Here in Muskoka, we’ve got our own way to rock

MUSKOKA SUN — There are a lot of options for building materials when it comes to landscaping a cottage property.
When constructing something like a patio, owners can go the very natural path with wood or a sturdier option like brick. But a growing number of Muskokans are looking to the land their cottage sits on for their patio material.
Jeremy McCabe, sales and operations manager with Gravenhurst’s Muskoka Rock Company, said more and more cottagers are choosing granite for their entranceways, patios and landscaping.
“If people love a natural stone look they’re going to fall in love with a granite product,” said McCabe. “You can buy limestone and whatnot but it’s a little bit more of a monotone gray colouring.”
But if you think the decision-making is just a matter of choosing the type of stone, think again: the options with granite are many and varied. “Granite tends to have a lot of character, especially the way we cut it,” said McCabe. “You get a lot of swirling and great colour patterns.”
When choosing granite in Muskoka, it makes sense to look for stone that matches the existing landscape. That means buying locally – a sensible move anyway, considering the cost of transporting heavy materials. McCabe’s firm buys stone from several nearby quarries, ensuring there’s a range of colours and textures available.
That’s particularly helpful when cottagers want to add granite to an area that’s already had some landscaping done.
“It’s great for a homeowner that has existing granite stone so they can match it,” said McCabe. “We can say ‘here’s product from four different quarries, which one matches up with what you have?’”
It also helps to have a range of choices when creating a new landscape. Cottagers can choose the colour and texture of the stone they like, selecting flagstones the same way they would choose paint colours or tiles indoors. “If it’s a completely new site with new landscaping to be done, the homeowner has a choice.”
The Muskoka Rock Company uses a high-powered traveling bridge saw, which allows them to precisely cut stone with a wide range of colours and density. In the past, landscaping could only be done with stones that could be split with a massive hammer. Not only was this time-consuming, but the variety of stone that could be used for building material was small.
On top of being a very sturdy material, natural stone can also bring other benefits to a property.
“If you have this product installed it’s going to increase your property value. A lot of people say landscaping doesn’t but with this stuff, if it’s done right, without a doubt you’re going to do well,” said McCabe.
For more information on the Muskoka Rock Company and their flagstone visit their website at www.muskokarockcompany.com.

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