Natural stone simply adds a timeless elegance to projects that can stand up to fads and resist looking dated after a few years when new trends come and go (we’re looking at you, terracotta and Saltillo tiles). And because of its timelessness and durability, the value of natural stone far outweighs man-made materials — engineered products just can’t compete.
Wherever it’s used, natural stone adds muscle to any project and a sense of permanence. Unlike man made products — that degrade and fade over time — quarried stone can handle whatever mother nature throws its way.
That’s why Polycor stones have been used in the construction of heritage sites and monuments worldwide, including some of the most admired American buildings and memorials. We’re talking: the Empire State Building, Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building. Each was built using renowned natural stones that are part of the Polycor family of quarries, including Indiana Limestone - Full Color Blend™ and GEORGIA MARBLE - PEARL GREY™.
Once the world’s tallest building, the Empire State Building in New York City was built between 1930 and 1931 using 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana Limestone for the entire exterior of the 102-story structure. Rising 1,454 feet over Manhattan, the limestone — which was extracted from Polycor’s Bloomington, Indiana quarry — gives the art deco design its signature buff color.
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC also features Indiana Limestone, which can be found on the walls of the monument’s interior, complete with carved inscriptions honoring Lincoln’s memory. The dramatic sculpture of the country’s 16th president itself was also crafted from stone cut from a Polycor quarry. The imposing 19-foot statue of a seated Lincoln was sculpted out of marble blocks extracted from its legendary quarry in Tate, Georgia. Carved out of 28 individual blocks, the figure took four years to complete and was assembled on site in 1922.
Georgia marble was also the stone of choice for honoring our nation’s heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery contains over 400 grave sites and each headstone is proudly carved from the American marble, extracted from U.S soil.
Now you can add a piece of history to your masonry or hardscape projects using these respected stones, giving it a place of honor in family celebrations and memories for generations to come.
The closely-packed and homogenous grain structure of this marble gives superior strength and resistance in exterior applications, which explains why it has been used for centuries in indoor and outdoor architectural and residential projects. Its white and gray veins create an interesting pattern and organic movement.
Quarried in Salisbury, NC, this rose-hued granite features densely compacted crystals of quartz and feldspar producing a light toned translucence that adds pops of color in outdoor living spaces.
An American classic, also called the “building block of America”, this neutral limestone possesses a subdued palette featuring light to medium shades of gray and graces landmarks like the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Not only does natural stone add a timeless beauty and history to any project, adding it to your contracting repertoire can also help expand your business in four meaningful ways:
When you choose one of Polycor’s natural stones for a hardscape or masonry project you are tapping into the legacy of its historic quarries and adding timeless beauty that’s guaranteed to last for generations to come.
Download the Polycor Hardscapes & Masonry product brochure to see the possibilities.