A Time-Tested Art Form
Stone has been utilized in construction for centuries, and many original structures built during antiquity still stand due to the timelessness that this art form offers. With stones as unique as the hands that lay them, each masonry project offers one-of-a-kind aesthetic qualities. At John Cortese Masons, we harvest our stone locally and often by hand from Bernardsville Stone Quarry, to ensure the best quality and variety of stone for our clients.
Our Stone Is…
1. Local
John Cortese Masons, Inc. uses stone from mostly local stone quarries, or harvests the stone locally by hand. These practices not only ensure that our stonework blends naturally with the landscape, but they also allow us to supply beautiful, local stones with lower fuel costs and thus a smaller carbon footprint.
2. Durable
Stone masonry is among the oldest and longest lasting traditional building techniques and is a great choice for the environmentally conscious. The physical properties of stone make it an appealing choice from an ecological standpoint. While many more modern building materials can reduce up-front construction costs, none display the strength and resilience to natural elements as stone. Over time there is minimal required maintenance for stone masonry, which reduces repair costs. The durable qualities of stone are in large part of the reason why many constructions from antiquity continue to survive after thousands of years.
3. Energy Efficient
Stone masonry has great thermal characteristics which provide good insulation to a home or building. The stone gradually releases hot or cool air, and thereby reduces energy consumption. Different types of stone may insulate better depending on its mineral composition.
*Frank Gesualdo and Anthony Cortese have been designated forest stewards by the U.S Department of Agriculture and the NJ Division of Parks & Forester.