CED Stone Commercial Brochure

Sustainable Stone CED’s insider guide to using natural stone as an eco-friendly material... Anyone that knows us, knows that we are passionate about stone. Where it comes from, how it’s formed, but mostly how to utilise its wonderfully varied properties in the best way possible. We’ve always known that natural stone used in the right project can be one of the most sustainable and environmentally appropriate materials available for designers to have in their tool-kit. In the last few years, more and more designers and architects have also started to see the economical and environmental benefits of using stone appropriately. There are two main factors that make quality natural stone a more sustainable option; production and longevity. Materials such as concrete, tarmac and clay need significantly more fossil fuel for their production in comparison to the energy needed to quarry and produce natural stone. This is especially true if the stone is hand-worked like traditional Riven Yorkstone, or the wonderfully versatile Italian Porphyry. Where man-made materials often require larger volumes of natural resources to be dug from the ground and energy required to produce the end product, stone has already been made – it just needs shaping! In terms of longevity, many man-made products will start to look shabby and need replacing after 10-15 years of use. Natural stone on the other hand can last many times that if utilised correctly. There are still streets in many of our British towns and cities that have been laid for hundreds of years! The most sustainable project is one that never has to be replaced, so selecting the right material for the job is crucial. Not only does a street have to withstand the wear and tear of the British weather, pedestrians, fast food, skateboards and thousands of vehicles every day, it is also expected to last for 50 years or more whilst keeping an aesthetically pleasing finish. One benefit to using stone is its wonderful tendency to improve in appearance over time. If stone needs to be replaced or taken up, it is usually fully recyclable. There are many examples of granite setts or yorkstone flags in Britain that have been used multiple times and often look better now than when they were newly laid 100 years ago. Looked after properly, these products could easily last for another 100 years! With good design, construction and our deep understanding of natural stone, we can help you create schemes that will continue to work well and look good for years to come. If that’s not sustainable, then what is? Do it once and do it right, then stone will last forever. CED Stone Group www.cedstone.co.uk 7