises of the chocobos as they gain clarity. There are tents crowded against the towering walls of the great city Ul’dah, packed full of sweaty bodies in ragged clothes from all corners of the realm. She is walking down Pearl Lane, head down, weaving through a river of faces, hands in pockets, one wrapped white knuckled around coin that wasn’t hers. She smells the familiar sea and fish smell of Limsa Lominsa’s lower docks, but right now it is new and strange. There’s a heavy wood and iron door in the white stone walls and a blonde roegadyn with an eyepatch looking down at her. Then very briefly, she feels a world and a time away, like she is holding onto the last vestiges of a dream when waking. There is a smile, bright blue eyes that are hers but aren’t. 

Ciel blinks, the blurred lines of Horizon’s buildings and the stark contrast of sun and shade re-asserting themselves into reality. She rubs her forehead and runs a hand through her hair, taking in a deep breath. The pain had vanished as quickly as it came. These episodes always arrived without warning. She scans the surrounding streets. People haul crates, do business under awnings. The chocobo carriage she rode in on is pulled off to the side, more crates and parcels being unloaded from the back. The rider has already disappeared into the dark tunnel at the gap in the cliff wall. 

When Ciel approaches the chocobokeep she can almost hear the lalafell smile behind their mask. “Can I interest you in a chocobo porter? Our fine birds are trained to take you to Vesper Bay, Ul’dah or the Silver Bazaar with the most direct route!” 

“Vesper Bay, please.” Ciel replies, “How much is the fare?” She adjusts her pack, quickly counting out a likely sum of gil. 

“Only 15 gil.” is the cheerful response. Ciel glances at her sum, her estimate a bit over. She hands it all over anyway, and the porter gives the coin a quick glance before pocketing it. Ciel waits as a tall yellow bird fitted with a simple but sturdy saddle is led to her. The handler fusses a bit over ensuring she is comfortable in the saddle and has a good grip on the reins. “She’ll do most of the work, so just enjoy the ride. Take care, now.” It still sounds like the porter is smiling. 

With a nudge she is off, the sun glinting off the blue crystal in the center of the village before she leaves cobblestone streets and the brown and grey and sand buildings with their crimson awnings behind. She is swallowed by the calm and cool shade of a passage that never bears the heat of the sun, the smell of the freshwater pools beyond carrying on the wind. 

[tmkutawrites]

A COMMON BOND - FREE SAMPLE!

This is a free sample of my debut lesbian romance novella, A Common Bond, which comes out November 7, 2023. Please enjoy :)

Note: There may/will be some typos in this sample. We like that, it confuses the Overlords of Zon so they don't strike me for contract infringement. I promise in the final, purchased version the typos have been fixed :)

Now, on with the sample!

RFI 1

To: Josie Basurto (May 3, 5:34PM)

From: Carneline Triana

Subject: Site Visit for Mobilization

Josie,

I will be on site with my management team most of Monday morning. I’m sure we will run into each other at some point.

Carneline

***

From: Josie Basurto (May 3, 5:39PM)

To: Carneline Triana

Subject: RE: Site Visit for Mobilization

Looking forward to it!

J

***

Carneline had known Clover Hill’s old town hall was in bad shape from the bid documents. On her walkthrough with Rio a few weeks ago, even more suspicions had been raised. But now, the disintegrating chunk of limestone that had fallen off the cornice and into her hand confirmed it: she was going to be spending a lot more time in Clover Hill than she had initially planned. “Jesus Christ.”

“I’ve never seen limestone this bad,” Bruno murmured. Oceanic’s chief masonry superintendent carefully set the piece of stone down on the scaffold. “This whole cornice is going to have to be checked.”

Checking the structural integrity of a city block’s worth of limestone was definitely not covered in their contract. Carneline chewed on the inside corner of her mouth as she ran a hand across the sugaring stone and watched millennia-old sand crumble into her palm. “Is this the only bad news?”

“Oh no,” Bruno said in a voice far too cheery for her liking as he pushed to his feet. “This mortar is definitely hot.”

Asbestos remediation was also definitely not in their contract.

She cast a desperate glance along the joints. “Are you sure?”

“Yup.” He pointed to an area where the mortar was exposed. “Look close. You can see the fibers.”

Carneline looked and, sure enough, there were the telltale threads amongst the cement, lime, and sand. Fuck. “Does Rio know?”

Bruno shook his head.

She snapped a couple of photos on her phone and turned for the scaffold stair. “Are xe still documenting in the lobby?”

“I think so.”

“Good. I’ll send xem up.”

