Kirby Stone Company, LLC

The Phenomenon of Kirby Stone Company's Natural Thin Stone Veneer

2012-01-05T17:00:00.004-06:00

This segment will be the first in a series on natural thin stone veneer products as supplied by Kirby Stone Company. This series on thin stone will begin with an introduction into the products and discuss some of the specifications. Through the next several posts, we will look at many different aspects of the Kirby Stone Company natural thin stone veneer and how it may just be the material you need for your project.

You may be asking "what exactly is natural thin stone veneer?" There are a multitude of features to consider when discussing Kirby Stone Company's natural thin stone veneer. First off, it is important to note that Kirby Stone Company is capable of supplying natural thin stone veneer in many different selections of material. The details of varying products will be covered in a later post once we have established the groundwork of natural thin stone veneer.

Also note, the information provided is for general guidelines only and may not be suitable in all specific scenarios or instances. Feel free to contact one of our sales staff members to discuss your specific project for a precise determination and assessment of product needed.

Kirby Stone Company's natural thin stone veneer product begins as a natural stone harvested from beneath the earth within one of our quarry locations. A full depth stone (3"-5") is formed which at this point is ready to go through a special thin veneer saw to create a natural thin stone veneer. This thin veneer piece is an exact match to the full depth stone only in a thin version. Having a thin material has advantages which will be examined in a later discussion in this same series. The natural thin stone veneer available from Kirby Stone Company is offered in the same blends, colors, and shapes as the full thickness stone products. Whether your selection is a quarry chopped material, sawn chopped material, or a flagstone/builders material, it can be cut into a thin stone to fit the needs of your specific project.

Natural thin stone veneer is typically a nominal thickness of 1-1/4 inches. With the varying contours of the face of natural stone the depth could range from 3/4" to a thickness of 1-1/2". At Kirby Stone Company, we take great pride and go to great lengths in our quality control to see to it that there is a consistency in the variance of the range of the thickness of the stone within the standards and within the tolerance of the natural stone. This material is cut using a high quality, diamond blade saw set at a specific height in order to reach the thickness of 1-1/4". The thin stone used in the field of a vertical wall structure is considered a flat piece.

The weight of natural thin stone veneer is a great consideration to take into account. Kirby Stone Company's thin stone veneer weighs approximately 10-14 lbs/SF. This is a weight to remember when we detail the comparisons of the natural thin stone veneer to the natural full depth veneer. There are times when the weight of a product is a factor during the masonry phase of construction, which makes Kirby Stone Company the needed product.

Another aspect to the natural thin stone veneer is the ability to create a natural transition to the corner of a verical wall structure. Kirby Stone Company has the capability of creating a 90 degree corner piece with the use of a specially designed thin saw used for the purpose of cutting corner pieces. This piece of stone known as a corner piece is still the same thickness as a flat piece, but incorporates a 90 degree cut giving off the appearance of a full depth stone at the corner. There are returns coming off of each edge of the 90 degree, one being a short edge of approximately 3" and the other being a longer edge. This material gives the opportunity to keep with the aesthetics and appearance needed while creating the look of a full thickness stone on the corner of the structure or building.

This photo represents an example of a flat piece of Kirby Stone Company's natural thin stone veneer.

You can see in this photo the 90 degree angle created as a corner piece of Kirby Stone Company's natural thin stone veneer.

Now you should be able to begin to imagine the multitude of uses for the Kirby Stone Company natural thin stone veneer.

In the next edition we will evaluate some of the advantages of using Kirby Stone Company's natural thin stone veneer and conduct a comparison of the natural thin stone versus a man-made or concrete thin product.

Until next time, be sure to contact our sales team to help you with all of your natural stone selections in order to best maximize your design.

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

Project Showcase: Texas A&M University San Antonio Campus

2011-09-27T09:10:00.005-05:00

In this project showcase Kirby Stone Company will detail the eye catching and phenomenal construction of the brand new multi-purpose building on the permanent grounds of Texas A&M University San Antonio Campus - TAMUSA. This first building on the new campus weighs in at a little over 90,000 gross square feet. Set to house the library, bookstore, student services offices, classrooms, faculty, and administrative offices, and a food services area. This new addition to the campus was opened Fall 2011.

The design intent was/is a Spanish Mission Style which incorporates a great deal of detail in the stone and masonry installation. The desired natural stone used on this structure was Desert Sunset Sandstone harvested by Kirby Stone Company, LLC. This particular blend of stone is an extremely unique sandstone product, with very few sources available. The color of this natural stone ranges from a bright yellow to a soft mustard yellow and all colors in between.

Let's back up a bit to the Spanish Mission Style idea and we discuss the cut of stone used on this project. In order to replicate the look of a Spanish Mission the stone was harvested in a combination of hand squared and flagstone patterned natural stone product. The varying sizes and shapes of the stone are crucial in replicating the design intent. The other part of the equation is the importance of the installation. The installation of the stone is critical in keeping the design intent as well and assuring the Spanish Mission idea is followed. It was amazing to see the project during construction to see the amount of detail that went into the masonry craft of installing this to keep the desired look and quality.

While the majority of the stone installed on this structure was specified at a brick ledge depth of 3"-5", there was also a large amount of Kirby Stone Company's thin veneer stone product utilized. The thin stone veneer in the Desert Sunset had to mimic the full depth natural stone in appearance with the only difference being the depth. The thin veneer was installed on portions on the building that did not allow for a full brick ledge. Again, great work was completed by the masonry contractor to insure there was flawless transition from the regular depth stone and the thin veneer product.

Kudos goes out to Shadrock and Williams Masonry, LTD on the great amount of hard work and detail put into the applicationa and installation of this project. It's truly amazing how important the role of the masonry contractor is for a project of this magnitude. Shadrock and Williams did a superb job and showed a great deal of craftsmanship!

Here is one of many photos of the project.

