The art and craft of stonework : drystacking, mortaring, paving, carving, gardenscaping / David Reed.

Includes index.

Introduction -- All about stone: a stonemason's primer -- Tools & basic techniques -- Dry-laid stonework (Freestanding walls ; Retaining walls ; Benches ; Borders ; Steps ; Paving) -- Mortared stonework (Basics & techniques ; Veneer ; Freestanding walls ; Paving) -- The romance of stone (Stone carving ; Boulderscaping ; Japanese gardenscaping).

Challenging? Certainly--but the effects are impressive and last beyond a lifetime. Build for the ages, by celebrating the timeless versatility of stone! Over 300 outstanding photos highlight the expressiveness of stonework from New Jersey to Nepal, with its nearly limitless array of colors, shapes, sizes, and surfaces. Filled with artistic inspiration, instructions, recipes, and projects for both dry-stack and mortar techniques, this introduction will start you off on the right (stone!) path. First, tune into the material's variety of textures and consistencies--like weathered, dimensional granite-and how it has traditionally been used in a range of settings. See how to find the perfect stone, and cut, score, split, and chip it. Transform the beautiful medium into classic projects: Turn your garden into a Zen sanctuary, with stepping stones. Add a mortared veneer to a wall. Construct a magnificent hearth and fireplace. Go beyond the practical and enjoy the creative pleasures of boulderscaping to engender a sense of tranquility and elegance, and carving two- or three-dimensional sculptures. Even repair old and broken walls. The perfect companion to our own primer on drystacking, Stonescaping, you'll find this both a working guidebook and a luxurious coffee-table book to pore through and reference guide to treasure!