When it comes to completing your Long Island patio, walkway, poolscape, kitchen backsplash or other masonry project, you want everything to come together seamlessly. These projects are meant to last, so it’s important that you choose a look that you love, and one that gives your property the curb appeal that you’re proud of. There are many choices for materials and styles available in our masonry yard, so you’re sure to find the product that was meant for your project. Let’s take a peek at some of the stunning styles available at Astro Masonry to help you choose the one that was meant for you. Once you’ve chosen your favorite, let us know you are ready for a quote!
Basalt Look
Basalt is a common volcanic natural stone formed from slowly cooling lava. Because of it’s dark color—black or charcoal, usually—you’ll often see basalt or basalt look products in modern, trendy, industrial, minimalist, or sometimes rustic designs.
Want to nail the basalt look for your next project? Porcelain tile such as the Elegance Basalto line comes in different shapes and in four colors from black to red. It looks like natural stone and is highly durable and water resistant for longevity and beauty.
A variety of concrete pavers like Tribeca Cobble and Town Hall from Unilock come in basalt colors and finishes.
Bluestone Look
The term “bluestone” is used to refer to a number of different types of stone that are used as building material. In the New York area, our bluestone is most commonly feldspathic sandstone and comes from the Catskills and northeastern Pennsylvania. In fact, bluestone got its name from the variety first discovered in Ulster County, New York, which was blue in color. Bluestone is not always truly blue though. It can vary in shades of grays, beiges, and browns.
The bluestone look is very traditional for our region. If you have a home on Long Island or the greater New York area, bluestone is a classic choice that you can’t go wrong with. It’s perfectly at home with a classic colonial house and is especially popular with Hamptons-style farmhouse homes on the East End of Long Island.
Because of this look’s popularity, Astro stocks an incredible array of true bluestone and bluestone-look products, like porcelain, concrete, and stacked panels. The Blu collection from Techo-Bloc is one of our most popular concrete pavers. If you’re looking for a complete look, bluestone may be the way to go since it is so easy to match the style, even across manufacturers and applications.
Brick Look
Whether it’s true brick, which is made of clay, brick look porcelain, or another brick-mimicking material like concrete, brickwork may be the look to choose if you enjoy a classic appearance that meshes with any style. Fired bricks are some of the longest lasting building materials used worldwide, originating in the Middle East and currently used globally. Bricks are traditional American building materials that work well with colonial and federal-style homes as well as farmhouses. One of the oldest building materials on earth, dating back to 7500 BCE, this is an excellent choice if you have a home that is over a century old, or if you occupy one of the historic towns on the North Shore of Long Island. Brick pavers can beautifully augment existing stonework, and are available in colors besides traditional red.
If you’re looking for true clay brick, consider products from Belden or Glen-Gery, some of the oldest brick manufacturers in the country. Popular concrete options include the Brick Alley paver from Cambridge, the Mattoni, Copthorne, and Town Hall pavers from Unilock, and the Mika and Villagio pavers from Techo-Bloc. You can also find some fantastic brick veneer in the BrickStaks collection from MSI.
Ceramic Look
Our ceramic tile is available in multiple colors and in a number of designs for a truly state-of-the-art look. Similar to porcelain, ceramic is made of fired clay and has a deep history in Mediterranean and European design. Beveled tile makes a beautiful backsplash for a contemporary kitchen, or go with a unique wavy white 3D version in your ultra-modern bathroom.
Cobblestone Look
Nothing beats timeless cobble for a truly classic look. Cobble is a stone traditionally measuring between 2.5–10.1 inches, and was heavily used for roads throughout history. Cobble was also used as a building material in some areas. It was especially popular in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where today 90% of the cobblestone buildings in America can be found in a 75 mile radius! Nowadays, the look of cobble in buildings is typically captured with a veneer.
For patios and walkways, go for a Mediterranean look with our Techo-Bloc Villagio Paver, or step back in time with the Unilock Nordick Cobble Pavers. Although cobble is a classic look, it has recently experienced a resurgence as an upscale option for re-vamped pedestrian walkways in Europe. Cobble sets a walkway apart, signifying that it’s not just another thoroughfare. With a cobblestone look, your walkway will be instantly enduring.
Concrete Look
Concrete is made of cement that binds together aggregate, a collection of rock pieces, large or fine, depending on product. Behind water, concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world, and as you can guess, Astro has a vast selection of concrete and concrete look products.
Looking for quality with the opportunity for variation in appearance? A concrete look, both modern and industrial in style, is an excellent choice. Concrete can take on a number of finishes that make it appropriate for a number of settings, and other materials, such as porcelain, can mimic concrete for added durability. Available in a number of shades to meet numerous design schemes, concrete even comes in patterns, such as floral. Our most popular brands of pavers, including Unilock, Cambridge and Techo-Bloc are made from concrete and look the part.
Glass Look
While many may think of glass as too delicate to use in masonry, this is a misconception. Glass offers a strong yet beautiful look for kitchens, bathrooms, or other tile applications-however, it is for use on vertical surfaces only. Glass tile offers color opportunities that other types of tile cannot naturally achieve, including jewel tones and ombre designs. Its glossiness adds luxury and glamor to any project.
