|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Materials/Products
Q: What are commonly used materials in the New England area?
Bluestone, granite, and limestone have been hallmarks of the New England architecture for generations. We inventory and fabricate these materials for a wide array of products and uses.
Q: Where do you purchase your materials?
The
majority of our stone products are from the Northeast region. Our bluestone
is native to the New York/Pennsylvania border, and is available in both
natural cleft and thermal textures/colors. Typically, granite used for
outdoor applications is brought in from Vermont and New Hampshire. Our
veneers and fieldstone are trucked from all corners of New England, Upstate
New York, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, our history and extensive experience
in the trade allow us to investigate and procure materials to satisfy your
creative requirements.
Q: What are the different styles of veneer stone?
Veneer material –used to façade a homefront or construct a retaining wall—is delineated into three styles. “Ashlar” is a hewn stone, split into strips, on average between five and fifteen inches in length. A “mosaic” stone is a stone laid flat, fit together with other pieces according to the mason’s discretion. The “squares and rectangles” designation
is a simple block shape, generally taller and narrower in appearance when
compared to the ashlar. Fieldstones, those traditionally used to construct
ground walls, are commonly employed in retaining walls.
Fabrication
Q: What are the different methods and according materials
for creating a walkway or patio?
There are two basic delineations in what is known
as “flagging” material, or simply stone used to step on: irregular and pattern stone. Irregular stone is straightforward: broken, jagged edges and uneven surfaces provide a natural and aged appearance. Generally laid in proximity, they work well in informal or rustic settings. In contrast, pattern material –generally natural cleft/thermal bluestone or granite – is
cut into sizes that allow for a formal, preconceived appearance. We gladly
render designs to fit your dimensional capacities and imagination.
Q: What is the extent of your custom fabrication
abilities?
We specialize in fabricating products that fit precisely
to your needs. Often we work in concert with landscape architects, contractors,
and masons, but our work over the years makes s us comfortable handling
small, retail orders as well. A walk through the stone yard and a conversation
about dimensional and texture requirements is all we need to get started.
From this point, we can often produce a pricing quotation, estimated lead-time
for production, and contribute our own thoughts on the design or installation
process. Site visits are not out of the norm and we welcome your questions
and comments throughout the process. Our experience and capacities allow
us to produce almost any custom requirements with our full range of hand
and automated abilities.
Q: How is custom architectural work priced and how long
will it take to produce a finished piece of stone?
Both pricing and lead-times are based on a variety of factors
including the original material, its availability, the extent and type of labor
the stone requires, and the type of custom work already preceding it in the “queue.” Most
custom orders are produced within a three week time period, and we try to fulfill
small orders as soon as possible.
Q: What are the types of finishes I can choose from for
edgework?
Wall caps, steps, and other products with noticeable edging
require finished handwork for presentation. Depending on the material and setting,
different edgework is available and appropriate. A “thermal” edge is finished with torched heat to provide a flat, bristled appearance. A “rock face” edge
is hand chiseled and indicative of much of the stonework in the Boston area.
It provides a naturally uniform appearance. A more traditional finish is the
snapped edge, typical of granite steps and curbing pieces, but also used on bluestone
steps. Our handwork and saw abilities allow us to profile almost any design onto
the edge of more intricate stone applications. Bullnose and beveling procedures
for countertops and copings are most common, but our design experience extends
to computer aided drafting to produce window lintels and other custom work.
Q: What is the process for installing a granite mailbox or lamppost?
We recommend leaving a 2” gap between the cap of the post and the top of the mailbox for aesthetic purposes, and installing the post at least 30” below grade for structural needs. We ask that you inquire from the postmaster in your
town as to the mandated height of the mailbox in your community before you dig.
We will install the bracket, drop it in a predug hole, and compact the area to
achieve a level and aligned post. Installation of the box onto the bracket is
a simple carpentry procedure we leave to you.
Q: Can you work with my contractor and/or architect to
decide how much stone I need and what it will look like?
We have been working with Boston-area architects and contractors for generations. Often custom work requires site visitation to assure quality in the finished material and efficiency in its production. We are glad to talk with any members of your construction team to assure a stone product that is seamless with its surrounding environment.
Q: Do you manufacture granite countertops?
We are not set up for the routines that rapid production and installation of custom countertops require. We recommend visiting those businesses who do specialize in such tasks. However, we do hone or polish our own materials, and when needed in concert to other architectural work, we will certainly work with you to produce a countertop that fits your design and budget requirements.
Delivery
Q: What do you use to deliver stone?
Our flatbed delivery truck offloads material with a mechanical
boom capable of placing pallets, steps, and posts a maximum of twelve feet from
its safely parked location. Its tare is 16.5 tons, its height is 12.5 feet, and
its length is 28 feet. We also have a dump truck capable of carrying a dropping
up to 12 tons of groundcover or wallstone material. We also have a “hopper,” which
can deliver up to 2.5 tons of stone dust or crushed stone with a palletized load
on a flatbed delivery.
Q: Where can you deliver?
We delivery anywhere in the New England area. We ask for your flexibility in the scheduling of delivery. We aim to be efficient and responsive in your delivery, and can accommodate a wide range of installation needs such as post/step installation, and difficult city deliveries. The timing and ability of the driver to deliver, however, is dependent on weather, traffic, and site intricacies. We ask that you consider the intended location of the delivered stone in relation to where the truck will be parked to place it. Septic tanks, newly excavated grade, low lying branches, wires, and traffic patterns are all relevant. The boom extends 12 feet from the rear of the truck.
Coverage/Weight of Materials
Q: How much does stone weigh?
- Bluestone: 13lbs/sq. ft./inch
- Granite: 170lbs/cubic ft.
- Limestone: 140lbs/cubic ft.
- Jumbo Cobblestone: 30 lbs each
Q: How much stone do I need?
- Veneer
- 35-40 sq. ft./ton for Mosaic and Squares/Rectangles
- 30 sq. ft./ton for Ashlar
- Flagging
- Cobbles
- Jumbos: 10 linear inches/piece (4x7x10 total dimension)
- Regulars: 9 linear inches/piece (5x5x9 total dimension)
- Wallstone
- (Cubic footage x 120)/2000 = required tonnage
- Ground Material
- Pebbles: 5 sq. ft./75 lb bag
- Dust/Crushed Stone: 10lbs/sq. ft./inch of material
How much does a pallet of stone weigh?
A typical pallet of material will weigh between 1.5 and 1.75 tons. |
|
| |
|
|