The metal stairs squeaked as Carneline made her way down them, eyeing the brick and stone of the Romanesque Revival building with far more suspicion than before. The facade clearly hadn’t been washed in two decades. The window sills were covered in black atmospheric discoloration, and the blue-green haze of cupric staining streaked down major crevices. On the brick and stone walls, there were long stretches of jointing completely devoid of mortar and one of the brackets was missing entirely.

She stopped two decks down and took a moment to admire the town. This was Oceanic’s first project this far south. They mostly stuck to projects in Baymill, but her dad had wanted to expand into other markets, so here she was forty feet in the air above a town she could see the other side of from the scaffold. The five-story town hall towered over most of the rest of the buildings, but fit in perfectly amongst the clusters of various historic structures downtown. Its renovation was long overdue, but Carneline hoped Clover Hill would find it worth it in the end.

From her perch, she could see the expanse of the park, with its quaint little gazebo and beautifully kept grounds. A bit farther she spied the currently unlit marquee of an old movie theater and a neon sign belonging to local diner. It was a beautiful town, and as much as she could lean on the scaffold railing and look out over the little town covered in the fresh leaves of spring for hours, she had a job to do.

She tore herself away from the view and continued down the scaffold to the lobby. The first time she’d seen it, Carneline had been struck almost speechless by the beauty of its wrought iron doors, scagliola-clad pilasters, and massive crystal chandelier. Now it barely registered. She hurried through the plywood-covered lobby until she found her assistant project manager sprawled indelicately across the floor.

Rio was an acquired taste Carneline wasn’t quite sure she had acquired yet; mildly competent, incredibly anxious, and graced with the aggravating tendency to lose the plot at the slightest provocation. Still, xe tried, which was more than Carneline could say of half of Oceanic’s field staff.

“Good morning, Rio.”

Rio startled, and practically levitated off the floor in a cloud of dust almost definitely from the plaster demo. Xe was absolutely covered in the stuff, and Rio hurriedly stuffed xemself back into xyr gloves and sheepishly brushed down xyr front. “Good—good morning, Carneline. I—I didn’t know you were on site.”

“I was walking the cornice with Bruno.”

“Oh.”

“How is it going down here?”

Xe grimaced and gestured at the ground. “It’s—uh. The stone’s really cracked.”

Bits of torn painter’s tape crawled across the marble below them like blown blue cherry blossom petals. Carneline crouched, and Rio angled the beam of xyr flashlight so she could see the spidery lines coursing through. Great. “These are going to shatter the second Bruno tries to take them out.”

“That’s what he said, too.”

Another expensive change order for the growing pile, I suppose. She stood, dreading the prospect of the unending raft of paperwork in her future. “I’ll speak with the NCK team. Have you been up to the cornice yet?”

Rio shook xyr head.

“When you are done down here, I need you to go up and document everything before we touch it. Do you have your profile gauges with you?”

“They’re in my car.”

“Good. Bruno will be up there for a little bit. Find…” She hedged, thinking of the worn-down status of the cornice. “Find the least broken stone and take a profile.”

 Xe nodded. “Okay.”

“And wear an N95. The mortar is hot and everything up there is crumbling.”

Rio’s dark eyes got comically wide behind xyr safety glasses. “Oh shit.”

Her sentiments exactly. “Do you have any questions?” Xe shook xyr head again. “Alright. Call me if something comes up.”

“Will do!”

Carneline left Rio to xyr marble documentation and slipped out the west entrance to find the jobsite trailer. When she pulled the door open, she found Josie bent over the conference table—which was really just four folding tables pushed together in the center of the room—studying the reference drawings.

“Good morning,” she greeted as the door snapped shut behind her.

“Good morning,” Josie replied as she turned the page of the drawings. “Headed out? Help yourself to some coffee before you leave.”

Carneline startled at the kind, but unexpected offer. “Oh. Thank you.”

“To-go cups are on top of the fridge.”

“I actually don’t drink hot coffee,” she replied sheepishly.

“Don’t drink hot coffee?” Josie asked, looking up from her drawings with a grin that Carneline had discovered seemed permanently glued to her face. “Don’t tell me…you’re like Baylee and only drink cold brew.”

Carneline gave an awkward little laugh, not liking the familiarity with which Josie talked to her about her sister. People always did that, acted like they knew her because they knew her sister or father. Another one of the ‘perks’ of a family business. “Guilty as charged.”

 “Well, I’m one step ahead of you. There’s cold brew in the fridge.”

The offer was tempting. Carneline considered for a moment, but finally decided against it. If she got caught in traffic, which was likely considering the time, she would definitely have to stop and pee. “Not today. I have to drive back to Baymill after this, but thank you.”

“Any time.”

