Using De-Icers Safely and Effectively

Winter can be a treacherous time of year. Freezing temperatures, white-out blizzards, icy roads and walkways. Icy roads cause millions of dollars in accidents and damage every year. It’s important for snow clearing businesses to have the proper tools and resources to ensure projects are completed quickly and efficiently. To do this, you’ll need to use de-icers, which are chemicals that help to break or prevent a bond between the ice and concrete, making it easier to shovel and plow. Here’s how to safely and effectively use de-icers:

De-icing Options

1. The best choice is calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). It melts ice and is no more damaging than tap water.
2. Magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, or calcium chloride are other options; however, they can corrode metal, damage walkways and stain carpets.
3. Rock salt is a quick and effective way to rid sidewalks, driveways, and roads of slippery ice.

For areas large and small, we’d love to work with you to determine and supply the needed de-icier for your job!

De-icing Steps and Walkways

1. Apply de-icer according to package instructions to steps and walkways before the snow or sleet comes down. De-icer acts like cooking oil under the ice and keeps anything from sticking.
2. After a few inches of snow have fallen, shovel the walkway. If more snow is predicted, apply another layer of de-icer.
3. To remove ice, carefully chip away with a snow shovel or ice pick. Start at edges and work in.
4. For stubborn ice, melt using boiled water and mop up immediately. Leftover water will freeze. Wear gloves to avoid scalding your skin.
5. Store the de-icer and snow shovel in a safe and easy to reach place. You don’t want to walk over a slippery walkway to get to your tools.

If you need to stock up on ice-melting rock salt, come to Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone! We have untreated and treated salt in bulk and a variety of bagged offerings including ProSlicer and Rocket Ice Melt. Both are high performance, treated de-icers and are available in 50-pound bags. And for snow removal jobs that can’t be tackled by ice melt alone, we also carry snow shovels. Contact us today!

Deal or Snow Deal: Preparing for Snow Plow Season

Whether we like it or not, our weather is bringing snow to the forecast. Cold, slushy, and bitter days will soon be upon us. Whether you’re brushing off the dust from the snow plow in your garage, or you and your crews are prepping for a season full of snow plowing, here are some helpful tips to help your winter season go as smoothly as possible.

Check Out the Areas You’ll be Plowing

Ideally, check out the areas you’ll be plowing before the first snowfall of the season. Things that should be on your radar include: curbs, speed bumps, mailboxes, and other things that could damage the plow. If you’re tackling your driveway and/or walkway, mapping out the curves would be a smart and efficient use of your time. It’s always a good idea to be aware of objects that could be easily hidden in the snow.

Check to Make Sure All Equipment is Working Properly

The prepping season is the time when you should take your equipment out and make sure that everything is working properly. Check all the lights to make sure they are turning on and off when they are supposed to. Should you be working with a truck and plow combo, make sure that the truck’s weight is balanced. If it’s unbalanced, you risk losing control of the truck in slippery conditions. We suggest adding weight to the back of the truck, past the rear axle.

Check the Plow for Any Signs of Damage

Checking the plow itself is also extremely important to do whilst preparing for the snow. Inspect the plow for damage, including cracked welds or hydraulic fuel leaks. The cutting edge is also something to be on your maintenance checklist- making sure that it’s not worn down to the point where the ground may come in contact with the blade.

Complete your prep season by stocking up on supplies. Lafarge Fox River Stone has you covered for your de-icing needs! Available in both bulk & bagged. Contact us for pricing today at (847)-888-6133 or visit our website for more information.

Winter is Coming: Protecting Your Custom Stone in the Colder Months

We may not be in the time of Game of Thrones with swords and battles for kingdoms, but the weather is getting colder, and precautions must be made regardless of what century we are living in. Your custom stone is something that you’ve worked hard to build, so it only makes sense that you should maintain it. Here are some helpful tips to keep your stone protected from whatever elements this winter may throw at you.

Move Your Furniture

As the saying goes, “nothing worth having comes easy.” If you want to keep your custom stone in tip-top shape, preparing for cold weather with strategic maintenance is the way to go. The first step that we have found to be very handy is storing your patio furniture. It may not come across as something that is pertinent to take care of, but heavy patio furniture can crack stone if there are drastic spikes in temperature. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Check Your Sealants

Polymeric sand in between the stone can help protect it from weathering and sealants can protect the stone from any kind of water seeping through, whether it be rain, snow, or ice.  Sealants also help to protect against scrapes, chipping, or eroding from extreme weather conditions. Lafarge Fox River Stone has a large offering of polymeric and sealants to help get your job completed.