To learn more information about TAMUSA and for more photos of the natural stone and chronological photos of construction follow the following links:

www.tamusa.tamus.edu/campusconstruction.html

www.tamusa.tamus.edu/images/newcampus/index.htm

It was a great pleasure for Kirby Stone Company to have the opportunity to work with everyone involved on such a unique project. Remember if you are looking for a natural stone product for your next project, Kirby Stone Company is the place to look.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Architect: Kell Munoz Architects

General Contractor: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Masonry Contractor: Shadrock and Williams, LTD

Stone Supplier: Kirby Stone Company, LLC

*Some information was collected from websites shown above.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: America the Beautiful (and Natural!)

2011-07-04T07:30:00.001-05:00

As we celebrate the Independence Day this July 4th, Kirby Stone Company, LLC wants to focus on the most renowned national landmarks and memorials that have had, and will always have, on the formation of the United States. The handful of landmarks and monuments discussed are only a few that use natural stone, and each possesses the same benefits characteristic of natural stone: unique, enduring, timeless and beautiful.

Arlington National Cemetery

Located in Virginia, Arlington National Cemetery was established during the American Civil War is a military cemetery. The land used for this reminder of all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces was originally the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and also serves as the burial grounds for many other individuals and Presidents influential to what America is today. For more information on Arlington National Cemetery, please visit the official site HERE.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a World Heritage Site located in northwestern Arizona, and it is renowned for its geological significance. The Colorado River snakes through the Grand Canyon, cutting the ravines to an average depth of 4,000 feet. These large incisions create a tremendous record of up to four geological periods, displaying a wide array of geological features, rock types and fossils…a geologist, paleontologist, archaeologist and biologist’s dream!! For more information on the Grand Canyon, please visit the official site HERE.

Lincoln Memorial

Sitting amidst the National Mall in Washington D.C., the Lincoln Memorial was built to honor Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Built in the design of a Greek Doric temple, the Lincoln Memorial utilizes Yule Marble, a sedimentary stone located in Colorado. The marble is known for the consistency of its pure white color. It does not possess the gray streaks typically found with quarried marble in Vermont and other areas of the country. The Lincoln Memorial has been the site of many famous momentous speeches, including Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. For more information on the Lincoln Memorial, please visit the official site HERE.

Mesa Verde

Similar to the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde is also designated as a World Heritage Site. Located in Colorado, Mesa Verde was the first national park set aside to preserve the works of man. The location includes some of the most well kept cliff dwellings in the world as well as many geological features. Most of the stone consists of sandstone and shale, and some rock formations date back 90 million years. Well known for the cliff dwellings, these structures, built within the cliffs, were occupied by the Anasazi people between 550 and 1300 AD. Cliff Palace is located within Mesa Verde and is considered the largest cliff dwelling found within North America. For more information on Mesa Verde National Park, please visit the official site HERE.

United States Capitol Building

The United States Capitol is one of the most recognized structures in the landscape of United States history. Located in Washington D.C., on top of Capitol Hill amidst the National Mall, the building is used as the workplace for Congress, and the name “Capitol” is latin for “city on a hill”. Freemason and the first President of the United States, George Washington laid the cornerstone of the structure, and while the original structure consisted sandstone, quarried in Virginia and ferried to Washington D.C., additions to the United States Capitol Building were built using marble. For more information on the United States Capitol Building, please visit the official site HERE.

Mount Rushmore

Situated within the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is one of the most visited national landmarks, hosting over three million visitors annually. The name derives from New York City attorney, Charles E. Rushmore, who, in 1855, was appointed to find the title of ownership to the property on which the monument was carved. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and later by his son Lincoln Borglum, the sculptures include 60-foot heads of the former Presidents of the United States in granite. The project’s construction began in 1927 and continued until funding expired in 1941. For more information on Mount Rushmore, please visit the official site HERE.

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is an obelisk, a tall four-sided tapering monument, located near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and due east of the Lincoln Memorial in the National Mall. Built to commemorate George Washington, the monument is constructed of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, much of which was donated from states throughout the Union and foreign dignitaries. The Washington monument is both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 555 feet 51⁄8 inches, and until the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, the monument was the tallest structure in the world. Construction of the monument began in 1848 but was not completed until 1884. The monument was finally dedicated in 1885. For more information on the Washington Monument, please visit the official site HERE.

Rainbow Bridge

Located within the feet of Navajo Mountain in southern Utah, Rainbow Bridge is considered to be one of the world’s highest natural bridges at 290 feet. Consisting of sandstone formed during the Triassic and Jurassic periods, Rainbow Bridge was known for centuries by Native Americans as sacred. They referred to the structure as Nonnezoshe or "rainbow turned to stone”. It was not until 1910 when the structure became known to the public, as President William Howard Taft deemed it a national landmark to preserve this "extraordinary natural bridge, having an arch which is in form and appearance much like a rainbow, and which is of great scientific interest as an example of eccentric stream erosion." For more information on Rainbow Bridge, please visit the official site HERE.

From all of us at Kirby Stone Company, LLC, we wish you a safe and memorable Independence Day. Remember all those who have come before and blazed a trail to what the United States is today. God Bless America!

For more information regarding Kirby Stone Company, LLC or our quarry-direct
natural stone products, please feel to visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

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NATURAL STONE FUNDAMENTALS: Benefits of Natural Stone

2011-06-27T08:08:00.009-05:00

When beginning a new project, whether the project entails new construction of a residential or commercial development or the renovation of a pre-existing project, perhaps a patio or fireplace, the use of natural stone grants the user the benefit of several characteristics and qualities that will distinguish the project and provide you with the satisfaction of a high-quality finished product. The benefits of using natural stone in your next project include all of the following:

Unique

Limestone with Fossils - Approx. 20 million years old

Natural stone is manufactured by the earth itself, and the aesthetics of the stone are often affected by the weather and other environmental conditions, making most stone unique to the region in which it is quarried. Every slab of natural stone has characteristics distinctive to that particular stone. The benefit of such a characteristic ensures an appearance within a landscaping or construction project that is truly one of a kind.

