Fill in the Blanks: A Guide to Fill Dirt

With spring being in full bloom and summer on the horizon, many of us are entrenched in working in the garden or starting that home addition/remodeling project.  It is safe to say that no matter which project you are beginning, it will require dirt that can be funneled into two categories: topsoil or fill dirt. Most people know what topsoil is.  But there is a large group of people that have never heard of fill dirt.  

Fill dirt is an earthy material which is used to fill in a depression or hole in the ground or create mounds or otherwise artificially change the grade or elevation of real property.  It is usually subsoil, soil from beneath the topsoil and underlying soil parent material which has little soil organic matter or biological activity. Fill dirt is taken from a location where soil is being removed as a part of leveling an area for construction. It may also contain sand, rocks, and stones.  

What is it used for?  Fill dirt is used for a myriad of things. Since it doesn’t contain organic matter, there’s no chance of decomposition within the material, which means it will retain a firm surface without the possibility of crumbling in on itself.  It’s a material that’s helpful for correcting various issues and provides a simple solution for shaping the landscape

• Filling in Low Points. As a result, most professionals use it to fill in holes or crevices within the construction site as well as to level out a new road or to adjust the slope of a freshly designed lawn.   
• Building Up Landscapes.  Some property owners prefer the look of landscapes with multiple levels of ground or with hilly patches.  The only way to add that type of dimension and visual interest to a flat landscape is to use fill dirt to build up these areas.  The dirt can be strategically placed to create multi-level terraces or to erect rolling hills.
• Construction.  For safety reasons, no home or building can be deemed safe for occupancy unless it’s sitting on top of a firm and reliable foundation.  Fill dirt can be used to build areas that will not move, shift or settle but instead will hold fast in place so that the structure can last for generations.  

Located in South Elgin, Illinois, LaFarge Fox River Decorative Stone is your one-stop-shop for masonry, landscaping, concrete pavers, fire pits, retaining walls, ponds, and more! Visit our showroom today or call us: (847) 888-6133.

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Sources:

http://nearsay.com/c/382729/48949/what-is-fill-dirt-what-is-it-used-for?widget_id=lvscd2a3acec

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!

Tips on Marketing Your Landscaping Business

Getting a business started is an incredible achievement, but there is still plenty of hard work yet to come. Now, you need to make sure that you effectively spread the word on who you are and what you do. This is where marketing comes into play. Marketing your landscaping business is crucial to your success—building awareness for your brand will bring new customers into your door, allowing your business to grow both in the quantity and quality of staff and in service offerings you can provide your clients.

Starting a marketing strategy for your business can be intimidating, especially if you are a novice at this. But your expert team at Lafarge Fox River Stone knows how you can build a powerful marketing strategy in a digital age. Here are some budget friendly ways to get your marketing tactic started!

Know Where to Spend Your Advertising Dollars

While it may be tempting to make a television advertisement, a radio commercial, or even a billboard advertisement when you first open your business, these marketing strategies are often costly, especially if you are just starting out.

Instead, be a visible presence in the real world. This can come in a variety of forms—have your logo and business phone number on the vehicle you drive, print and pass out business cards, send postcards or newsletters to potential clients. These strategies can get you face to face with your clients.

Have an Active Online Presence

We live in a world where everything happens online—so why wouldn’t your business be a powerful presence online as well?

Apart from building a solid website, when you are just starting your landscaping business, we highly recommend you become an active user on common and popular social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and even Pinterest! Post updates about your business on a regular basis to build a solid fan base.

Also, never forget the powerful impact an online review can have. Encourage customers to go online and review your business. If it’s a positive review, acknowledge it on other online channels and spread the word that you are doing good things! If a dreaded (and rare) negative review occurs, address it properly, and let it be known to other clients that you are listening to their needs. This will bring business in the door!

Exploring the Ins and Outs of an Illinois Landscaping Business

Owning and operating a landscaping business has many benefits. The freedom of having control over your schedule and the pride of knowing that you created something using your skills are just a couple of these benefits. Here in the State of Illinois, there are rules and regulations put in place to protect the consumer and ensure that the landscaping business is held to a predetermined set of standards. If you are considering starting a landscaping business in Illinois, here are some things you should know.