Josie finally straightened up fully and leaned casually on the white plastic folding table, hooking her thumbs into her jeans. She was an unreasonably attractive figure, taller than Carneline, with kind brown eyes and a sharp fade that put every short-haired worker on the site to shame. In some universe she might have been Carneline’s type—if Josie hadn’t worked for the general contractor paying them to fix Clover Hill’s historic town hall.

Carneline hedged. “I…actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

Josie’s voice remained impressively neutral. “Oh?”

“Yes…” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “We have some problems.”

“Define ‘problems.’”

“That depends, do you want the least expensive issue or most expensive issue first?”

“Least expensive.” Josie flashed a luminous smile. “Warm me up.”

Carneline pulled up the photos she had taken of the floor and passed her phone over for her to see. “The marble in the foyer is full of cracks. It’s going to shatter when we try to take it out.”

“Architects were ridiculous to think we could salvage the whole floor,” Josie said with a disbelieving scoff. “A-hundred-and-twenty-year-old marble doesn’t come up like that.”

“No, it does not,” Carneline confirmed.

Josie handed her phone back, her face suddenly all business. The shift was jarring, to say the least. “How much is this going to cost?”

“I can’t say for certain, but it will be a decent amount.”

Josie sighed. “Great. You submitted replacement marble, right?”

“A few weeks ago.”

Josie ran a hand through her hair. “Submit an RFI and we’ll see what the architects have to say.”

“Was planning to.”

“Thanks.” She took a sip from a nearby thermos. “What’s the bigger, badder bill?”

Carneline gave Josie a significant look. “Have you been up to the cornice?”

“Recently?”

“Yes.”

“I walked it at the beginning,” she replied with a frown. “Is there something wrong with it?”

If only. “The mortar’s full of asbestos and the stone is crumbling. A piece fell off in my hand.”

Josie inhaled in shock. “Oh fuck.”

“I don’t want anyone from my crew touching it until the town knows.”

 “Understandable. Do you think it’s going to need to be replaced?”

Carneline glanced around the trailer to make sure they were alone. “Off the record, I think you might want to figure out where Clover Hill has a million dollars stashed for a rainy day.”

 “It’s that bad?”

“The building is a hundred and twenty years old,” she said with a shrug. “I’m surprised it lasted this long.”

Josie’s face went grim. “Got it. Thanks for the heads up.”

“Not a problem.” She hesitated, not sure if Josie could handle a third thing on her plate. “There is…one more thing?”

“If there’s a massive structural issue that means we need to evacuate the building, please turn around and leave now,” Josie joked weakly. “Let me die in the collapsed building in peaceful ignorance.”

Carneline gave a dismissive snort. “Nothing so drastic.”

Josie brightened considerably. “Great! What’s up?”

“You need to have someone go into the main hall and put down sweeping compound. Rio’s rolling around on the floor in there looking like the Ghost of Christmas Past. To say nothing of the silica hazard.”

Josie was already grabbing her hard hat off the table. “I’ll do it myself.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

“See you then!” Josie trotted off out the door, Carneline close behind her.

She checked her watch: three-o’clock.  Plenty of time to make it back to the city without hitting traffic. She pulled her hard hat off the second she hit the parking lot, shaking her curly red hair out so she could tie it back up once in the car. She’d get out of town, update her dad on the way home, then spend a quiet night with her plants before she had to go to bed.

Her phone rang. The song barely got four notes in before she picked up. “You’re psychic. I was just about to call you.”

“Are you done at Clover Hill?” Warren Triana asked gruffly.

“About to head home now, just have to throw my stuff in the ba—” She stopped dead a few paces from her trunk, eyes taking in the noticeable sink to her right rear bumper. “Fuck.”

Her father’s business tone instantly switched to fatherly concern. “What? What is it?”

She scowled and threw her hard hat in the back a tad more aggressively than was necessary. “It’s nothing,” she sighed. “I just have a flat.”

[END RFI 1]

Did you like this sample? If yes please consider buying my novella? You can preorder A Common Bond HERE!

[stoneartbyskl]

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[lineandspace123]

Top 10 Cladding Materials for Modern Home Exteriors

Do you plan to renovate your home, office, or any space? If yes, choosing the right cladding material is important. It should suit the architecture, enhance the aesthetics of your space, and complement the mood of your room. Imagine designing a vibrant, colourful room, but the cladding doesn't match the vibe—it can completely ruin the look and feel of your space. Here are the top 10 cladding materials for modern home exteriors to guide you in making an informed decision:

1. Timber Cladding

The timber cladding gives a home a natural appeal and warmth. You can use this material with finishes like panels, vertical or horizontal, and therefore versatile for modern designs. Being eco-friendly, timber cladding is considered insulation, though sometimes it may decay or become rotten if not maintained properly.