Watch Out For Mold & Mildew

No one wants to deal with mold and mildew growing on their stones, so it’s extremely important to clean thoroughly before the cold sets in. One way that mold and mildew likes to build up is in leaf piles, so make sure that you don’t leave them to sit under mounds of snow. The longer that you wait to clean off your stone, the more you put yourself at risk for unpleasant substances to take root.

At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we take pride in offering the best products and service that you need to complete your projects.  For more information, you can visit our website or give us a call at (847)888-6133.

The Top Four Reasons to Invest in a Fire Pit for Fall

As the leaves change and the air grows crisper, fall arrives with the plethora of activities to do outside. Friday night football, apple picking, and pumpkin farms are just a few that come to mind when thinking of fall festivities. One of our ultimate favorites at Lafarge Fox River Stone is gathering around a fire pit and enjoying our loved one’s company on a beautiful fall night. Thinking of adding a fire pit to your home? Here are four reasons why we’re all for it!

Great Focal Point of Outdoor Space

If you’re looking for a simple, yet effective way to spruce up your outdoor space, a fire pit is a great place to start with the renovations. Even when they’re not in use, they add to your space aesthetically to help create a beautiful gathering space and become a design anchor. Fire pits can tie everything in with several design schemes.

Increases the Home Value

Not only do fire pits add to your outdoor space, but they increase a home’s value as a whole and can add some zest and flare to a more traditional landscape. Because fire pits are now a more popular way to entertain guests, it’ll be a great selling point and draws attention to the architecture of your home as well.

Helps to Make Your Outdoor Space More Enjoyable

Fire pits help create another space for entertainment at your home, which can make your outdoor space enjoyable for many months past the summer. Many believe that outdoor entertainment has to end when the weather grows colder, but we like to disagree! Bonfires, roasting s’mores, or celebrating on game days are now all possible with your very own fire pit.

Creates an Ambiance

We know we’re not in the early 1900’s anymore, but we all still like to keep up with the Joneses every once in awhile. You get a beauty and ambiance to your outdoor decor unlike any other when you incorporate a fire pit into the mix. They create the perfect atmosphere for spending time with family and friends; there’s just something about a crackling fire contrasting the crisp, fall air.

At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we have the supplies you need to help create the perfect fire pit for your outdoor space. For more information on the products we carry, you can visit our website or give us a call at (847)-888-6133 today!

Why You Should Build With Stone

At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we love working with all kinds of stone in our projects. When it comes down to style and durability, there’s a clear winner in our eyes. While there are plenty of products to work with when it comes to landscaping projects, we swear by stone, and all the benefits it can give you in the long run.

Style

We love the organic look that stone can provide to a space. There are so many types of stones that range in size, shape, and color that can really give you a variety of options to choose from. Working with stone gives you the opportunity to pick exactly what you’re looking for that can naturally blend in with the rest of your space.

Durability

Stone is about as durable as they come. With it being fireproof, rot-free, and vermin-proof, anything made with stone is going to be around for a long time, with little or no maintenance work required. No worries about leakage or cracking in your walls- when built properly, it’s durability can last for years to come. If you trust the professionals to build with stone, you’ll save time and money without a worry of anything going wrong.

Affordability

Stone can be some of the most affordable products on the market when it comes to big projects. There’s also a lot of it, and can be found just about anywhere. At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we offer several types of building stone and thin stone, along with cultured stone, which is manmade but resembles natural stone and weighs significantly less, all at an affordable price. Because of its low-maintenance care, it also saves you a lot on repair projects in the future.

At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we believe in using the best products for every project we are part of. While we work with a plethora of resources, we love the look of stone and highly recommend choosing stone as your product when executing a project. To learn more information on our products or services, you can visit our website or give us a call at (847)-888-6133 today!

Our Landscaping Products for Contractors

When it comes to taking on a big-scale project, we at Lafarge Fox River Stone understand what contractors need to get the job done swiftly and securely. They need reliability, accountability, and products they can trust. With our wide variety of products that we offer, we are the leading supplier of construction material in the Chicagoland area, with our landscaping products at top of the list.