Define your business

The first thing you need to consider is the type of landscaping services you will be offering. Under the Illinois Landscape Architect Act of 1989,  if you provide any type of landscape planning and architectural services, you must have a licensed landscape architect employed on your staff. Becoming licensed requires passing a state examination and providing proof of education in the field of landscape architecture.

If you provide general landscape maintenance, the State of Illinois does not require a specific licensing; however some local communities require all landscaping businesses to obtain licensure if they work within their local jurisdiction. Additionally, they may require the business to provide proof of liability insurance as well as being bonded.  If you are unsure about the requirements for the community in which your business operates, contact the city or county clerk to get additional input.

Tax registrations

Any business operating within Illinois that provides goods or services for sale must apply for the appropriate tax collection registrations. There are different tax rules depending upon if you sell products, provide a service or offer a combination of both. Be sure to talk to a tax professional if you are unsure of what is required for your business processes.

Employees

Hiring employees adds another level of legal complexities. If you have employees on your payroll, the first step is to apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number.  In addition, the State of Illinois requires businesses who will hire employees to register with the Department of Employement Security (IDES) within 30 days of the start of the business. Your company is also required to file quarterly returns with the IDES and pay unemployment contributions.

At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, we are fortunate provide high quality landscaping products to competent landscape contractors across the State of Illinois. 

Fall Landscape Survival Tips: Beyond the Plants and Trees

The beauty and cooler weather of fall has many landscape owners thinking about how to tidy up their plants and preserve them over the winter. But the hardscape elements in the landscape also need preparation for the changing seasons in order to prevent damage, and to keep them looking their best. Although hardscaping seems permanent because it is fixed in the landscape, it can deteriorate over time without proper maintenance. Likewise, irrigation systems and the soil in your landscape need some basic maintenance, as well! A few simple tips show that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Inspect Hardscaping

Fall is a good time to inspect the stone features in your landscape. Pay special attention to any cracks in bricks, walls, and stone pathways. The cold temperatures of winter will only exacerbate these cracks and make them more difficult to repair next year. If you live in a region that receives snowfall, water freezing and thawing in these openings will damage and weaken the stone even more. Sealing small cracks will go a long way towards avoiding having to replace hardscaped elements.

Check the dirt and gravel around the hardscaping. If there are depressions where it has washed or worn away around walkways, walls, and other stone features, fill them before winter sets in, as cool temperatures, spring rains, and thaws can contribute to further erosion.

Soil

Fall is a good time to test the acidity and alkaline levels of the soil in your landscape, especially if you didn’t get around to it during the busier spring planting and fertilizing months. Remember to stop fertilizing late in the summer, in order to discourage new growth that will be too delicate for the colder months. However, fall mulching is fine--you can even make your own by finely chopping up dead leaves in your lawn mower! Use a kit to test the pH level in your soil, and use sulfur or lime to adjust it before winter.     

Irrigation Systems

If you have an irrigation system in your landscape, turn it off when temperatures are in danger of dipping below freezing. Drain any existing water remaining in the irrigation system. Freezing and expanding in the pipes can ruin them over the winter.

Fall Planting

Can’t get enough of planting? Fall can be a good time for some new plants to take root in a landscape, and with so many tempting plants on clearance at lawn and garden stories, it’s hard to resist adding some extra color, or something new! For ideas and inspiration about fall planting, visit here.  

Located in South Elgin, Illinois, LaFarge Fox River Decorative Stone has been serving homeowners and businesses since 1934. Our team of experts in on hand to help prepare your landscaped walls and masonry for fall and winter. Visit our showroom and outdoor displays Mondays through Fridays from 7 am to 5 pm, and on Saturdays from 7 am until noon, or visit our website for more information! 

Manufactured Stone vs. Natural Stone

For consumers, there are a lot of options out there when it comes to stone veneers. It’s more than just different colors and styles, though - they also have a choice between manufactured stone and natural stone. Manufactured stone, also known as cultured stone, is a product made from cement meant to look like natural stone. The "stones" are made thin and applied to the exterior wall with a thin coating of mortar. The benefit of this thinner, cultured stone is a slightly lower price point and a large space-saving capacity.