Limestone Look
A fine-grained stone made from bits of calcium carbonate sediment and fossilized remains, limestone is a classic stone building material. It is very similar in appearance to some marbles, and in fact, the famous “Portoro marble” used for centuries in Mediterranean architecture is actually a type of limestone! Many famous traditional buildings in London are also built from limestone. If you want to rejuvenate your 19th or early 20th century home, limestone is the perfect accent.
At Astro, we offer both limestone look tiles made of porcelain and natural limestone products.
Marble Look
A type of limestone changed through natural processes, marble is differentiated by the presence of recrystallized minerals within it that give it a unique appearance. Types of marble are differentiated by the colors of the minerals within these “veins”, which vary due to different impurities within them.
Our marble effect products include both natural marble and faux marble tile. Tile that looks like marble are most commonly made from porcelain or ceramic. Marble look tile comes in a number of shades and patterns to match the aesthetic your design calls for, whether it be Mediterranean, classic, or modern. Just the idea of marble evokes images of classic sculptures like Michalangelo’s David or the timeless architecture of Athens. Use marble to evoke these pictures of luxury and timelessness within your classical, neoclassical, or federal-style home.
Quartz Look
A common mineral composed primarily of silica, quartz is naturally presenting in many colors, making it a wonderful material for masonry design. It is an important component in sandstone, but stands alone as its own beautiful component as well. Astro has porcelain tiles that mimic quartz stone’s versatile appearance, often comparable to marble, and stacked stone panels that offer a gorgeous natural look for your landscape.
Sandstone Look
Sandstone is a natural material that is formed from compressed sand, generally quartz and feldspar in composition. It can come in any color, but some of the most common are brown and tan, yellow, red, gray, and pink. The stone forms when the grains of sand are transported to an area where they are deposited, usually by water or wind, and build up over time. They become compressed and undergo a series of reactions that reduce space and form the stone. This material has been used for construction since prehistoric times. Whether it is sandstone effect porcelain tiles or true sandstone masonry pieces to complete your poolside, wall, or steps, this is another one of those materials that is truly versatile. Sandstone helps give your home a classic Mediterranean appearance, or it can be paired with grayer shades for a fresh modern look.
Slate Look
If natural stone is what you are looking for, check out what we offer for our slate looks. A fine-grained metamorphic rock, slate was a popular roofing material in 19th century Europe and commonly used in Tudor-style architecture. It has found its place as a contemporary building material as well. Slate is commonly gray, but can come in other shades, including blues, greens, and purples. We have ledgestone kits to help you make a fire pit or wall grill to match your patio, or if you want something lighter to complete your project, we have slate look porcelain tile pavers that are indistinguishable from the real thing.
Terrazzo Look
Terrazzo, a composite material traditionally made with marble chips, has burgeoned in popularity in recent years. It is occasionally made with glass, granite, or quartz as well, with the accent material sprinkled into a cementitious and/or polymeric binder.
Though one of the most common examples of terrazzo is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this composite was developed most extensively in Italy, making it a great match for Italian or European-style projects. Though traditional examples of terrazzo are refined, some contemporary ones are more colorful, taking on a confetti-like aesthetic that is reminiscent of the 80s. With this avenue, terrazzo can take on a more fun and ultramodern look. Jump on this trend with our terrazzo look porcelain tile, or go for the real thing with terrazzo pavers and coping for your walkway. Terrazzo is an excellent choice for those looking to stay trendy or for a business that welcomes lots of traffic.
Travertine Look
Travertine is a natural stone that is incredibly variable. If unique, yet classy, is what you want, a travertine look may be for you. It comes in a variety of colors from white to red and can get a weathered look from natural spring water erosion. It is a type of subterranean limestone that sometimes achieves a pitted appearance from interactions with water components. This pitting may be filled in or left in its natural state when used in your masonry work.
It is attractive as an outdoor walkway and as natural stone, is durable. However, in recent years, it has become popular for indoor masonry as well, particularly with faux travertine tile options. The Travertina line from Techo-Bloc mimics the look of natural travertine and is very popular on Long Island.
Wood Look
A wood look will never go out of style. It is compatible with so many trends, types of homes, and can be used indoors and out. It is a rustic style that fits beautifully in a cabin, French country home, Craftsman designs, a cottage, or farmhouse style projects. Not surprisingly, timeless wood looks are making a comeback in modern design, too. Since natural wood is susceptible to threats such as rot, decay, and pests, wood-look masonry is an excellent choice to make sure your project lasts a lifetime and beyond.
Wood effect tiles are available in a number of materials, including stone and porcelain. Wood look tile is indistinguishable from the real thing and like authentic wood, comes in so many colors and “grains”. Wood look is a great choice if you may consider changing your aesthetic in the future, as it is easily transitioned to a new design.
If you still aren’t quite sure the look you’re going for, visit our masonry yard! You can check out some samples, and once you’ve decided, get a quote and order your product!
Sources
- “Cobblestone”. Wikipedia. 2023
- “How Terrazzo Moved Out From Under Our Feet to Absolutely Everywhere”. Vogue. 2019.
- “Limestone”. Wikipedia. 2023
- “Limestone: Characteristics, Uses, & Problem”. U.S. General Services Administration. 2016
- “Marble”. Wikipedia. 2023
- “Quartz”. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2023
- “Sandstone”. Wikipedia. 2023
- “Slate”. Wikipedia. 2023
- “Terrazzo”. Wikipedia. 2023.
- “What is Travertine? Everything You Need to Know About This Natural Limestone”. Better Homes Gardens. 2023