2. Metal Cladding

Metal cladding, from aluminium, zinc, or steel, gives a sleek, modern look. It is durable, fire-resistant, and low maintenance. Ideal for industrial-style homes, it is also available in a variety of colours and textures to suit different designs.

3. Brick Cladding

Brick cladding makes your house look like a classic with a little twist of modernism. It is lightweight but very strong; thus, excellent for soundproofing and insulation. Whichever colour you choose to settle on- red brick or white, it looks great with most architectural designs.

4. Fiber Cement Cladding

It is cement, sand, and fibres mixed in composition, and is hard, resistant to moisture, easy to maintain, and imitates wood or stone textures to give the modern look organic at the same time.

5. Stone Cladding

A coating of stone clad, for example, granite, slate or limestone gives the outside wall walls a beautiful and natural appearance. It is also expensive but because of its long durability and uniqueness, it is worth an investment.

6. Vinyl Cladding

It is relatively inexpensive cladding, low maintenance, and can be manufactured to look like wood, stone, and brick. They are weather-proof, easy to install, and readily available in lots of colours for hassle-free completion.

7. Concrete Cladding

Concrete cladding suits minimalist, industrial designs. It's very durable and fireproof while easily customizable into any shape and size. Robust in nature, it proves reliable for an extended period and under harsh climate conditions.

8. Composite Cladding

Made of wood fibres, combined with a plastic resin material, composite cladding gives one much more durability and a natural wood-like surface with little more in terms of maintenance. Being resistant to fade, warp and pests, make them ideal for application in homes that go modern.

9. Glass Cladding

These add a neat, reflective outlook to the whole house, giving a feeling open and airy look. Although it's expensive, that's what sets it off more, paired only preferably with metal, or concrete work.

10. Cedar Cladding

Cedar cladding is naturally resistant to decay and pests. It creates a rustic yet modern look with its warm, earthy tones. Cedar can also age beautifully into a silvery grey if left untreated.

Conclusion

The choice of cladding material is very crucial in achieving the perfect look for your space. From the warmth of timber to the sleekness of metal or the elegance of stone, every material has its unique advantages. For professional assistance in cladding and design, connect with the Best Cladding Company in Qatar. Additionally, if you need complete interior solutions for your spaces, look for the Best Interior Designers and Subcontractors in Qatar. 

Thank you for reading!

[rajstoneandtiles]

Elevate your space with our exceptional marble solutions in Sydney. Choose from a range of exquisite options for a touch of timeless elegance.

[xtrablak674]

22nd January 2012 8:39pm Villa Vera, Isla Mujeres

Have you ever lost something and realized you weren't quite sure of how you had lost it, but you knew it was gone forever?

After having been to Playa Norte (North Beach), I wanted to see what other beaches the island had to offer. Being a self appointed beach snob I would know a good beach from a faker. Instead of making the left out of my hotel towards downtown I made the right and found myself in the barrio area of the island where everyone lives who run the shops, resorts and hotels on the island. Now this area felt like a developing country and very much Caribbean, houses in close quarters and the only consistent shops were bodegas. Albeit a bit run down it was most colorful and by the light of day felt quite safe. I took a few photos of the colors and oddities that drew my interest, while respecting the people and allowing them to go about their lives undisturbed.

This area is known as Colonia and is divided by a huge lake called Salina Grande. I exited Colonia near Playa Lancheros and decided to do something very common on Caribbean islands, I strolled down the beach. In less then twenty minutes the beach which had started out comparable to Playa Norte got narrower and rockier, until I found myself on a narrow stone wall. I was like, what happened to the beach? I had to put my shoes back on because it just wasn't safe for bare feet. I finally found a dock and exited through some hotel filled with a lot of beach clad white people.

That was an adventure and I was a little tired, but a glutton for punishment I didn't want to stop until I had reached Punta Sur the other side of the island opposite Punta Norte. After a brief rest and de-sanding of the feet I had arrived at the other end of the island and have to be very frank was a little disappointed. Other then some tourist traps and some passable sculptures there was nothing of significance all the way down here. I had come down the west side of the island, which is only four miles long, I decided to walk back up the east side. Not too far from Punta Sur, I found the most delightful oxidation all over the street signs and was happily snapping away with my point and shoot, and only bringing the SLR out for the most tricky shots.

I found myself on Corredor Panoramico (Panoramic Highway) and felt like a little rest on the semi-private beach I had seen below the highway. I spread out my brown sarong like a beach blanket, took off my shoes and socks and laid down to enjoy the soothing sounds of the waves breaking on the coast line. There were some houses off in the distant and a flock of seagulls holding a conference on the rocks, but otherwise I was all alone, just the way I liked it.

