Indiana Cut Stone's 2011 Masonry Contractors Event Announced

Indiana Cut Stone has opened both attendee and exhibitor registration for the 2011 Masonry Contractors Workshop, to be held on Oct. 5 and 6, 2011, on the grounds of Indiana Cut Stone.

This event has the full support of the Indiana Limestone Institute, as well as cooperation with the Indiana Limestone Co. The Masonry Contractors Workshop is a two-day event, designed specifically for masonry contractors who want to learn more about Indiana Limestone and participate in approved courses available for Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) certification credits. This training will enable mason contractors to learn more about working with Indiana Limestone.

Training for architects who want to learn more about Indiana Limestone also will be available. The Indiana Limestone Overview, "Created by Nature, Crafted by Man," is eligible for American Institute of Architects (AIA) continuing education learning units. This training will be hosted by the Indiana Limestone Co. The length of this course is 1 Hour (1 Credit) and will be held on Oct. 5, 2011, at 3 p.m. EST at the Indiana Limestone Co.'s main office.

Because of the success of the 2010 event, this year's event has been drastically expanded to include:

• Up to 10 hours of Indiana Limestone approved training courses available for MCAA certification credits
• A masonry industry trade show where exhibitors from manufacturers, suppliers and service providers can meet their core customers
• An outdoor theater where industry professionals will demonstrate their company’s new products and equipment to mason contractor attendees
• A dramatic tour of an Indiana Limestone quarry, courtesy of the Indiana Limestone Co.
• A detailed look at Indiana Cut Stones’ limestone fabrication facility.
• LEED and Indiana Limestone training for Architects and other design professionals.

The schedule for both days is identical. The event format is a “learning festival,” in that attendees will wander the grounds and attend the MCAA-approved courses, visit the trade show, see a product presentation in the theater or take part in a quarry or fabrication facility tour as they see fit. The various events will begin at scheduled times throughout the day, but attendees have complete control over what they do and what they see.

The Masonry Contractors Workshop will provide lunch on each day of event as well as buses to the Limestone Quarry Tour and the nearby event parking.

Cast Stone Institute to Offer Producer Member 10-Year Limited Product Warranty

As of Jan. 1, 2011, all Certified Stone Institute producing members will provide a 10-year limited product warranty for the cast stone they supply on projects.

The Cast Stone Institute (CSI) Producer Members voted on Oct. 8, 2010, to adopt the language for a 10-year Limited Product Warranty. CSI Institute Producer Members are aware of the evolving environment for products in the marketplace that demand sustainability, durability and usable service life. This warranty demonstrates that CSI Producer Members embrace these principles and produce product that will stand the test of time.

Who is the Cast Stone Institute?

The Cast Stone Institute, founded in 1927, is an organization of certified Cast Stone Manufacturers and related professionals committed to developing standards and promoting the use of cast stone. We continually strive to encourage, through research, development and member training, the continual improvement of cast stone’s unique characteristics and educate designers and users of cast stone on the inherent value, quality and best practices in the use of cast stone.

Certified Producer Members of the CSI are engaged in the relentless pursuit of excellence in manufacturing. Prior to admission, each potential producer member must submit to a rigorous examination of product quality, safety, testing (including freeze-thaw) and meticulous record keeping. They must submit test data twice a year and undergo the re-certification process every other year with unannounced inspections. The results of these efforts include consistently high product quality, through continuous improvement in manufacturing methods and materials, and the assurance that Cast Stone Institute Certified member plants are “on the job” keeping cast stone a premier building material. The Cast Stone Institute, through its standing committees, disseminates current information and standards regarding the design, manufacturing, installation and use of cast stone.

What is cast stone?

Cast stone is a premier masonry product that provides ornamental or functional features to buildings and other structures as per ASTM C1364-10. It is made from fine and coarse aggregates, Portland cement, mineral oxide color pigments, chemical admixtures and water. Cast stone products are available in virtually any color, and will give the appearance of a variety of natural building stones including but not limited to limestone, granite, slate, travertine or marble. Applications for cast stone range from the simplest windowsills to the most complicated architectural elements.

Properly manufactured, cast stone has the same or stronger physical properties as most dimensional building stone. Properly selected and installed, cast stone can result in an architectural project of enduring beauty to be enjoyed for decades. Care and installation of cast stone are referenced in many of the Cast Stone Institute publications and tech bulletins.

For more information, visit www.caststone.org.