Enduring

The Alamo - San Antonio, Texas

The earth produces natural stone over a period of millions of years, and stone is featured in some of the largest architectural feats in history. Many of these historic landmarks utilizing the benefits of natural limestone or sandstone include the Alamo, the pyramids of Egypt (limestone), the City of Pompeii and many other projects from the beginning of civilization to modern times. When using natural stone, you can be assured your project will endure several lifetimes!

Timeless

Empire State Building - New York, New York

Utilizing natural limestone and sandstone promotes a distinct sustained resource that provides depth and contrast to the design aspects of a project. The durability and strength of natural stone and the variations of colors and textures contribute to a wealth of design ideas that will outlast any construction fad and withstand the test of time.

Beautiful

Prince Edward Islands - Sandstone Arch

When thinking about natural stone’s qualities, no one characteristic is more vital than the stone’s beauty. This trait is the sum total of natural stone’s unique, enduring and timeless qualities. The variation in texture and color from one stone to the next, the stone’s innate ability to endure and the intrinsic value of a design that promotes aesthetics from era to era all prove natural stone to be an asset to any project.

For more information regarding Kirby Stone Company, LLC or our quarry-direct
natural stone products, please feel to visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

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KIRBY STONE PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Cascada at Canyon Lake

2011-06-20T08:17:00.010-05:00

Cascada at Canyon Lake – Exterior Signage

The Team

Design Firm: A-Design by Gustavo Arredondo, San Antonio, Texas
Landscape Design: TBG Partners, San Antonio, Texas
Developer: Stadler & Leatham Development, Bulverde, Texas
Masonry Contractor: JM Castillo Masonry, San Antonio, Texas

The Project

With the entrance completed in 2009, Cascada at Canyon Lake is one the Spring Branch, Texas’ newest master planned communities. Situated north of San Antonio, the project is located near Canyon Lake and the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. Amidst these natural attractions, Cascada at Canyon Lake is a luxurious hill country playground with large lots for new custom homes. Home builders within the community currently include Stadler Custom Homes and VERITAS Custom Home Builders.

For more information regarding Cascada at Canyon Lake, including local amenities, available lots and more, please visit them online HERE.

Cascada at Canyon Lake – Guard House & Gated Entrance

The Stone

The stone selection for the Cascada at Canyon Lake project is Kirby Premium Cave natural limestone, originating from Kirby Stone Company’s limestone quarry located in Salado, Texas. Our first Kirby Premium Cave project, we were oringinally skeptical of the stone’s ability to stand on its own, due to the dark colors and hard textures associated with this natural limestone product. However, as Kirby Stone Company, LLC has always done, we accommodated Bron Leatham’s vision for the development, and Kirby Stone Company, LCC was excited to be part of such a unique, beautiful project.

As one reviews these photos of the project in the blog, you will notice the predominance of an extremely rough texture and rustic color throughout the project’s community walls and entrance design. The color and texture of the natural limestone is complimented well by the rust-colored wrought iron, and the total package blends well with the natural landscape of the Texas Hill Country.

Laid in an ashlar pattern, the Kirby Premium Cave natural limestone has been prepared into a sawn, chopped form. Ranging from four inches to ten inches in face height, the Kirby Premium Cave limestone is sawn on the top and bottom with rough, split faces on the remaining sides.

Cascada at Canyon Lake – Community Walls

For more information regarding Kirby Stone Company, LLC or our quarry-direct
natural stone products, please feel to visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

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STONE SHOWCASE: Hill Country Blend

2011-06-13T07:30:00.001-05:00

Product Description

Kirby Stone Company, LLC’s Hill Country Blend consists of a unique blend of natural limestone colors. Predominantly Kirby Cream, additional limestone colors include Salado Gold and Kirby White. Upon request, the ratio of cream, gold and white natural limestone may be altered to accommodate your project.

Hill Country Blend natural limestone is most often paired with a white mortar, which helps each individual stone unit stand out effectively.

Kirby Stone Company’s Hill Country Blend limestone is quarried in Salado, Texas. For more information or photographs pertaining to Kirby Stone Company’s natural limestone products, please visit our website.

Product Availability

Kirby Stone Company’s Kirby Cream natural limestone products are available in a variety of different styles and product types. A full list of available products is listed below. Should you have any questions regarding terminology, you may access Kirby Stone Company’s Stone 101 Lessons by clicking HERE.

Sawn Chopped Stone

Thin Veneer Chopped Stone

Sawn Patio Stone

Sawn Hearths and Lintels

For more information regarding Kirby Stone Company, LLC or our quarry-direct
natural stone products, please feel to visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

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HISTORIC PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: The University of the South

2011-06-06T08:24:00.013-05:00

All Saints’ Chapel – University of the South

With the mercury rising to consistent highs of 100 degrees last week, we at Kirby Stone Company, LLC are taking meteorology into our own hands by assuming summer in Texas is officially upon us! While the summer typically means students don’t have to think about school anymore until August or September, Kirby Stone Company’s article this week focuses on a natural sandstone stone project that has been recognized by organizations as one of America’s Most Beautiful Campuses. Today we will delve into some of the details surrounding Tennessee’s very own University of the South.

Walsh Ellet Hall – University of the South

The Project

Originally founded in 1857, the University of the South, which is fondly referred to as simply “Sewanee” to many of the school’s current enrollees, the opening of the school was delayed until 1868 due to the Civil War. However, the University of the South was strongly supported by several benefactors in the United States as well as England noting the Southern United States needed an Episcopal presence.

McClurg Dining Hall – University of the South

The first class of the University of the South began with nine students and four faculty members. However, the deeply embedded history of Sewanee in intercollegiate sports, the numerous additions and improvements to campus and the university’s dedication to education and its Episcopal belief system has helped Sewanee grow to the over 1,500 students and become one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.

The Stone

All of the natural sandstone used for the University of the South’s gothic architecture is inherently Tennessee. While many of the notable natural sandstone projects around the campus date back to the early 20th century, there are also several newer projects that boast many of the same ideas in design, including the McClurg Dining Hall.

