Collection

14 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
LONDON STONE | NATURAL STONE COLLECTION 2016 15
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Sam Diment, owner of HCL, talks about the importance of ensuring that
clients are educated and informed when choosing materials for their
garden, and how suppliers can help.
At HCL, we specialise in building and maintaining
gardens to the very highest standards. We work with
some of the country’s top designers, who choose us
for our eye for detail and experience in sourcing the
best quality materials for every project. Together with
London Stone, we help to advise prospective clients
and designers on selecting a natural stone product
that will work in their unique environment to enhance
the look and feel of the finished garden.
We want to ensure that we have happy clients,
not just on the day that the project is completed,
but for many years to come. This means educating
our customers and managing their expectations so
that they understand fully the properties of the stone
they have chosen, and its ongoing maintenance
requirements. It is fair to say that not every
type of stone on the market is suitable for every
situation, and some may require significantly more
maintenance than others. Different plots present
different challenges, and these external factors will
need to be taken into consideration when selecting a
natural stone material. For example, does the garden
have a lot of overhanging trees? These may produce
berries or encourage bird droppings, both of which
could stain a light-coloured, un-sealed stone. Each
client is also unique, and the needs of a family with
small children and pets are likely to be very different
from the needs of a young couple living in the city.
We are firm believers that these requirements and
considerations should all be discussed in detail at
concept stage, along with any ongoing maintenance
requirements, so that they can be budgeted into
the overall spend. We want the client to be able to
make their choice with confidence, fully informed
and after detailed discussions with their designer or
contractor.
This is where our designers and project
managers have learnt to lean on London Stone’s
expertise. We are always able to get impartial
advice on whether a particular product is suitable
for the intended setting, and London Stone also
provide crucial advice about sealing and cleaning
requirements, allowing us to present detailed and
accurate information to our clients. For example,
when we are selecting a stone for a front driveway
or ‘heavy wear’ area, we need honest and clear
advice about whether our suggested stone is likely
to mark when car tyres drive on it. In our experience,
London Stone provide the best advice and expertise
available on the market.
Hammersmith and Chiswick Landscapes,
www.hclandscapes.co.uk
For advice and orders visit our inspirational showrooms, go online at www.londonstone.co.uk or call +44 (0)8442 251 915
Check out London Stone and follow us on social media for hints, tips and advice.