Sadly not alone enough to pull an Elmina, but enough to roll up my pants and wet my tired feet in the ocean and relax before completing the walk back to the resort. I got the point and shoot out to get a few more pictures then thought I should do a self portrait like in Elmina showing the ocean behind me. Got the shot in one take and thought I had dropped the camera back in my Frida Kahlo bag. This was the last time I saw the camera.

Five feet away was another rock which was a little closer to the ocean so I could put my feet on the sand and let the waves wash over them. I spent another fifteen minutes letting the ocean cool my weary feet. I felt rested and wanted to get home before the sun set, walked back over to the rock I had my little spread laid out and gathered up my sarong to dust it out, fold it and put it away. Then instinctively I reached in my bag for my point and shoot which I was walking with in my hand so I was ready for any shot.

Gone.

No that can't be true, let me look through the bag again.

Nothing.

Let me take everything out of the bag, I know this camera is in here.

Nada.

There are 70 pesos, SLR, money belt, Coach carrying case, that I store the point and shoot in, my new purple sarong and some loose peso coins, but no camera. I am genuinely perplexed by the missing camera. Unless someone was invisible or one of the birds took it, where did my camera go? I scoured the beach for the next fifteen minutes in a state of disbelief. I had never lost a camera before and this one was in my hands as much as most people nurse their smart phones.

I asked Frida if she knew anything. Maybe I had angered the Mayan goddesses of the island inadvertently. I was at a complete and total loss. I was still in denial that my camera was gone because there was no where for it to go, unless it took a swim in the ocean, but the waves weren't reaching up to the rock I was sitting on.

As I walked back home I could feel myself getting depressed at the loss. I know that the equipment could easily be replaced. I grew attachments to the tools I worked with to create my art, and that camera was one of those tools. I had ten more days on the island with my SLR, and it seemed like a punishment. I was so despondent I only took one more photo that day, and only one the following day.

Loss is hard, even as you get older you learn to manage the feelings a bit better, but it never gets easier. I have had a lifetime full of loss and usually am very careful with my things, but maybe its a sign of something when you keep losing things. Maybe you have too much and need to share more with others. I wasn't sure of what the lesson was here, but I would try to be with the feelings until they passed, and quietly mourn the photos that I took that would never been born.

[Photo by Brown Estate]

Another Journal Entry from the same trip

[marootasandstonequarry]

Sandstone Walling, Slabs, and Steps: A Guide to Using Sandstone in Construction and Landscaping

Sandstone is a material that has been used for construction for centuries. It’s not just a timeless stone; it’s also one of the most durable and versatile materials available for various outdoor and indoor applications. Whether you’re looking to construct a beautiful feature wall, create a functional set of steps, or lay down some paving slabs, sandstone provides a natural, lasting solution. This guide will walk you through the benefits and applications of sandstone walling, slabs, and steps, giving you the information needed to use this stone effectively in your projects.

What is Sandstone?

Before diving into the specific applications of sandstone, it's important to understand what sandstone is. Sandstone is a sedimentary rock primarily made up of sand-sized particles. These particles can be composed of minerals like quartz or feldspar and are bonded together by a variety of natural cementing agents like silica, calcite, or iron oxide. The result is a durable material with a natural, textured appearance that’s perfect for both decorative and structural uses.

Sandstone is widely available in many regions, offering a range of colors from creamy beige to reddish-brown, making it an appealing choice for different design aesthetics.

Why Choose Sandstone for Walling, Slabs, and Steps?

Durability and Strength

One of the main reasons sandstone is so popular for construction is its durability. Sandstone can endure extreme weather conditions, including harsh sunlight, heavy rainfall, and freezing temperatures, without degrading or losing its aesthetic appeal. This makes it an excellent choice for both structural and decorative outdoor applications, from retaining walls to garden steps.

Natural Aesthetic

Sandstone’s naturally occurring colors and textures are another reason why it’s widely used in construction. The warm hues and irregular surfaces create a rustic yet elegant finish that can complement a variety of settings. Whether you are working on a traditional garden wall or a modern landscape design, sandstone can fit in perfectly, bringing a natural beauty to the project.

Low Maintenance

Unlike some materials that require constant cleaning, sealing, or repainting, sandstone is relatively low-maintenance. It doesn’t easily stain or develop moss or algae, making it a good choice for outdoor spaces where you want minimal upkeep. Over time, it develops a natural patina, further enhancing its rustic charm.

Versatility

Sandstone is incredibly versatile, used for everything from walls and steps to slabs and cladding. It can be cut into various shapes and sizes to suit specific needs, whether you’re constructing a retaining wall, creating pathways, or adding steps to your garden.