McClurg Dining Hall – University of the South

The natural sandstone product used for the University of the South’s McClurg Dining Hall was all quarried in Tennessee. With over 2,000 tons of stone, much of the sandstone was quarried right on the Domain, the area’s common name for the 13,000 forested acres of campus. Additional sandstone product was quarried from surrounding Tennessee areas.

The meticulous nature with which the natural sandstone has been applied to the University of the South, even with their newer buildings, gives the campus an old world, Cambridge feel without ever having to leave their own backyard. Now that is GREEN! It is no wonder that the campus’ unique appearance through the use of indigenous natural sandstone consistently lands the University of the South near the top of “Most Beautiful Campus” surveys!

For more information regarding Kirby Stone Company, LLC or our quarry-direct
natural stone products, please feel to visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

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KIRBY STONE PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Baytown Fire Station No. 6

2011-05-30T08:00:00.002-05:00

The Team

Architectural Firm: BRW Architects, College Station, Texas

General Contractor: R. Hassell Builders, Houston, Texas
Masonry Contractor: Acme Constructors Inc., Houston, Texas

The Project

Completed within the first quarter of 2011, Baytown Fire Station No. 6 is the first new fire station in Baytown, Texas in approximately thirty-five years. The new fire station consists of approximately 10,000 square feet and is now functional and occupied by the Baytown Fire Department.

The Stone

The natural stone selection for this project originates from Kirby Stone Company’s limestone quarry located in Salado, Texas. One will notice the predominance of rustic color within a majority of the project’s walls. This natural limestone, consisting of approximately 95% of the project masonry façade, is most commonly referred to as “Nicotine” limestone among the natural stone community. The remaining 5% of masonry uses a bold, rust-colored stone most commonly named “Cave Stone”.

Laid in an ashlar pattern, the predominant natural limestone observed is Nicotine in a sawn, chopped form. Ranging from four inches to eight inches in face height, the Nicotine limestone is sawn on the top and bottom with rough, split faces on the remaining sides. In addition to the primary natural stone, the Cave limestone is utilized as an accent throughout the facility as well as other natural stone components of the property, including the refuse and fence columns. The Cave limestone provides a subtle, yet noticeable, complement to the Nicotine. Similar to the Nicotine limestone, the Cave limestone is also sawn on the top and bottom while the remaining sides maintain a rough, split-faced finish.

Complemented by the thick, dark cedar-esque siding, the Kirby Stone Company Nicotine and Cave natural limestone products offer a rustic, natural aesthetic consistent with a majority of BRW-College Station’s previous projects, many of which have gone on to win design awards. Headquartered in Baytown, Texas, Kirby Stone Company is proud to be a part of such a tremendous project adding to and upgrading our very own local heroes, the Baytown Fire Department.

For more information regarding Kirby Stone Company, LLC or our quarry-direct
natural stone products, please feel to visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

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STONE SHOWCASE: Desert Sunset

2011-05-23T07:39:00.011-05:00

Product Description

Kirby Stone Company, LLC’s Desert Sunset natural sandstone product will truly make any project type unique. The stone blend includes an array of radiant colors within the spectrum of yellow, from a soft yellow to a bold gold. Complementing Desert Sunset natural sandstone products with darker trim accents will ensure your project stands out from ordinary!

Kirby Stone Company’s Desert Sunset is most effectively used with a tan mortar color. As with many of Kirby Stone Company’s natural sandstone products, it assists in providing a natural aesthetic.

Desert Sunset natural sandstone is quarried in Lometa, Texas. For more information or photographs pertaining to Kirby Stone Company’s Desert Sunset natural sandstone products, please visit the Desert Sunset portion of our website. You may get there immediately by clicking HERE.

Product Availability

Kirby Stone Company’s Desert Sunset natural sandstone products are available in a variety of different styles and product types. A full list of available products is listed below. Should you have any questions regarding terminology, you may access Kirby Stone Company’s Stone 101 Lessons by clicking HERE.

Quarry Chopped Stone
Sawn Chopped Stone
Thin Veneer Chopped Stone
3” to 5” Flagstone
4” to 6” Flagstone
Thin Veneer Flagstone
1” to 3” Split Patio Stone
Sawn Patio Stone
Sawn Hearths and Lintels
Sawn Blocks

For more information regarding all of our stone products,
please visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC online at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com.

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HISTORIC PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Great Pyramid of Giza

2011-04-25T16:13:00.008-05:00

One of the world’s most recognizable structures and the only standing of the Eight Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is a historical natural limestone project of massive proportions and monumental insight into the design and engineering feats of Ancient Egypt. Today, we will discuss the facts and opinions surrounding how the Great Pyramid of Giza was created.

The Great Pyramid

The biggest of three large pyramids on the Giza Plateau along the west bank of the Nile River just outside of Cairo, the Great Pyramid of Giza has commanded a large portion of the attention of archaeologists and engineers alike.

Consisting of an estimated 2.3 million natural limestone blocks, the Great Pyramid of Giza covers over thirteen acres of land, with each side measuring 760 feet and rising to a peak of 460 feet tall. It is estimated that this massive project was built ranging anywhere from ten to twenty years, and as many as 50,000 people could have worked on the project.

While the pyramid rose at an angle of nearly 52 degrees, the means and methods behind this monolithic undertaking have been argued since it was first discovered.

The Stone

There has been much debate concerning the techniques used by ancient Egyptians to quarry, cut and dress rough-quarried natural stone for use in masonry. There have been no remnants of the drilling equipment or saws recovered, leaving all of us to only guess about the ancients’ drilling and sawing techniques.

However, we do know natural limestone quarried from the immediate area was the building material of choice for the Great Pyramid’s exterior façade. The builders designed the pyramid to have 210 horizontal layers of limestone. The underlying natural limestone blocks of the pyramid, what is primarily in visible decay today, averaged 2.5 tons per block. While the limestone blocks at the bottom of the pyramid were larger (approximately 6.5 to 10 tons), the size of the limestone blocks got smaller as the pyramid rose taller.

