Stonework

[Happy Monkey]

Over the past five to ten years my mom (with help from my dad and sisters) has been making a stone staircase at the weekend house. It has taken a very long time, as her skill increases so much as she moves from step to step that by the time she reaches the end, she is no longer satisfied with the first few, and has to start over.

She moves the stones by hand with levers and rollers from refuse piles left over from the Civil-War-era construction of the house, and cuts them to shape with hammer and chisel. Each step is seated on a concrete base, once all the stones are fitted.

December 2003

From the top:


From the side:


Detail of a step:


May 2004

This is the oldest part. It will probably be replaced, and a retaining wall added where the tumbled rocks are.


August 2005

Detail of a step. Skills have improved:


December 2006

View from above:


The patio at the bottom, adjoining the area under the porch:


A bit closer view from above:


Closeup shot looking down the steps:


An unfinished step at the top:

[lumberjim]

dude.

your dad is the new yankee worksop guy, and mom is an amateur mason? and you make shit out of tape!?


well, at least you wear a lot of flannel, i guess.

[Happy Monkey]

I've always worked smaller scale...

[xoxoxoBruce]

She's a glutton for punishment. My back is aching just looking at the pictures.

[Undertoad]

The next seventeen owners should thank her for her work.

[kerosene]

That is lovely! Thank you for sharing.

[Griff]

If your Mom ever needs another lifetime of work let me know. Awesome!

[glatt]

Taking the time to build something carefully out of stone is the most permanent way to leave your mark on the world.

My dad, who is in his mid 60's, has recently started working with stone. Made some very nice retaining walls. I wonder if it's a reaction to aging?

[lumberjim]

like a nesting mother? but the stones represent the headstone that will adorn their barrow?

[Happy Monkey]

Very cool, glatt! What's that shaped one on top?

Beautiful... I've got tha' envy.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Very cool, glatt! What's that shaped one on top?

It's a set of steps. I think it came from an old family barn/carriage house that was gone before my mom was born 60+ years ago. Must be at least 150 years old. I always wonder how they made it. I know how you split stone and how to cut through stone, but how would they have carved the notch where the step is? Did they have stone saws 150 years ago? They must have. Need to make two cuts that meet in the corner.

On the right of the stairway, partially hidden behind a tree, is an old grind stone.

He got the rock from a quarry in Hawley. The stair treads were the expensive part since they were cut and shipped from an out of state quarry.

[LabRat]

Wow. That is seriously stunning work! How in the world did she learn how to do this, and what gave her the idea?

Glatt- if your dad starts making outdor fireplaces/BBQ pits, lemme know!!

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by glatt

It's a set of steps. I think it came from an old family barn/carriage house that was gone before my mom was born 60+ years ago. Must be at least 150 years old. I always wonder how they made it. I know how you split stone and how to cut through stone, but how would they have carved the notch where the step is? Did they have stone saws 150 years ago? They must have.

Yes. There's some interesting stuff in the observation level of the National Cathedral. Some of the pieces are amazingly complicated.

Originally Posted by LabRat

Wow. That is seriously stunning work! How in the world did she learn how to do this, and what gave her the idea?

She's done patios out of brick before, and she and my dad did some repair and restoration work on an old foundation next to the house. She's got several books, but I think she's mostly self-taught.

[jester]

those are beautiful pictures - i can only imagine how it looks up close & personal.