Sandstone Walling: Strength and Aesthetic Appeal

Benefits of Sandstone Walling

Sandstone walling offers a perfect blend of beauty and functionality. It can be used to build garden walls, retaining walls, or boundary walls, and it offers several key benefits:

Visual Appeal: Sandstone brings warmth and character to any space. Its natural color variations create a dynamic and textured surface that can complement any outdoor design, from contemporary to rustic.

Structural Integrity: Sandstone is a strong material that can withstand significant pressure, which makes it ideal for retaining walls or other structures that need to support weight. It can also be used to create dry-stone walls for landscaping.

Eco-Friendly: As a natural stone, sandstone is an environmentally friendly choice. It’s sourced directly from the earth without the need for complex processing, making it a sustainable building material.

Types of Sandstone Walling

There are a few different ways that you can incorporate sandstone into walling:

Dry-Stone Walling: This technique involves stacking stones without mortar. The stones interlock naturally, and over time, the weight and pressure make the structure more stable. Dry-stone walls are commonly used in gardens and rural landscapes to define boundaries or create terraces.

Mortared Sandstone Walling: For more structural stability, mortared walling involves using a cement-based mortar to bond the stones together. This is typically used for retaining walls or walls that need to bear significant weight. Mortared sandstone walls are also often used in building foundations or in high-traffic areas where extra strength is required.

Cladding: Sandstone can also be used as cladding for buildings, creating a natural stone finish on the exterior. This gives your home or structure a beautiful, rustic appearance while maintaining modern strength and durability.

How to Build Sandstone Walls

Building a sandstone wall requires careful planning and execution to ensure that it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Here are some steps to follow when building your own sandstone wall:

Prepare the Site: Clear the area where the wall will be built, removing any debris and ensuring that the ground is level. This is particularly important for dry-stone walls, which rely on stability from the ground.

Foundation: For dry-stone walls, you can lay a foundation of compacted gravel to provide a stable base. For mortared walls, you will need to dig a trench for a concrete foundation, which will ensure the wall has a solid structure.

Placement of Stones: Start by placing the largest stones at the bottom of the wall and gradually work upwards. Make sure that each stone is level and properly aligned with the adjacent stones. If you’re using mortar, apply it between each stone, but avoid excess mortar that could affect the appearance of the wall.

Backfilling: For retaining walls, you will need to backfill the space behind the wall with gravel to allow for proper drainage and reduce pressure on the wall. This is important for maintaining the wall’s integrity over time.

Capping: Once the wall is complete, you can finish the top by placing larger, flatter stones to give it a finished look.

Sandstone Slabs: The Perfect Solution for Paving

Benefits of Sandstone Slabs

Sandstone slabs are an excellent choice for creating pathways, patios, and driveways. Their durability, slip resistance, and natural appearance make them an ideal material for these surfaces.

Durability: Sandstone slabs are highly durable and can withstand the pressure of foot traffic, vehicles, and weathering. They will maintain their integrity over time and provide a long-lasting solution for your outdoor paving needs.

Slip Resistance: The natural texture of sandstone makes it slip-resistant, which is especially important for outdoor areas like walkways, pool decks, or patios where wet conditions may be common.

Natural Look: The variety of colors and textures in sandstone slabs allows them to blend beautifully with natural surroundings. Whether you're designing a formal garden or a casual outdoor space, sandstone slabs can enhance the overall aesthetic of the area.

How to Lay Sandstone Slabs

Laying sandstone slabs is a relatively simple process that requires proper preparation to ensure the finished surface is level, stable, and durable. Here’s how to lay your own sandstone slabs:

Prepare the Site: Excavate the area where the slabs will be laid. Remove any weeds, grass, or debris, and level the ground. For larger areas, it’s recommended to use a compactor to compact the soil and prevent settling.

Create a Base: Lay down a layer of sand or gravel as the base for the slabs. This layer provides drainage and ensures that the slabs are stable and level.

Place the Slabs: Begin laying the slabs, starting from one end and working your way across. Make sure the slabs are level and flush with each other, leaving enough space between each one for jointing material.

Fill the Joints: Once all the slabs are in place, fill the joints with fine sand or a mortar mixture. Sweep the sand into the joints to help lock the slabs into place and prevent weeds from growing.

Sandstone Steps: Enhancing Your Landscape

Benefits of Sandstone Steps

In addition to its use in walls and slabs, sandstone is also an ideal material for steps. Whether you're creating garden steps, a staircase for a pathway, or steps leading to a raised terrace, sandstone steps offer several benefits:

Aesthetic Appeal: Sandstone steps provide a natural and elegant look. The warm tones and smooth surfaces of sandstone make it an attractive choice for landscaping and garden design.

Durability: Sandstone is strong enough to withstand the weight of foot traffic without cracking or wearing down over time. Its ability to endure different weather conditions makes it perfect for outdoor use.