Finally, the Great Pyramid of Giza (as well as the surrounding pyramids on the Giza Plateau) was originally finished with Casing Blocks. These blocks were quarried from another region on the other side of the Nile. The limestone was notable finer, and the fifty-two degree angle was carved into these blocks, offering a highly-polished, white limestone pyramid that would stand as the largest man made structure for over 3,800 years.

Nearly all of the casing blocks have been stripped away over time, quarried from the pyramid to be used in construction projects in nearby towns. The Great Pyramid’s core masonry is now exposed to the elements and littered with huge divots and gashes, and the top is also missing, leaving a small platform about thirty feet square at the summit.

Nevertheless, the Great Pyramid of Giza remains the only Wonder of the World still standing and a constant basis of controversy when debating ancient design and engineering. More over, the Great Pyramid should remind us of the sustainability and versatility of natural stone usage in construction today. A product made of the earth will help maintain your project for the long haul!

For more information, please visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC online at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

STONE SHOWCASE: Kirby Cream

2011-04-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Product Description

Kirby Cream natural limestone, quarried in Salado, Texas, offers a rustic aesthetic with a variation of light colors and tints. Kirby Cream limestone includes a spectrum of cream and beige hues, creating more depth and texture within the appearance of a project.

Kirby Cream natural limestone is most often paired with a white mortar, which assists in providing the uniform color scheme our clients often desire when utilizing this natural stone product.

Kirby Cream limestone is quarried in Salado, Texas. For more information or photographs pertaining to Kirby Stone Company’s natural limestone products, please visit the Kirby Cream portion of our website. You may get there immediately by clicking HERE.

Product Availability

Sawn Chopped Stone
Thin Veneer Chopped Stone
Sawn Patio Stone
Sawn Hearths and Lintels
Sawn Blocks
Mill Blocks

For more information, please visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC online at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

STONE SHOWCASE: Chocolate Blend

2011-04-11T13:47:00.006-05:00

Product Description

Aptly named for the colors of this unique sandstone blend, Kirby Stone Company’s Chocolate Blend Natural Sandstone products offer a warm, chocolate colors ranging from a light mocha (almost tan) to a very dark chocolate. The natural sandstone blend is easily recognized by the color scheme and the stone’s unique striations, or stripes through some of the stone. In addition, many chocolate blend pieces have differing colors on each side of the stone, so you can make your project as light or dark as you see fit. Chocolate Blend natural sandstone is well-suited with a tan, or buckskin, mortar.

Aesthetically, the tan mortar color assists in maintaining the chocolate colors of the stone. Chocolate Blend sandstone is quarried in Lometa, Texas. For more information or photographs pertaining to Kirby Stone Company’s Chocolate Blend natural sandstone products, please visit the Autumn Blend portion of our website. You may get there immediately by clicking HERE.

Product Availability

Kirby Stone Company’s Chocolate Blend natural sandstone products are available in a variety of different styles and product types. A full list of available products is listed below. Should you have any questions regarding terminology, you may access Kirby Stone Company’s Stone 101 Lessons by clicking HERE.

Quarry Chopped Stone
Sawn Chopped Stone
Thin Veneer Chopped Stone
3” to 5” Flagstone
4” to 6” Flagstone
Thin Veneer Flagstone
Sawn Patio Stone
Sawn Hearths and Lintels
Sawn Blocks

For more information, please visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC online at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

The Great Big Texas Home Show...REVISITED!!!

2011-03-24T08:07:00.010-05:00

It is Kirby Stone Company, LLC’s hope some of our fans (and future clients!) took advantage of the opportunity to participate in this year’s Great Big Texas Home Show at Cowboy Stadium. The event took place on the weekend of March 11 - 13, 2011, and due to its enormous success, the dates for the 2012 Great Big Texas Home Show have already been set for March 9 - 11, 2012. Be sure and mark your calendars to ensure you do not miss another opportunity to build new ideas and dreams with the variety of products, services in builders in attendance!

This year, Kirby Stone Company, LLC had a fantastic opportunity to participate in the show as a preferred supplier of the Idea Home built by Sandlin Custom Homes. Through our grand partnership with Acme Brick Company, Kirby Stone Company, LLC was given this chance to supply and showcase our Chocolate Blend Flagstone/Builders on the Idea Home. A blog post from Wednesday, March 9, 2011 details the specifics about color, shape and size of this natural sandstone product.

As you may notice, this post includes several photos of the completed Idea Home, showcasing a stunning combination of brick and stone. Both of these building products were distributed by Acme Brick Company. In addition to the product utilized by Acme Brick for this project, Kirby Stone Company, LLC has an tremendous array of natural stone selections, both natural sandstone and limestone, to suit your needs. Go to www.kirbystone.com and take five minutes to request a Product Guide to learn more about our variety of products and how they may suitable to your needs!

Enjoy the photos and be sure to contact Kirby Stone Company when you are ready to order your natural stone products. We are ready to be your expert in all stone topics from the beginning of the design stage to the installed finished product.

We want to send a big “Thank You!” to all of the people involved with the Great Big Texas Home Show, especially to Sandlin Custom Homes and Acme Brick Company. We would also like to send a special thanks to Knight Lawn and Landscape Management for providing the photos from the show. If you are in the McKinney or surrounding areas be sure to check out Knight Lawn and Landscape Management for any of your landscaping needs. They are a high quality, family-owned business ready to help beautify your outdoors.

Please note, according to Sandlin Custom Homes' website, nearly all of the materials, including the natural sandstone, from the 2011 Idea Home will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Thank you to our followers as well! Check back very soon for another teaching installment on our natural stone products.

For more information about Kirby Stone Company, LLC, please visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

Great Big Texas Home Show - Cowboys Stadium - March 11-13, 2011

2011-03-09T08:41:00.003-06:00

As the saying goes, “Everything is BIGGER in Texas,” and the Great Big Texas Home Show at Cowboy Stadium is no different! Build your ideas, dreams and new projects after learning about all of the latest and greatest the new home construction industry has to offer.