Mulch

Whether you’re looking for an aromatic mulch or for a more generic brown mulch, we have several varieties of mulch and topsoil ready to be used for any kind of landscaping project. We also have pulverized topsoil and a playground mulch that exceeds the ASTM testing requirements that is recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for playground surfaces.

Decorative Ground Cover

Not a big fan of mulch? We offer a wide variety of over 25 stone products that come in all shapes, sizes, and colors that can be used in flower beds, gardens, and other areas. We also have large rocks or fine gravel to choose from that can absorb water and prevent weed growth while adding a stylish appeal to your project. Stones can be ordered by the bag or by the ton depending on the scale of the project.

Boulders

If you’re looking for bigger stones, we got you covered there too. We offer boulders that can be angular or rounded so that they can fit into any design scheme. Boulders are priced by the ton based on their size category: 12”-18”, 18”-24”, or 24”-36.”

Outcropping

Outcropping is a vital resource when building retaining walls and hillsides. To ensure that they are built the proper way the first time, Lafarge Fox River Stone has years of experience, knowledge, and resources at the ready. We have several standard sizes and finishes available for economical installation.

Patios, Walkways, and Steps

When it comes to building patios, walkways, and steps, it’s important to not only have a material that is eye-appealing, but also one that is durable and will make your investment worthwhile. We have several varieties of patio and walkway material available with our most popular being the Natural Steppers and the Concrete Steppers.

Accessories

Landscaping is no easy task, which is why we carry all the landscaping accessories that you need to make your job go as swiftly as possible. We carry everything from grass seed and fertilizer, to weed control and drainage products, along with edging materials to keep everything neat and where it’s supposed to be.

Trust Lafarge Fox River Stone to sell you the best products out there to help you complete the best jobs you’ve ever done. For more information on our services and products, you can visit our website or give us a call at (847)-888-6133 today!

Weed Tips for Hardscapes

The summer season is here, which means the dreaded weeds are finding their way to the surface. They like to show up in the most inconvenient places, making a beautiful patio an eyesore with a tough job to clean up. Weeds start growing in the cracks of patio pavers due to joints not properly filled with polymeric sand, or if the sand has weathered out. This allows the joint to fill with dirt and become conductive to growing weeds. Here are some helpful tips to take care of your hardscapes!

 

Use the Proper Tools

Weeds in hardscapes can be challenging to take care of, but with the proper tools, you can keep them controlled. We have found that the a string-trimmer, hand-pulling, a propel flame, or a natural, non-selective weed control product are some of the best ways to work with getting rid of weeds. Depending on the severity of the weeds in the area you’re working with will determine the process you’ll need to successfully get rid of them for good.

 

Invest in Polymeric Sand

If you want to be smart and efficient with your time and money, invest in polymeric sand to fill between the cracks of your patio pavers. Regular sand won’t do the trick - polymeric sand is a mix of sand and a polymeric bonding agent that hardens the sand once the bonding agents are activated by water. It’s in the best practices to replace polymeric sand every three to five years.

 

Spray and Powerwash

Spraying weeds and then power washing  is one of the most efficient ways to rid yourself of the pesky invaders. Existing weeds in a patio can be killed with a weed control product. Once they are dead, you can power wash the surface and into the joints to remove any dirt and old sand. Replacing with new polymeric sand will prohibit future weed growth.

 

At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, we have a variety of polymeric sand options to get the job done. For more information on our inventory and services, you can visit our website, or give us a call today at (847)-888-6133. Let us help you choose the right product for your job!

 

Tips For Building & Maintaining Retaining Walls

In our industry, completing projects that will last is far more important than having a blueprint based solely on design. Retaining walls serve a purpose that can really benefit the space when it comes to keeping everything where it needs to be, and it is because of this that it’s crucial for a retaining wall to be built the right way. Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind as you build and maintain your retaining wall.

Keep Your Wall Short & Stout.

As you build your retaining wall, the laws of physics come into play and unfortunately cannot be ignored. When designing your wall, it’s in best practices to keep your wall short, within the 3-4 foot height range. As your wall gets taller, your wall also becomes less sturdy. The retaining wall’s top priority is to keep soil back and in place, which can be compromised if the wall is not built properly. If you are looking to build a retaining wall higher than 5 feet, a building permit and more strategic, mathematical planning is required.

