Hear from Our Customers
You’re tired of contractors who promise one thing and deliver another. Your outdoor space should work as hard as you do—handling Long Island’s coastal weather, freeze-thaw cycles, and sandy soil without settling or cracking over time.
That’s exactly what you get when we handle your project. We excavate 8-10 inches deep, install proper base layers, and plan drainage from day one because we know Long Island’s conditions inside and out.
Your patio, driveway, or outdoor kitchen becomes the space where you actually want to spend time. No surprise costs, no cutting corners, no crews you’ve never met showing up to finish someone else’s work.
Stone Escapes is a family-owned masonry company serving Suffolk and Nassau Counties, including Stony Brook University and the surrounding areas. Owner Iain Traynor personally handles every estimate and stays involved throughout your project—no rotating crews or outsourced supervision.
Iain’s background includes union masonry work in Manhattan and learning the trade from his master carpenter father who immigrated from Scotland. That combination of formal training and old-school craftsmanship shows in every project.
We’re licensed in Suffolk County, Nassau County, Southampton, and East Hampton. We’re also BBB Accredited and carry full insurance because your peace of mind matters as much as the quality of our work.
Your project starts with an in-person estimate from Iain himself. We walk your property, discuss your vision, and explain exactly what’s needed to make it work with Long Island’s soil and weather conditions.
Next, we handle permits and planning. Our team creates a detailed project plan that addresses excavation depth, base preparation, drainage solutions, and material specifications. You know exactly what’s happening and when.
During installation, the same crew that starts your project finishes it. We excavate to proper depth, install compacted base layers, and use edge restraints to prevent shifting. Every step is designed to handle coastal moisture, sandy soil, and seasonal temperature changes that affect Long Island properties.
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Your masonry project needs to handle more than just foot traffic. Long Island’s sandy soil, coastal salt exposure, and freeze-thaw cycles create unique challenges that generic installation methods can’t address.
We’re certified installers for Cambridge, Techo-Bloc, Unilock, Nicolock, Eldorado, and Boral—premium manufacturers that back their materials with lifetime warranties. But materials are only as good as the installation behind them.
That’s why we excavate deeper than standard requirements, use proper base compaction, and install drainage systems that prevent water damage. Whether you’re in Stony Brook University’s campus area or the surrounding residential neighborhoods, your project gets the same attention to Long Island’s specific soil and weather conditions that have kept our clients satisfied for over 15 years.
Most paver patio projects in the Stony Brook University area take 1-2 weeks from start to finish, depending on size and complexity. The timeline includes proper excavation to 8-10 inches deep, base preparation, and installation of edge restraints.
Weather can affect the schedule, especially during Long Island’s wet seasons when proper base compaction becomes critical. We don’t rush the foundation work because sandy soil requires extra attention to prevent settling.
Custom features like outdoor kitchens, fire pits, or retaining walls add time but we’ll give you an accurate timeline during your estimate. The owner stays involved throughout to ensure quality and keep you informed of progress.
Long Island’s sandy soil and coastal conditions require specific installation techniques that many contractors overlook. Sandy soil drains well but shifts easily without proper compaction and base preparation.
We excavate deeper than standard requirements and use multiple base layers with proper compaction percentages. Coastal salt exposure and freeze-thaw cycles also mean we select materials and installation methods that handle these stresses without cracking or deteriorating.
Drainage planning is critical here because water pooling can undermine even properly installed masonry. We design drainage solutions from the beginning rather than trying to fix problems later.
Yes, we handle all permit requirements for masonry projects in Suffolk County, Nassau County, Southampton, and East Hampton. Iain is licensed in all these areas and familiar with local building codes and requirements.
Permit requirements vary depending on project scope and location. Simple patio installations might not need permits, but retaining walls over certain heights, outdoor kitchens with gas lines, or projects affecting drainage typically do.
We identify permit needs during your estimate and handle the application process. This prevents delays and ensures your project meets all local requirements from the start.
All our paving stone and brick work comes with a five-year guarantee against craftsmanship defects, including settling. You receive a stamped guarantee certificate when you sign your contract.
The materials themselves carry lifetime warranties from manufacturers like Cambridge, Techo-Bloc, and Unilock against defects. This combination of installation and material warranties gives you complete protection.
Our warranty covers settling because we know Long Island’s sandy soil requires proper base preparation. If issues arise from our installation methods, we fix them at no cost to you.
Freeze-thaw cycles are a major concern for Long Island masonry, so we use installation methods specifically designed to handle seasonal temperature changes. Proper base depth and drainage prevent water from pooling and freezing under your pavers.
We also select materials that handle temperature fluctuations without cracking. Interlocking pavers perform better than solid concrete in freeze-thaw conditions because they can move slightly without breaking.
Edge restraints are critical for preventing winter frost heave from shifting your installation. We install commercial-grade restraints that keep everything in place through multiple freeze-thaw cycles.
You get the owner personally involved in your project from estimate to completion. Iain handles every estimate and stays involved throughout installation—no rotating crews or outsourced supervision.
We’re one of the few contractors featured in Cambridge Pavingstone’s magazine, which recognizes exceptional installation quality. Our techniques exceed ICPI standards and address Long Island’s specific soil and weather challenges.
Most importantly, a large portion of our business comes from referrals from satisfied customers. When your neighbors see work that still looks great years later, that’s the reputation we’ve built over 15 years in business.
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