Kirby Stone Company, LLC is proud to partner with Acme Brick Company to supply the natural stone product and participate in the construction of the Idea Home constructed by Sandlin Custom Homes at the main entrance to the Great Big Texas Home Show. The Idea Home will be the main attraction of the home show.

The natural stone featured on the Idea Home is Chocolate Blend Flagstone, a natural sandstone product supplied from Kirby Stone Company, LLC’s quarry in Lometa, Texas and distributed by Acme Brick Company. Chocolate Blend sandstone is a unique blend of tans, mochas and dark browns, creating a rich variety of earthy color. As natural sandstone blends go, Chocolate Blend stays within, yet runs the gamut, of tan and brown, and when blended together, the natural stone colors create a bold, unique aesthetic. Coupled with the right brick selection, or other design aspects such as window color, stucco finish, or roof design, Chocolate Blend natural sandstone will make this Idea Home stand out. The flagstone design featured on this Idea Home will be applied on a typical brick ledge with a stone depth of 3”-5”, and as the term flagstone indicates, the shape of the stone will have a random, asymmetrical pattern, similar to peanut brittle.

Now back to the show…Be sure to visit the Great Big Texas Home Show this weekend, and be certain to check out the featured natural stone product from Kirby Stone Company, LLC!!

For more information about Kirby Stone Company, LLC, please visit our website at:

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

STONE SHOWCASE: Kirby White

2011-02-28T13:24:00.005-06:00

Product Description

Chalky in nature, Kirby White natural limestone, quarried in Salado, Texas, is a bright white limestone with a relatively uniform color scheme. Occasionally, due to the inherent variances in natural stone, a handful of Kirby White natural limestone also has additional color (typically cream). Nevertheless, with Kirby White natural limestone, you can be certain you will receive the very best in natural stone quality, coverage and customer service.

Kirby White natural limestone is typically used with a white mortar, which assists in providing the uniform color scheme our clients often desire when utilizing this natural stone product.

Kirby White limestone is quarried in Salado, Texas. For more information or photographs pertaining to Kirby Stone Company’s Kirby White natural limestone products, please visit the Autumn Blend portion of our website. You may get there immediately by clicking HERE.

Product Availability

Kirby Stone Company’s Kirby White natural limestone products are available in a variety of different styles and product types. A full list of available products is listed below. Should you have any questions regarding terminology, you may access Kirby Stone Company’s Stone 101 Lessons by clicking HERE.

Sawn Chopped Stone

Thin Veneer Chopped Stone

3” to 5” Flagstone

Thin Veneer Flagstone

1" to 3" Split Patio Stone

Sawn Patio Stone

Sawn Hearths and Lintels

Sawn Blocks

Mill Blocks

For more information regarding all of our stone products, please visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC online at www.KIRBYSTONE.com.

TUNE IN NEXT MONDAY

“NATURAL STONE FUNDAMENTALS SERIES: Quarrying Natural Stone”

HISTORIC PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Taj Mahal

2011-02-22T14:19:00.018-06:00

Kirby Stone Company, LLC is offering a monthly spotlight on landmarks, both domestic and international, built with natural stone. The use of natural stone in the designs of these historic structures is no coincidence. The characteristics of natural stone, its beauty, timelessness and strength, are all reasons architects from the the modern era to the medieval ages used natural stone to build their master pieces.

As the month of February quickly comes to an end, the month known for Valentine's Day, Kirby Stone Company, LLC thought it noteworthy to discuss the Taj Mahal, an international historic project deemed "the epitome of love."

First, let's discuss what the Taj Mahal ACTUALLY is, its history and why it is acknowledged as one of the world's most famous symbols of love.

The Taj Mahal mausoleum stands at one end of the garden and rises from a 313 foot platform, displaying the structure's beautiful white marble. The tomb's structure is an octagonal shape with high portals on each side. The exterior of the tomb is characterized as a white marble exterior, inlaid with semiprecious stones. Arabic inscriptions, floral designs, and other prominent features of the tomb's interior are accented with quartz and marbles. The most recognizable feature, the roofing dome, forms a bulb reaching 115 feet.

Completed around 1653, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located along the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh state India. After over twenty years of construction, the Taj Mahal now stands as one of the eight wonders of the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final resting place for Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

Shah Jahan was emperor of India during the rule of the Mughal Empire, and it was a time of great prosperity for India. However, in 1631, the emperor became severely grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal (meaning "Jewel of the Palace"), died due to complications during the birth of their fourteenth child. Construction began on the Taj Mahal in 1632, one year after her death.

Over the course of approximately twenty-two years of construction and the enlistment of over 22,000 workers, emperor Shah Jahan captured the essence of his pure, enduring love through the Taj Mahal, the "Crown Palace."

In 1666, upon the death of Shah Jahan, he was laid to rest next to his wife in the tomb.

More Than a Tomb

While the tomb is the central focus and most recognizable portion of this historic landmark, there are several other carefully designed areas of the premises with deep symbolism and meaning with regard to the Islamic beliefs of the afterlife.

As one enters the premises, they are greeted by a large, red sandstone and marble structure known as the Great Gate. The main gateway is a monumental structure is reminiscent of Mughal architecture of earlier emperors, and the archways mirror the shape of tomb's archways. In addition, the Great Gate boasts vaulted ceilings and walls with elaborate designs, similar to those found in the other buildings throughout the complex.

In addition to the main entrance, the Taj Mahal complex has two additional structures with similar architecture surrounding the tomb. These two structures are mirror images of each on both sides of the rear of the tomb. The structure on the west side of the tomb is a Mosque while the structure east of the tomb served primarily as symmetric balance, but it has also been understood the Jawab may have been utilized as a guesthouse.

Finally, between the Great Gate and the tomb lie a highly-detailed, immensely symmetrical series of walkways and reflection pools know as the Garden with many aspects pertaining to spiritual symbolism of Islam. As displayed in the photograph above, the walkways were constructed of red sandstone, similar to the outlying structures and a popular building product among the Mughal tombs.