Plan Accordingly With Your Greenery.

Choosing the type of greenery, whether it be shrubs, plants, or trees, that you will have near your retaining wall is a very important choice to make. We have found that shrubs that have a shallow root system that are low-growing and spreading tend to work best by retaining walls. Roots are the number one enemy of retaining walls, so making sure that wide-spreading roots stay far away from your wall should always be a top priority when making plans to build.

Invest In The Proper Supplies To Make Your Wall Last.

No one wants to spend time, money, and effort into a project that will fall apart in few years time. One aspect of a retaining wall that will help keep it sturdy is creating a proper drainage system which allows the soil to stay at a weight that the wall can manage. Another aspect of building a retaining wall is making sure you’re investing in a quality of stone that looks good, gets the job done, and will continue to get the job done for years to come.

When it comes to retaining walls, trust a company like Lafarge Fox River Stone to provide you with the supplies you need to make your walls last. For a full list of resources we supply, you can visit our website or give us a call today at (847)-888-6133.

Pre-Season Prep for Landscape Contractors/Businesses

It’s that time of year again! Ah yes, springtime- right before the busy season for landscape contractors and businesses begins. April marks the months where business really picks up and companies have to be ready to get out and get the job done. To make sure you are ready for the grind and demands, check out these pre-season prep tips!

Make Sure Your Team Is Trained Efficiently & Ready For Work

It’s always better to be safe than sorry in most situations, and your team of employees is no exception. Whether you’re able to keep your best workers year round or hire seasonally, it is in best practices to make sure your team has the proper training well before the busy season starts. If you wait till you’re busy to hire more workers, the possibility of hiring hastily increases the chances of hiring someone who isn’t a good fit with your company. Not only does a well-trained team increase your efficiency on the job, but it also improves the safety aspect of the job.

Make Sure Your Equipment Is Upgraded & Ready To Be Used

In your off season is when you should be keeping up on the maintenance of all your equipment. One way to keep track of everything is to look at the service history of your machines and see what kind of work has to be done. Whether it’s a major overhaul or routine preventative maintenance, these kinds of problems can cause huge issues during your busy season. You need reliable equipment for your field of work, and it should be ready to go by the time you are.

Make Sure To Re-Evaluate The Work Process

During the pre-season prep is the perfect time to sit down, evaluate your business, and come up with new ways to improve. What processes work well for your company? What could save time and money? It’s important to always ask for feedback from your employees to get a diverse perspective on your business. Coming up with goals for the next year can also help you work smarter, not harder, which will help you save time, money, and create a positive work environment.

When business picks up, it’s important to be on your A game and have everything ready to give your customers the best service possible. Your pre-season prep doesn’t have to be a stressful experience- with the right planning and utilizing resources, you can feel confident going into your busy season. At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we partner with landscape contractors and businesses to give great results and even better products. For more information about our company and services, visit our website or call us at (847)-888-6133.

Allan Block and Retaining Walls

Allan Block is a brand of Reading Rock which has 67 years of expertise in material building product expertise. The Allan Block Collection of retaining wall products gives you a choice of styles to meet your site and design requirements. All the collections can build the basic gravity wall system for smaller wall projects, or, using geogrid to reinforce the retaining wall allows taller projects to be built. 

Retaining Wall Basics

Retaining wall block can be used to construct walls that prevent the movement of the soil. Retaining walls that rely solely on their own weight to retain the soil behind them are called gravity walls. When taller wall heights are required or certain site conditions exist such as a slope above the wall, a reinforced wall is constructed.

• Gravity Wall - a retaining wall that does not use soil reinforcement. A gravity wall has limited height because it relies on the weight and setback of the block alone to resist the soil pressures behind the wall.
• Geogrid - a method of reinforcing an Allan Block retaining wall using a flexible mesh grid that adds significant strength and stabilizes the soil. 

Retaining walls can fail for several reasons, but most often it’s from sub-standard materials used and lack of reinforcement. When using Allan Block, you will be using the highest quality block for your retaining wall. Any of the Allan Block Collection blocks stack well to create a smooth, fluid finish, and can be used on their own for a gravity wall or with a geogrid if extra reinforcement is needed. Every Allan Block carries with it a promise to be durable, naturally attractive, and easy to install. Choosing Allan Block guarantees you’ll have a strong, safe, reliable wall system. 

