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Mortar usually gets less attention than the brick itself, but it plays a major role in how a wall looks, handles moisture, and performs over time. Many of the issues that show up later, from patchy appearance to cracking, can often be traced back to mortar decisions made before the first brick is laid.

Stone veneer problems rarely show up during installation. They appear after the wall cures, when the building is finished around it and someone steps back and sees the whole façade at once. Colour variation, blending that looks off, a tie-in that reads as a patch. By that point the wall is finished around it, the crew has moved on, and fixing it means putting scaffold back up and bringing the crew back. That is an expensive way to learn something that was knowable before the first piece went up. Most of it starts earlier than people expect. Sometimes before material is even ordered.

As the new year begins, designers are envisioning the interior trends that will define 2026. This year, mindful living takes the spotlight, as thoughtfully defined spaces, soft curves, warm palettes, and natural materials come together to create a truly restorative home.