Slip Resistance: Like sandstone slabs, steps made from sandstone offer excellent traction, reducing the risk of slipping, particularly when wet.

How to Build Sandstone Steps

To create durable and beautiful sandstone steps, follow these steps:

Design the Layout: Plan the number of steps and the dimensions based on the height you need to cover. Mark out the area where the steps will be placed.

Excavation: Dig out the area where the steps will go, ensuring that each step has a stable base.

Create a Solid Base: For each step, add a layer of compacted gravel or concrete to provide stability. This foundation will prevent the steps from shifting or settling over time.

Place the Steps: Begin placing the sandstone blocks or slabs one by one. Check each for levelness and adjust as necessary to ensure the steps are evenly spaced and stable.

Finishing Touches: Once the steps are in place, fill in any gaps with sand or mortar to secure the stones and prevent weed growth.

Conclusion

Sandstone is a timeless and durable material that can enhance your landscape with its natural beauty and strength. Whether you’re building a garden wall, laying down slabs for a pathway, or installing steps, sandstone offers a reliable and aesthetic solution. By choosing sandstone, you are not only selecting a material that will stand the test of time

[intraautomation49]

Establishing a Plant to Produce Fiber Cement Boards

As the construction industry embraces sustainability and innovation, fiber cement boards have emerged as a leading building material that combines durability, versatility, and eco-friendliness. Establishing a dedicated plant to produce fiber cement boards represents a significant opportunity to meet the growing demand for high-quality building materials. This article explores the importance of fiber cement boards, the manufacturing process, and the advantages of setting up a production facility.

Understanding Fiber Cement Boards

Fiber cement boards are composite building materials made from a mixture of cement, cellulose fibers, and sand. This combination results in a robust, non-combustible material that is resistant to moisture, pests, and rot. Fiber cement boards can be used in a variety of applications, including exterior cladding, roofing, and interior wall panels, making them a versatile choice for builders and architects.

The Manufacturing Process

The production of fiber cement boards involves several essential steps:

Raw Material PreparationThe process begins with sourcing high-quality raw materials. Cement, cellulose fibers (often sourced from recycled paper), and silica sand are combined to create the core mixture for the boards.

MixingThe raw materials are carefully mixed in precise ratios to ensure uniformity. The mixing process may involve the addition of water and other additives to enhance specific properties, such as flexibility or durability.

FormingOnce mixed, the slurry is poured into molds to form boards of desired sizes and thicknesses. This step can be adjusted based on market requirements, allowing for customization in product offerings.

PressingThe formed boards are then subjected to high pressure to remove excess moisture and compact the mixture. This step is crucial for achieving the desired density and strength of the final product.

CuringAfter pressing, the boards undergo a curing process, where they are allowed to dry and harden. This can be done naturally or in controlled environments to accelerate the curing time.

FinishingOnce cured, the boards are trimmed and sanded to achieve a smooth surface. They may also undergo additional treatments, such as painting or coating, to enhance their aesthetic appeal and performance.

Quality ControlRigorous quality control measures are implemented throughout the manufacturing process to ensure that the boards meet industry standards for strength, durability, and safety.

Advantages of Fiber Cement Boards

DurabilityFiber cement boards are highly resistant to weathering, rot, and pests, making them ideal for both residential and commercial applications.

Fire ResistanceBeing made primarily from cement, fiber cement boards are non-combustible and provide excellent fire resistance. This feature enhances safety in building construction and can potentially lower insurance costs.

Moisture ResistanceFiber cement boards resist moisture absorption, preventing issues such as mold and mildew. This property is especially beneficial in humid climates or areas prone to heavy rainfall.

SustainabilityWith a significant portion of their composition coming from recycled materials, fiber cement boards are an eco-friendly choice. Their production process can also be optimized to minimize waste and energy consumption.

Aesthetic FlexibilityFiber cement boards can be manufactured in various colors, textures, and finishes, allowing for design versatility. They can mimic the appearance of wood, stone, or other materials, making them suitable for a wide range of architectural styles.

Low MaintenanceUnlike traditional materials, fiber cement boards require minimal maintenance. Their durability and resistance to environmental factors mean they do not need regular painting or sealing, saving time and resources.

The Business Opportunity

Establishing a plant to produce fiber cement boards offers significant business potential. The global demand for sustainable building materials is on the rise, driven by increased awareness of environmental issues and a shift toward greener construction practices. A dedicated production facility can cater to this demand, providing builders and contractors with high-quality, reliable products.

Additionally, the growing trend of urbanization and infrastructure development in emerging markets creates further opportunities for fiber cement boards. By positioning the plant strategically and leveraging local resources, manufacturers can capitalize on these trends while contributing to sustainable building practices.