The Gardens, in addition to its profound symmetry, is noted to use quantities of four, the holiest number in Islam, and its multiples in several design aspects. The garden is divided into four parts, with two marble canals studded with fountains crossing in the center. In each quarter portion, there are 16 flowerbeds that have been divided by stone-paved raised pathways. It is even rumored each flowerbed has 400 plants.

Conclusion

Completed in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal remains one of the world's most beloved landmarks. A symbol of enduring love, the Taj Mahal was built with the finest products available to Shah Jahan during his reign as emperor. The main focus of this architectural design is the beautiful natural stone used, whether you look at the the tomb and its use of a beautiful, incandescent white marble or the magnificent, rich, red sandstone used to accent the Taj Mahal through its garden and surrounding structures.

STONE SHOWCASE: Autumn Blend

2011-01-25T16:25:00.012-06:00

Product Description

Named for the most colorful of seasons, Kirby Stone Company’s Autumn Blend Natural Sandstone products offer a natural ambiance with warm, earthy colors representative of leaves during the Fall. The natural sandstone mixture consists primarily of tan sandstone, approximately 65 to 75% of the blend, but Autumn Blend also includes light and dark browns, rusts and golds associated with Autumn.

Autumn Blend is most often paired with a tan, or buckskin, mortar. Aesthetically, the tan mortar color assists in maintaining the warm, natural colors of the stone.

Autumn Blend sandstone is quarried in Lometa, Texas. For more information or photographs pertaining to Kirby Stone Company’s Autumn Blend natural sandstone products, please visit the Autumn Blend portion of our website. You may get there immediately by clicking HERE.

Product Availability

Kirby Stone Company’s Autumn Blend natural sandstone products are available in a variety of different styles and product types. A full list of available products is listed below. Should you have any questions regarding terminology, you may access Kirby Stone Company’s Stone 101 Lessons by clicking HERE.

Quarry Chopped Stone

Thin Veneer Chopped Stone

3” to 5” Flagstone

4” to 6” Flagstone

Thin Veneer Flagstone

Sawn Patio Stone

Sawn Hearths and Lintels

Sawn Blocks

For more information regarding all of our stone products, please visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC online at www.KIRBYSTONE.com.

TUNE IN NEXT MONDAY

“HISTORIC STONE PROJECTS: The Empire State Building”

NATURAL STONE FUNDAMENTALS SERIES: Sandstone

2011-01-18T10:56:00.017-06:00

We follow Kirby Stone Company's initial lesson in natural limestone by taking a look at a sedimentary relative, sandstone. This blog post will help to better serve a compare/contrast analysis between natural sandstone and limestone.

Please feel free to visit Kirby Stone Company's OFFICIAL WEBSITE to find out more about our wide variety of products.

What is Sandstone?

Referring back to our reference guide, The Columbia Encyclopedia¹, we can gather this definition of sandstone:

"sedimentary rock formed by the cementing together of grains of sand. The usual cementing material in sandstone is calcium carbonate, iron oxides, or silica, and the hardness of sandstone varies according to the character of the cementing material; quartz sandstones cemented with quartz are the hardest."

Comparatively, natural sandstone and limestone are both sedimentary rocks. You can refer to our LIMESTONE lesson for more information on the classification of sedimentary rock. However, in contrast, natural sandstone is classified as grains of sand and rock that have been cemented together.

Natural sandstone often vary greatly in color, more so than limestone, due to the variations within the grains themselves. Thus, many times, sandstone is much more "earthy" with colors ranging from grays, buffs (or tan), reds, or browns, although green and some other colors may also be found.

St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, Australia

Usage of Sandstone Today

Similar to limestone, natural sandstone has been used for centuries a primary masonry material. From beautiful examples of art and architecture, like St. Mary's Cathedral above, structures that have stood the very test of time, like the Karnak Temple of Ancient Egypt below, sandstone has been used greatly worldwide due to the rich variety of colors that can be attained. This wide variety of colors give each project a unique aesthetic that, in turn, will never be exactly matched.

Karnak Temple, Egypt

It can only be assumed a product like natural sandstone was also used, aside from it's availability, because it is tremendously durable. While some sandstones are softer than others, a private residence today may not have worry about the slow erosion of a stone house because, even with some deterioration, the sandstone will be there long after we are all gone!

In addition to large structures and buildings, natural sandstone is also much easier to split than limestone. Therefore, it has become a tremendously popular product in a flagstone pattern, or irregular shape. With flagstone, a user is able to utilize it in a vertical wall application, similar to dimensional stone, but it can also be utilized creatively in landscaping and patio applications.

The versatility and durability of natural sandstone products in today's construction world make it a tremendous asset in planning your next project, inside or out. The wide array of colors, textures and shapes will be sure to make your project one of a kind!

TUNE IN NEXT MONDAY
"Stone Showcase: Autumn Blend"

References
1 "sandstone." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sandston.html

"ROCK" 2011 with Kirby Stone Company, LLC!

2011-01-04T13:24:00.013-06:00

Ready, Set...2011!!!

As we embark into the year 2011, a new decade, Kirby Stone Company, LLC plans to become YOUR source for everything natural stone. Through the implementation of social media outlets, Kirby Stone Company, LLC promises to keep all of our followers apprised and informed regarding natural stone in the marketplace, including new and existing products, market trends and lessons to grow your knowledge of natural stone.

Upon the review of several resources, Kirby Stone Company, LLC is forecasting growth in 2011 within an improving market with new commercial projects, homes construction, remodels, landscape renovations and more!

In 2011, Kirby Stone Company, LLC want to become your natural stone expert for all of your upcoming projects. There is no project too big or too small! Be sure to follow us along the way as we implement our plan to share more information and knowledge regarding natural stone and all of our products. We will have several series throughout 2011 on natural stone fundamentals, benefits, uses of natural stone, industry standard installation practices and coverage expectations as your personal authority and consultant for natural stone. In addition, we will share project highlights as the year progresses.

