Today’s architects, designers, and home owners often try to capture the details of yesteryear’s buildings. When designing a new structure, great thought is given to moldings, symmetry, windows, roofing material. Of course, what can be more traditional than a stone home, stone foundation and stone chimney? Sadly, too often, the attention to detail is lost with the masonry. Surprisingly, these buildings are being constructed as additions to existing historical masonry homes, or in small towns, where masonry buildings exist. With these fine examples of traditional masonry buildings the end product is a poor match.

Cochran’s Stone Masonry & Timberframaing specializes in period stone masonry. We have studied hundreds of stone buildings, measured fireplaces and detailed arches, and examined pointing and stone construction techniques. All these details help to achieve an exact match to your project.

Cochran’s Stone Masonry & Timberframing works closely with the architect or designer to make sure the plans are completed properly to accommodate the stone, and to make sure the openings are large enough to allow for a traditional fireplace and chimney. All this helps to eliminate unforeseen problems that will hinder the project.

Cochran’s Stone Masonry & Timberframing also works closely with the owners, viewing the structure that is to be matched or comparing vernacular masonry buildings. To ensure the proper stone is chosen, and the proper masonry techniques are used to complete the project, we also locate the proper stone. Instead of buying an “off the shelf” stone that often is gathered hundreds of miles away, Cochran’s Stone Masonry & Timberframing searches local areas, farms, salvageable buildings, and local quarries. We make every effort to ensure the correct stones are purchased and used for your project.

Once the stone has been selected, Cochran’s Stone Masonry & Timberframing places the stone in the fashion that matches the existing structure or local architecture. The stone is then pointed to an identical match of the existing mortar, duplicating color, strength, and composition.

Several years ago, Cochran’s Stone Masonry & Timberframing moved and reconstructed a stone and timber barn. We used all the old timbers, the stone, and the type of masonry was matched exactly, right down to the lime mortar. After we had completed the barn, several architects and historians looked over the building, some believed the barn to have been there for 150 years! That tells us we’re doing what we do best.