Conclusion

The establishment of a plant to produce fiber cement boards represents a forward-thinking investment in the future of construction materials. With their numerous advantages—durability, fire resistance, moisture resistance, and sustainability—fiber cement boards are poised to become a cornerstone of modern building practices. As the industry evolves, this innovative material will play a crucial role in meeting the challenges of sustainable construction, making it an ideal choice for both manufacturers and builders alike.

[interiors-140]

Transform Your Space: How WPC Can Elevate Your Interior Design

When it comes to interior design, the materials you choose can significantly impact your space's ambiance, durability, and functionality. One material that has been making waves in recent years is Wood Plastic Composite (WPC). Versatile, sustainable, and aesthetically appealing, WPC can elevate any interior with its natural beauty and modern technology. If you want to transform your space, here’s why WPC should be your go-to choice.

What is WPC?

WPC, or Wood Plastic Composite, is a hybrid material made from wood fibers and thermoplastics. This combination gives WPC the natural look of wood but with the added strength and durability of plastic. Unlike traditional wood, WPC is resistant to moisture, termites, and rot, making it an excellent option for high-traffic areas or spaces prone to humidity, like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

1. Durability Meets Aesthetic Appeal

One of the biggest reasons WPC is gaining popularity in interior design is its remarkable durability. It doesn't warp, crack, or splinter like traditional wood, which means it will maintain its appearance for years to come. Whether used for flooring, wall paneling, or furniture, WPC provides a timeless look without the high maintenance that comes with natural wood.

In terms of design, WPC is available in a variety of finishes and colors that can replicate the grain and texture of real wood, stone, or even marble. This allows you to customize your space to fit any design style—whether you're aiming for a rustic, modern, or industrial aesthetic.

2. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

For the environmentally conscious homeowner or business, WPC is an excellent choice. Made from recycled wood fibers and plastic, WPC reduces the demand for natural wood, helping to conserve forests. Plus, it’s fully recyclable, which adds to its eco-friendly credentials. By choosing WPC for your interior design, you’re not only transforming your space but also contributing to a more sustainable planet.

3. Moisture and Termite Resistant

One of the major challenges with traditional wood in interiors is its vulnerability to water and pests. Wood can warp or rot when exposed to moisture, and it’s often susceptible to termite damage. WPC, on the other hand, is engineered to resist both. This makes it an ideal material for areas exposed to moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and even outdoor spaces that connect to the interior, like sunrooms and patios.

4. Low Maintenance

Compared to other materials, WPC is incredibly low-maintenance. It doesn’t require regular sanding, sealing, or painting to keep it looking fresh. A simple wipe-down with a damp cloth is usually enough to keep WPC surfaces clean. This makes it an appealing option for busy homeowners or commercial spaces where maintaining materials can be time-consuming.

5. Versatile Applications in Interior Design

WPC can be used in a wide range of interior applications, giving you endless possibilities to create a cohesive and stylish look throughout your space:

Flooring: WPC flooring is durable, slip-resistant, and comfortable underfoot, making it perfect for homes with children or pets. It also provides sound insulation, making it ideal for spaces like home offices or apartments.

Wall Cladding: Add texture and warmth to your walls with WPC cladding. It can be used to create feature walls, accent backdrops, or even entire room installations to add depth and character to your interiors.

Furniture: WPC is also making its way into furniture design. From sleek dining tables to custom cabinets, WPC can be molded into various shapes and finishes, giving designers the flexibility to create bespoke pieces that stand out.

6. Cost-Effective Solution

While WPC offers the aesthetic and durability benefits of natural wood and stone, it comes at a more affordable price. Its longevity and low maintenance costs make it a cost-effective solution in the long run, especially for homeowners or business owners looking to invest in high-quality, long-lasting materials.

Final Thoughts

Transforming your interior doesn’t always require a complete renovation; sometimes, it’s the material choices that make all the difference. WPC offers the perfect blend of style, strength, and sustainability, making it a smart choice for any space. Whether you’re looking to refresh your floors, create a feature wall, or invest in long-lasting furniture, WPC provides the flexibility and durability to meet your design goals.By incorporating WPC into your interior design, you can create a modern, elegant, and functional space that stands the test of time—both in appearance and performance. Choosing the Right Material at Your Choice Interior PVC & WPC.

[stoneartbyskl]

Transform your interiors with the sleek and artistic Wave Design 3 Wall Cladding by Stone Art By SKL. Featuring a flowing wave pattern, this cladding adds movement and a contemporary touch to your walls. Ideal for both homes and commercial spaces, it combines durability with stylish design. Let this striking cladding bring a modern edge to your décor, creating a visually stunning atmosphere.