Be sure to check often as we begin this process, so you may be updated frequently and be able to make the most informed decisions possible when selecting your natural stone product. You may also visit Kirby Stone Company, LLC via our WEBSITE or follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and LINKEDIN.

Kirby Stone Company, LLC wishes each of you a blessed and prosperous 2011, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Kirby Stone Company, LLC Participates in ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

2009-10-12T15:03:00.034-05:00

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, America will once again grab for their box of tissues, as they learn of one family’s daily struggle after a life-altering tragedy and the effects a tremendous outpouring of generosity exhibited from their community can have, in a new episode of ABC’s hit series, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

The employees of Kirby Stone Company, LLC have always been avid fans of the show, and typical Monday office banter includes chatting about the episode from the previous night. Kirby Stone Company, LLC has often discussed how the natural stone supplier could get involved in such a noble cause, so when they were approached by Acme Brick Company to partner in a project to be completed in Lancaster, Texas, Kirby Stone Company, LLC eagerly accepted.

The Family
Ty Pennington and the ABC "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team arrived in Lancaster, Texas, at the Marshall Family's residence, a tremendous surprise to Carlton Marshall and another chapter in his long road to recovery.

Dallas Police Department’s Lieutenant Marshall was shot in the neck in October of 2007 while the Dallas SWAT team was executing a narcotics warrant at a residence in Oak Cliff. The injuries he sustained from the gunshot wound include severe spinal cord damage, loss of his hearing and a stroke. Since his injury, Lt. Marshall’s mobility is primarily limited to a wheelchair. However, even after doctors doubted he would ever walk again, Lt. Marshall can now move around for brief stints of time with the assistance of a cane.

But with mounting medical bills, the father of two young children has been unable to afford to make his home wheelchair accessible, much less address other, more expensive, issues with the Marshall’s home, including foundation problems, snakes in the wall and a septic system that backs up.

The new home will solve these issues as well as enable the Marshalls to continue their long-time volunteer work with Therapeutic Riding of Texas (TROT), a horseback riding therapy program for children and adults with mental and physical challenges, with a modified horse barn and stable capable of hosting TROT sessions.

The Project
In July of 2009, ABC, Ty Pennington and the rest of the crew for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to Lancaster, Texas to meet and surprise the Marshall Family. However, after Kirby Stone Company executives and employees visited the job site at midday during a Texas summer, one employee wondered who was more surprised: the Marshall Family surprised by the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” crew OR the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” crew after being welcomed in from Hollywood by the 100+ degree Texas heat!

Visiting the site was certainly an experience for all of the Kirby Stone Company staff attending. The entire project was completely orchestrated prior to the demolition and build days ensuing. However, even with an all encompassing plan, balancing construction time, film time, safety and other needs of the subcontractors and the countless volunteers was truly inspiring. Have you ever seen ants hard at work? They are all going in different directions and doing different things, but they are each focused on their individual responsibility contributing to the common goal. THAT is an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” jobsite!

After being surprised by Pennington on Friday, July, 10th, the Marshall Family went on vacation to Disneyland. By July 17th, the Marshall Family was back at home in their fantastic new home!

The Stone
In partnership with Acme Brick Company, Kirby Stone Company, LLC donated sixty-five tons of Tumbleweed Tan chopped natural stone for the project in Lancaster. The sandstone product was delivered to Lancaster by Acme Brick Company, via Kirby Stone Company’s sandstone quarry located in Lometa, Texas.

In a unique turn of events, the Dallas Police Department, a brotherhood affected greatly by the tragic event in 2007, circulated an email asking for officers to volunteer in hauling the Tumbleweed Tan natural sandstone for the masons to lay. So many responded, some had to be turned away.

The Revelation
The Marshall Family episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will air on ABC on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm.

Tune in this Sunday to learn more about the Marshall Family and the project in Lancaster, Texas!

For more information about Kirby Stone Company, LLC, our portfolio and our products, please visit us at our newly redesigned website.

www.KIRBYSTONE.com

PROJECT PROFILE: Fidelity Investments Southwest Region Headquarters - Phase II (Westlake, Texas)

2009-06-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

General Contractor: The Beck Group
Architectural Firm: HKS Architects
Masonry Contractor: Texas Stone and Tile

Situated upon approximately 315 acres of the Circle T Ranch in Westlake, Texas, the second phase of Fidelity Investments’ Southwest Region Headquarters is nearing completion. With HKS Architects, Inc. (http://www.hksinc.com/) as the design firm associated with Phase I, they along with The Beck Group (http://www.beckgroup.com/) have lead the design and construction management portions of the Phase II Building as well. Phase II of the project will share many similar features as Phase I, including the building’s location within a wooded campus overlooking a large lake. In addition to its surroundings, Phase II will also have a similar aesthetic appeal and layout, with a primarily natural stone exterior and a three-winged floor plan.

Also similar to Phase I, The Beck Group contracted Texas Stone and Tile (http://www.texasstone.com/) to be responsible for the masonry portion of Phase II’s development. Further, Texas Stone and Tile selected Kirby Stone Company, LLC to provide them with the natural stone for the project and deliver it directly from our sandstone quarry in Lometa, Texas. According to William Kelley, Kirby Stone Company’s sandstone quarry manager, Phase II of the Fidelity Southwest Regional Headquarters has used natural stone on approximately 135,000 square feet of the Phase II’s exterior and interior surfaces, including common areas such as stairwells and the cafeteria. An area of that magnitude calculates to approximately 3,000 tons of Kirby Stone Company’s Cimarron and Autumn Blend stone supplying Texas Stone and Tile from our 1,700 acre sandstone quarry.

The sandstone product used in the Phase II Building include a ratio of approximate 85% of 3” to 5” veneer flagstone to about 15% regular chopped stone. In addition, as mentioned previously, the blend used for this project is primarily Cimarron Blend with some Autumn Blend features as well.

Completion of Phase II of the Fidelity Corporate Headquarters is currently scheduled for June 2009.

For more information about Kirby Stone Company, LLC, our portfolio and our prodcuts, please visit us at our newly redesigned website.

www.KIRBYSTONE.com