The ShadeTree Company | Stone Work

Stone

The Shadetree Company offers a variety of stone and masonry work. From a simple, artistic dry laid wall to a complex mortared retaining wall with footings and a drainage system, we can certainly build a wall to suit your landscape needs. Patios are an extension of your home. They should be built with the same craftsmanship and care that you would expect from the rest of your home's construction.

Material choices for your landscape are plentiful. Fieldstone or cobblestone will create a natural design for your wall or patio. Granite steps offer classic character and are a timeless addition to your property. Bluestone can be used to create the most formal of walkways, or the simplest of patios. No matter the materials you choose, The Shadetree Company will help you design and install a functional and valuable addition to your home.

Project at Snug Hollow
One Work on a fieldstone retaining wall to create a raised patio begins. Footings and drainage are essential to the longevity of a project such as this.	Click image numbers to enlarge.
Two Once the wall is completed, backfilling can begin for the patio installation.
Three Tumbled bluestone is being installed for the patio surface. Set in stone dust, this material offers natural beauty that will last a lifetime.
Four The completed wall and patio create a combination of art, function, and durability.
Five The geometric shape compliments the house and offers a unique design element in this natural setting.
Six When the project is complete, beds and walkways are installed and plant materials selected to add the finishing touches.

Bluestone Walkway in Charlestown
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	One A bluestone path is laid dry over a processed gravel and sand base.
	Two This walkway utilizes bluestone in the full color range including browns, purples, blues, and grays. The front porch of this home has also been covered with matching bluestone mortared in place.
	Three Cutting the curve into the edge of the walkway creates a much softer and more welcoming walkway.
	Four The walkway ties into the cobblestone edged driveway and is separated by a euonymus (burning bush) hedge.

Fireplaces
One This fieldstone fireplace is replica of the fireplace below (number five), located in Wakefield, RI. It draws beautifully and warms those sitting around it quite nicely. All the smoke and sparks exit through the chimney and pass over the heads of those enjoying the fire, ahhh!	Click image numbers to enlarge.
Two This fire ring in Pembroke, Massachusetts is built with New England fieldstone. The height of the ring is perfect to sit on while feeding the fire, put your feet up on, or maybe rest you drink. It also helps keep little ones out of harms way.
Three This fireplace uses veneer stone installed over an existing brick hearth and chimney. The original opening was rectangular but we decided to add an arched chimney and fireplace doors. The screen doors and the mantle were also custom built in house by us.
Four This is another fireplace that was originally painted brick. "Cultered Stone" veneer stone was applied over the brick to bring this fireplace back to life. We also designed and built the tool rack hanging on the wall due to the tight space of this fireplace.
Five This fireplace was built in the 1940's and was at one point unusable and in disrepair. The sides, back, both arms, and portions of the flue and top needed to be repaired or replaced to bring this fireplace back to a usable state. A few more years of weathering and you'll never know we were there.

Bluestone patio with plenty of warmth!
Click image numbers to enlarge.
	One A knee wall along the edge of the patio is dry laid using Aquidneck fieldstone.
	Two The bluestone patio is set. It is built on a compacted processed gravel base and set in stone dust. This patio uses every possible color and texture of bluestone we could find.
	Three The edges of the bluestone are secured with concrete. Grass will later be planted over it and the transition from lawn to patio will be seamless. This picture also shows the inlaid fire pit.
	Four Image sitting around this sunken fire pit roasting marshmallows.
	Five If you can't decide whether to have a fire pit or a fire place, perhaps having both is a good solution. This fireplace is a mortared piece using aquidneck fieldstone to match the wall. It is over eight feet tall! Details include a raised bluestone hearth that is curved and a rounded firebox opening which is lined with stone and bluestone.

Wall Restoration on Waterway
One When an old spruce tree finally falls during a winter storm, this old Saunderstown wall takes a hard hit. We ended up rebuilding from the ground up over thirty five feet of the old wall.	Click image numbers to enlarge.
Two Restoring the unique vertically placed cap stones is an important detail when restoring a wall such as this. There are many rumors throughout Saunderstown as to the original purpose of these stones. Protection and animal containment seem to be the most common thoughts. Have a different story, let us know!
Three The finished work blends nicely into the original wall and soon you'll never be able to tell anything happened.

Natural Retaining Wall on Ferry Road
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	One A fieldstone retaining wall is installed to provide structure for an elevated driveway while maintaining a natural look.
	Two A second retaining wall is built to create a drainage swath against the house. This trench is pitched and filled with stone to protect the house from moisture.
	Three A granite block is placed in front of the door to create a solid footing and stoop for the home.

Bluestone Steps
One This front stoop was originally much narrower and constructed of brick. We applied a stone veneer over the brick and topped of the steps and landing with two inch bluestone. A paver walkway connects the new front entry to the driveway.	Click image numbers to enlarge.
Two These bluestone steps make climbing this steep slope easy and attractive. They are built with fieldstone risers and bluestone treads, and the walkway is built using tumbled pavers.
Three The stonework on these steps is also a veneer over the existing concrete steps. The steps were also widened by over a foot. The stone chosen for the risers and sides is a flat New England fieldstone.
Four The original bluestone and brick steps on this house are repaired before a new curved path is constructed to connect the driveway to the front steps.
Five These narrow concrete steps were also widened by about a foot. A natural stone veneer was applied and then the steps and landing were capped with bluestone. The original handrail was removed, refinished and replaced.
Six A set of bluestone and fieldstone steps lead you through a stone retaining wall to the front walk of this home.
Seven These are the matching steps at the end of the walkway above. This bluestone stoop was built from fieldstone to match the existing walls on the property.

Retaining Walls at Yacht Club
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	One Mortared fieldstone walls are built on either end of the tennis courts.
	Two The new walls have concrete footings, drainage systems, and are tied into the existing retaining wall.
	Three This section of wall is built carefully to not disturb this mature ash tree.

Foundation Restoration in West Kingston
One Work on this 1800's mill needed to match original construction as well as previous repairs. Challenges such as the age of the structure and dealing with ledge made this project challenging and enjoyable.	Click image numbers to enlarge.
Two This exterior wall received extensive repairs inside and out. Use of brick and stone together makes this work interesting to build and to look at. This work also involved replacement of the oak lintels over some of the windows and doors.
Three Exterior restoration included leveling the top plate for the new timber frame, and re-pointing many of the mortar joints around the building.

More Pictures
These informal stone steps blend nicely into this wall and the landscape around them.		This wall restoration at Anawon Farm was a long project at over 500 feet. It took us a while too!
This retaining wall is built using flat New England fieldstone. It is dry laid and built on a compacted gravel base.		This dry laid knee wall uses an abundance of round fieldstone.
Natural stone steps are built leading into this relaxing hot tub. They are a great choice because they are solid, slip resistant, and look great too! We also custom built the fence and installed the patio and plantings in this picture.		A pattern using various sizes of new cobblestone helps separate the crushed stone driveway from the bluestone patio.
This bluestone walkway features browns and blues and is edged with used cobblestone.		These bluestone squares make a nice neat way to get from the front yard to back.
This wall was built to look old to match the 1800's cape behind it. The stones used were taken from old piles around this extensive property.		These steps lead up through this wall and were also salvaged from abandoned rock piles and old stone quarries on this clients property. Notice the old mill stone placed flush off the bottom step.
This bluestone porch uses bluestone set in mortar with mortared joints. This project represents the full color range of available bluestone.		This informal walkway is designed to have grass growing in between and around the stones. This look creates a very natural and soft look for your property.