Lafarge Fox River Stone is a proud distributor of Allan Block. We’re holding an Allan Block Level 1 Contractor Certification course at our facility on Thursday, March 30th to become a Reading Rock certified installing contractor. This course is geared towards installers, foremen, and crew, but would also be beneficial to building officials and architects. Cost is $55 per attendee, and you must RSVP by Tuesday, March 22nd. Contact Lafarge Fox River Stone with any additional questions. We hope to see you there!

iLandscape Trade Show Recap

Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone had the pleasure of exhibiting at the iLandscape Trade Show the first week of February, one of the 50 fastest growing tradeshows in the country according to Tradeshow Executive Magazine. The largest Midwestern trade show servicing landscape professionals was presented by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) and Wisconsin Green Industry Federation (WGIF). The trade show was held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel in Schaumburg, IL.

As a proud ILCA member, we were excited to head down and be a part of the fourth annual iLandscape show! It featured two exhibit halls, Discovery Hall and Innovation Hall, with more than 450 booths featuring the latest trends in plants, green industry products, equipment, and more.

Some highlights were listening to the keynote speaker, Ed Begley Jr., connecting with over 35 new exhibitors, exhibiting at ILCA’s Excellence in Landscape Awards Night, and interacting with attendees in between their education sessions. At the trade show, the best minds in the industry were teaching the sessions, where we learned new tips and tricks to better our business. Overall, the three days we were there were informational, relaxed, and full of fun.

As the leading supplier of construction material within the Chicagoland area, Lafarge River Stone has been around since 1934 supplying a full line of landscape, hardscape, and masonry products. We have what it takes to help you get the job done right, and we take your projects very seriously We as a company love to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and styles in the landscaping industry to give our customers the best service possible.

For more information on Lafarge River Stone, visit our website or give us a call today at (847)-888-6133!

Stay Warm with a New Fireplace!

When temperatures drop, cozying up in front of a fireplace with your favorite book or a cup of hot cocoa can be the best way to beat the winter blues. For some, installing a new fireplace can provide a space for comfort and spending time with family - so what needs to be considered before the process begins?

Consider Your Preferences:

1. Heat: How important is it that your fireplace contributes to the heating of your home?
2. Ambiance & Aesthetic: Do you have a particular “look” or “feel” in mind?
3. Emissions: Each fireplace type carries its own standard emissions output and some be further adapted. Visit the “Burn Wise” segment of the EPA website for more details on different models.

Explore Your Options:

Indoor fireplace come in a variety of makes, models, and styles. They can also be further customized by your choice of stone. Visit our website to see the wide variety of fireplace components available  In addition to decorative stone, flue liners, heat stop mortar, and venting options are offered.

Wood-Burning:  There’s a certain allure to crackling wood and wood-burning fireplaces offer plenty of benefits. Firewood can be purchased locally and inexpensively. It’s carbon neutral, as carbon dioxide was taken in by the tree in growth. It’s more eco-friendly than emissions produced by fossil fuels.

Gas Logs:  Gas logs can be installed into fireplaces as part of a new installment or retrofitted into a wood-burning fireplace. Gas logs can be fueled by natural gas or liquid petroleum.  Installing a vent operates with a chimney flue and better simulates a wood-burning fire, but gas fireplaces without vents will provide more heat.

Stand-Alone Stoves: While lacking the traditional fireplace look, these self-contained units pack a more powerful heating punch.  There are a number of models available.  Gas stoves burn the same fuel as gas fireplaces.  Stoves running on compact pellets made from various organic materials (wood chips, sawdust, etc.).  Stand-alone stoves are also available in wood-burning models.  Stand-alone stoves still require venting and could incorporate an aesthetic stone base.

Built-in thermostats: These self-modulated fireplaces only turn on if the temperature drops to a certain level in your home, switching off automatically once the temperature reaches the desired level.

Outdoor Fireplace: Enjoy the ambiance of a crackling fire throughout the year. These stone hearths can be adapted to the decor and aesthetic of your deck, patio, or landscaping, 

creating an outdoor lounge and entertainment space.

Contact the experts at LaFarge Fox River Stone to help pick the fireplace that’s right for you!