Blog Entries

Light Colored Flagstone

steve@irwinstone.com — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

During the dog days of summer, it’s easy to see why many architects and homeowners are beginning to favor a buff or tan version of flagstone over the traditional blue/gray color. The reason is HEAT. On a 90 degree day, I can go into our stone yard and put my hands on our Buff Sandstone or Golden Sunset flagstone for an indefinite period of time. I can’t do that with the dark blue/gray, green or dark red flagging. My hands begin to burn after 10-15 seconds. [...]

Freestanding Outdoor Fireplaces

steve@irwinstone.com — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Have you seen any of the Home & Garden magazines lately? They’re filled with pictures of outdoor kitchens and free-standing fireplaces. Without a doubt, these backyard creations are the hottest things on the patio/landscaping market right now. With the recent shakeup in the housing market, fewer people are looking to trade up to a bigger house and instead they’re looking to spruce up their backyard. At Irwin Stone, we sell many types of stone to cre [...]

Replacements for Stoneyhurst Building Stone

steve@irwinstone.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

For years, Stoneyhurst Quarry was one of several quarries producing the most dominant building stone in the Washington, DC area. The quarry was located near Potomac and was closed several years ago. Stoneyhurst stone was predominantly brown and blue in color, readily available and located centrally for the residential boom that has taken place since the 1960’s. Since the closing of the Stoneyhurst Quarry, architects, builders and masons have approached us, looking for stone with similar co [...]