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Build a Fire Pit Seminar
April 1, 2008
The show was a great success. Don from Karme was very detailed from start to finish on all parts of the creation of the fire pit. Explaining everything from the footing needed to the mortar texture, tools to get the job done even how to insert the gas lines. As well as fire glass, sand or lava rock that is needed to fill the finished fire pit. The customers were extremely happy, getting all their questions answered.
June Kelly
KRC Rock
Landscaping with Boulders
What boulders do for the design
Boulders are strong elements in a landscape and can add great interest and character when properly positioned in your design. They add color, texture, mass and a sense of stability to an environment, whether natural our man-made.
Boulders and smaller stone offer beauty, and utility if they serve a purpose in the design, much like we find boulders serving a purpose in a natural environment. That purpose typically is to define an area, retain soil or create obstructions to control the flow of water.
Tips for placing boulders
As a general rule, boulders should appear ‘grounded’ to the earth, as opposed to looking like they fell off a truck. With some very round boulders this may require burying up to one-half of the boulder, while boulders with flat bottoms may look fine with only an inch or two buried below the surface.
Typically a boulder has a side or ‘face’ that looks better from the primary viewing location. Selection of the face may be pure aesthetics, like color or character, or it may be defined by the shape that makes it work better for its purpose in the landscape. Most boulder placement professionals can identify the better face of a boulder with a quick glance and this is something the novice can become good at in short order. The first step in selecting the face is to determine the bottom of the boulder. The bottom is usually the more massive part of the boulder.. Once the bottom, and thus the top are known, simply select the side of the boulder that most appeals to you. When the boulder is moved into position, you may want to do some fine tuning to get the best presentation.
While a single boulder can be used, most boulder installations involve several pieces and usually in grouping of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 or more. Beyond two pieces, odd numbers are preferred.
Boulders placed in groups should also have varying heights. If three pieces, the larger one in typically placed between the other two. When viewed from above, it looks more natural if the boulders are not in a straight like. The bird’s eye view of the boulders, and the view from the primary viewing location, could be thought of as being a triangular placement, and better if a scalene triangle (no equal sides and no equal angles).
Jerry Sebby
KRC Rock, Inc. |