The history of cultured stone dates back to the mid 20th century, when people were looking for an alternative to heavy, costly natural stone. These first manufactured stone units were a good deal lighter than real stone, eliminating the need and expense of special footings and support. However, in the beginning this product was a poor substitute for real stone veneer due to unrealistic surface texture, color, and frequent pattern repeats that was easily spotted by an untrained eye. Since then, manufactured stone has come a long way as companies developed better methods such as hand-painting each piece and casting their molds from real stone units. (source)

So what are the key differences between manufactured and natural stone? Read on to learn the pros and cons of each:

Manufactured:

• Uniform, clean look
• Fit tightly together, smooth surface
• Easy to lay
• Sturdy in retaining walls
• Many color options

• More susceptible to fading than natural materials
• Less of a high-end look

Natural:

• Colors and textures may vary from batch to batch
• Irregular shapes, may be gaps

• Great in water features and used to slow down erosion
• Beauty of natural stone lasts a lifetime (no fading)
• Organic, natural look
• High-end look, aesthetically pleasing

If a homeowner is struggling between the two, it’s important as a contractor to let them know they truly can’t go wrong with either choice. Based on the above information, you should be able to better ascertain if their project would benefit more greatly by manufactured or natural stone. If you have any further questions, our knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist you. Contact Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone today!

Join Lafarge Fox River Stone For Our Informative Water Feature Event

Water features are a great way to beautify any garden.  One of the best and most tranquil of landscaping accents are fountains and water falls.  If you own a home, a stunning water feature is a great way to boost your home’s value and beautify your garden.  If you own a commercial property, a fountain will improve the overall appearance of your business.

The type of fountain you choose can enhance, balance and completely change the look of your outdoor area.  At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, we will be holding an event on June 9th for contractors to learn more about the water fountains we supply.

This is an opportunity for Lafarge to showcase the installation and display of the simple water fountains that are available from our team.  The premise of this event is to show contractors who do not currently offer ponds to their clients how the installation of these features can be an easy and profitable add-on sale to any existing landscaping job!

Attention contractors!  Did you know gross profit margins for these types of jobs are typically 40-60%?  Contractors normally already have the equipment on site necessary to complete a simple water feature.  For example, if they are installing a patio, all that’s required is digging an extra hole, setting the feature, attaching a few pieces of plumbing and adding decorative rocks for aesthetic design. With little installation and product costs, this is an overall profit for your business.

Our event on water features will be a great learning opportunity for contractors to strengthen the knowledge it takes to install everything from a simple water feature to more complex water systems.  Are you an owner or contractor interested in learning more? Stop by Lafarge Fox River Stone on June 9th at 5pm or give us a call at 847-888-6133.  We are conveniently located at 1300 S. Route Business 31 in South Elgin.

De-Icing Your Driveway and 2016 iLandscape Show

January is notorious for bringing frigid weather, falling snow and icy roads.  In order to stay safe this winter, take the necessary steps for de-icing your driveway and walkways.  At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, we recommend using salt to remove snow and ice from your property.  After all, salt is an efficient and cheap tool that works on most surfaces.

At Lafarge Fox River, salt is in-stock at our yard.  Contact our store during regular business hours to schedule a convenient salt pick up or delivery time.  Here is a list of our available salts:

• Halite 50 lb. bags (effective to +5 degrees Fahrenheit)
• ProSlicer 50 lb. bags (effective to -20 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Calcium Chloride 50 lb. bags (effective to -25 degrees Fahrenheit)​
• Bulk Salt (effective to +5 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Bulk Snow Slicer​​ (effective to -20 degrees Fahrenheit)

We recommend you get rid of any snow with a shovel and follow by applying a thin layer of salt.

In other news… Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone is excited to take part in the 2016 ILCA iLandscape Show!  Taking place February 3rd through the 5th, stop by the Schaumburg Convention Center and enjoy over 390 booths with the latest trends in landscaping.  Lafarge Fox River Stone will have a booth at this year’s show and is excited to showcase what we have to offer for all of your project needs.

In addition to a range of booths, you will get to see the hottest products, educational speakers, entertainment and much more!  iLandscape gathers the best minds in landscaping for a great event to inform, innovate and inspire the community.  To learn more about the 2016 iLandscape Show and de-icing your driveway with salt, contact the professionals at Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone.

Visit www.foxriverstone.com or call 847-888-6133 today!