No. 1 • August 2001



Welcome to Written In Stone.

Thank you for the opportunity to keep in touch via e-mail. This letter is designed to assist in my overall goal of helping you by:

  • Being an available source of information and materials
  • Making my assistance available on a regular basis
  • Doing so in an efficient and consistent manner

I plan to send one e-mail every month. Topics will include new and traditional products, applications, design ideas and more.

Shown at the right is the Benson Stone Company’s north entrance. There is also a south entrance, with parking on both sides. The newly renovated building houses a contractor showroom (including a drive-up window), a large retail showroom, and even a café, aptly named the Hearth Rock Café. The café utilizes the existing wood floors combined with newly-added stone balustrades around the dining area, a fireplace clad with thin stone, tumbled brick behind the counter, and granite tabletops. I must add, the food is excellent.

The actual showroom displays various products and applications utilizing brick, stone, fireplaces, grills and patio furniture. This showroom has been designed to make the material selection process rewarding and enjoyable. We invite you to take a look.

Our new 25,000-square-foot showroom



Robinson Brick Company is one of our major suppliers of brick. Not only does Robinson Brick produce brick that meet and exceed specifications set for ASTM FBX, their brick also exceeds the ASTM requirements for SW (severe weather brick). The dimensional accuracy of Robinson’s FBX brick produces precise bond patterns with uniform mortar joints.

The chart below shows ASTM C 216-98 brick ratings, the standard specification for facing brick (solid masonry units made from clay or shale).

FBX allows:

  1. Waste: up to 5% (includes excess chippage)
  2. Chips: 1/8"-1/4" edge, 1/4"-3/8" corner
  3. Cracks: any not seen from 15' away
  4. Size variation: 5/32" from each other
  5. Warpage: 1/16" for under 8" dimension

FBS allows:

  1. Waste: up to 10% (includes excess chippage)
  2. Chips: 1/4"-5/16" edge, 3/8"-1/2" corner
  3. Cracks: any not seen from 20' away
  4. Size variation: 1/4" from each other
  5. Warpage: 3/32" for under 8" dimension

FBX

Chips 95%, 1/4" edge, 3/8" corner

FBS

Chips 90%, 5/16" edge, 1/2" corner

Distortion

1/16" for under 8" dimension

Distortion

3/32" for under 8" dimension

Length Variation

5/32" from each other

Length Variation

1/4" from each other



1100 Eleventh Street • Rockford, IL 61104
www.bensonstone.com

Dale Layng, architectural sales manager

Phone: (815) 227-2000 x140
Fax: (815) 227-2002

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