Many of Water Gems' most successful projects have involved the use of stone as retaining or feature walls, as stepping stones, paving or to construct water features.
Wherever possible we use traditional lime mortars, rather than sand and cement, because the softness allows necessary movement once the stonework has been finished. Where water and stone overlap, care must be taken to prevent leaching of lime or minerals into the water. Care must also be taken to avoid using very porous stones which give a good substrate for algal growth. In these situations harder, less porous materials such as Caithness flags or polished granite are useful.
Much of our work involves dry-stone walling as well as more conventional wet walling, the latter often with cut or dressed sandstone. Curved walls can have seats incorporated and timber finishes can be used on these or in other ways within the stonework.
Natural materials often marry together very well to give beautiful, organic structures.