Mankato Kasota Stone Featured in Southern Minnesota Home + Style Magazine
Mankato Kasota Stone was recently featured in the Southern Minnesota Home + Style in the Spring/Summer 2011 issue. Home + Style is a Free Press Media home and lifestyle magazine. The article discusses the different uses for Mankato Kasota Stone limestone and gives tips for cleaning and care of Mankato Kasota Stone. Read the article in its entirety below.
Uses of Mankato Kasota Stone Limestone
By Doug SmithWhen you think of limestone some of the words that come to mind are; church, bank and college campus buildings. While limestone building materials are often used for those type of buildings, there are many other uses for limestone materials in and around your home that will enhance the beauty of your home for years to come. Imagine sitting outside and enjoying a fire with friends and family. The very bench you are sitting on can be made out of limestone and the fire you are enjoying can be contained with a limestone fire ring. As you walk back to your home, you could be walking on pavers made out of limestone and your flowerbed could be contained with limestone retaining wall stone. Now these are only a few of the ways limestone can enhance and beautify your backyard. As you step into your home your roaring fireplace is outlined with the warm glow of limestone and your walls are decorated with the unique look of thin stone veneer. The character of the rich limestone material adds that rustic, yet warm and inviting feel to your home. As you walk around your home you notice the pillars made of natural stone and the shelves that appear like wood, made out of stone. Now step down in your wine cellar and look around at the magnificent glow reflected off the walls that are covered in the rich color and texture of limestone. Don’t forget the exterior of your home. Natural thin stone is the most impressive facing material for fine homes – and has a variety of colors and textures to add elegance. Colors include creamy amber, gold tones, buff grey tones and rose blends. For little more than the cost of synthetic alternatives, thin stone can create a home that will project natural beauty and have uniqueness like no other.
Our thin stone product, from our Lombardia Collection, has natural pattern and texture variations that synthetic thin stone cannot duplicate. Mankato Kasota Stone’s limestone creates a strong and ageless impression. The colors of the thin stone are soft and natural, creating a warm glow. So no matter where you use it in and around your home, Mankato Kasota Stone’s limestone will make your home stand apart that will have your friends and neighbors talking for years to come. For more information regarding these products, or to see current photo’s, please visit our website at www.mankatokasotastone.com
Cleaning and Care of Mankato Kasota Stone
General Cleaning Methods:
- Sponge stone with clean potable water. Thoroughly wet the area, then sponge clean. A stiff bristle brush can be used for areas where the dirt is more persistent.
- Wet the area with clear water. Using a mild detergent, potable water, and a sponge, gently clean the stone. The detergent should not include additives such as lemon. Thoroughly rinse with clean water before detergent dries. A stiff bristle brush can be used to remove persistent dirt. Once the area has been rinsed clean, move on to the next.
- Hose stone with clean water. Using a standard garden hose with a typical nozzle and normal tap pressure, wash the area. A mild detergent and water can be applied to more difficult areas with a stiff bristle brush. Be sure to rinse when completed.
A stiff bristle brush can dull the surface of honed or polished stone depending upon the pressure applied.
Do not use cleaners that contain acids. Acids can dull, discolor, etch, and leave streaks on the finish of the stone.
Do not use salt to melt ice. Any ice melt chemicals should be tested to ensure compatibility with the stone.
- A pressure washer can be used with a 45 degree angled fan-shaped nozzle. Pressure should be 1200 to 2000 PSI. Use a continuous sweeping motion not closer than 6” from the surface being cleaned. Pressure washing can affect the finish of the stone.
- There are numerous chemical cleaners on the market. You will need to consult the manufacturers to determine their products compatibility with Mankato-Kasota stone. Some manufacturers that our customers have tried are:
- ProSoCo, Inc. 800-255-4255
- Dietrich Technologies 800-323-3565
Coughlan Companies Donates $200,000 in Stone for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Renovation
MANKATO, Minn. – July 13, 2011 – Coughlan Companies, Inc., announces a $200,000 donation of stone to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for its “Gather the Spirit, Inspire the Faith” renovation project.
The 7,500 square feet of donated Kasota blend ash stone will be used to renovate the church as it creates an expanded gathering space, an improved sanctuary, and a remodeled balcony. The donation will be made through Coughlan Companies’ subsidiary company Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc.
“Many Coughlan families have been raised in the faith at St. John’s celebrating baptisms, faith journeys, weddings, and funerals there since Coughlan Companies’ founding in 1885,” said Bill Rouse, Mankato Kasota Stone President. “Giving our support to St. John’s is something we take an immense amount of pride in as we continue our long tradition of corporate philanthropy.”
St. John’s “Gather the Spirit, Inspire the Faith” campaign is a $2,000,000 renovation project aimed at improving the parish’s aesthetic qualities and facilities. The church is currently in the final planning stages of the project with groundbreaking scheduled for August 2011.
Founded in 1884, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is the second oldest parish in Mankato. Today, the parish has an expanding membership of 1,300 families and is led by Pastor, Fr. John Kunz.
About Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc.
Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc., founded in 1885 by T.R. Coughlan, quarries and fabricates dolomitic limestone for commercial and residential use. Headquartered in Mankato, Minn., Mankato Kasota Stone provides exceptionally crafted custom stone products to enhance the beauty and durability of any design at an affordable price. Visit www.MankatoKasotaStone.com for more information.
About Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Minnesota-based Coughlan Companies, Inc. (CCI) is the holding company for Capstone and Mankato-Kasota Stone, Inc. Capstone is a leading publisher of children’s books and digital products and services, offering everything from nonfiction, fiction, and picture books to interactive books, audio books, and literacy programs. Imprints and divisions include Capstone Press, Compass Point Books, Picture Window Books, Stone Arch Books, Heinemann-Raintree, and Capstone Digital. Visit them at www.CapstonePub.com. Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc., quarries and fabricates dolomitic limestone in southern Minnesota, providing crafted custom stone products for commercial and residential use. Visit www.MankatoKasotaStone.com for more information.
Mankato Kasota Stone Products Featured in NHL Player’s Backyard for DIY Network TV
MANKATO, Minn. – June 24, 2011 – Mankato Kasota Stone, quarrier and fabricator of dolomitic limestone, was recently featured on an episode of the DIY Network’s “Sweat Equity” program, a television show helping homeowners tackle improvement projects to increase their home’s value. The well-known homeowner appearing in the episode is NHL Florida Panther’s player Ryan Carter, an alumnus of Minnesota State University,Mankato and resident of a Twin Cities suburb.
Carter visited Mankato Kasota Stone’s plant and quarry in August, 2010 for filming part of the episode.
“We were all very excited to welcome Ryan and the Sweat Equity crew to our quarry. Ryan’s recommendation to use our limestone on the project speaks to the quality and reputation of our stone products. We’re very proud to have been a part of this project,” said Steve Hewitt, General Manager at Mankato Kasota Stone.”
Carter and the “Sweat Equity” crew installed Mankato Kasota Stone’s Lombardia Wall Stone and Fire Ring products, part of the residential Lombardia Landscape Collection, in the backyard of Carter’s summer residence. Carter specifically requested Mankato Kasota Stone product be used for the project, which included lining the sidewalk and a sitting wall surrounding a fire pit area.
The episode originally aired June 22nd and again on June 24th, it will rebroadcast on July 10th at 3:30 pm CST on the DIY Network.
http://www.diynetwork.com/sweat-equity/uphill-battle/index.html
Mankato Kasota Stone Wins the Stone Business Grand Pinnacle Award!
Mankato Kasota Stone is featured in the March 2011 issue of Stone Business for being the winner of the 2010 Grande Pinnacle Award from Marble Institute of America.
Click on the cover image and turn to page 8 to read full article on MIA Pinnacle Awards and Recipients.
Mankato Kasota Stone Honored With Prestigious Stone Industry Award
Leading Limestone Fabricator Selected by Marble Institute of America for SC Johnson Campus BuildingsMANKATO, Minn. – Feb. 11, 2011 – Mankato Kasota Stone, the premier quarrier and fabricator of dolomitic limestone, has won the coveted 2010 Grande Pinnacle Award sponsored by the Marble Institute of America (MIA) for its limestone’s usage in SC Johnson Company’s Fortaleza Hall and Commons buildings located at its global headquarters in Racine, Wis.
“We’re incredibly honored to receive the prestigious Grande Pinnacle Award. It’s a true testament to team work and having a shared vision to create a fluid yet distinct social hub on the SC Johnson campus,” said Bill Rouse, Mankato Kasota Stone President. “For decades we have supplied the highest quality fabricated Kasota Stone products and our stone resources will enable us to do so for decades to come.”
Drawing a record number of entries in 2010, the Grande Pinnacle Award honors stone companies around the world for projects that stand out above the rest. The award is presented to one project whose beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship exemplifies professional mastery in the use of natural stone.
“I am pleased that each year, our signature Pinnacle Awards competition grows in stature around the world, especially with the addition of the Grande Pinnacle Award, which is presented to the top overall project. Not only has the competition grown in stature, but in the toughness of the competition,” said Brett S. Rugo, Marble Institute of America President.
Fortaleza Hall and Commons buildings are well known for their Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architectural features and details. Wright designed a number of buildings at the company’s headquarters and the two buildings were modeled after his unique and awe-inspiring architectural style. Mankato Kasota Stone’s goal was to achieve their architectural team’s design and aesthetic intent using dolomitic limestone. The architects wanted to honor and incorporate Wright’s design principles, such as the bull-nosed cures on the end of the building, while still maintaining a modern design. Color was a critical piece in the decision making process, along with creating the radius design of the project. Mankato Kasota Stone utilized the same quarry that Wright used during his time designing buildings in the 1930s and 40s.
The Fortaleza Hall and Commons project was a collaborative project involving Mankato Kasota Stone, the project architectural design teams (Foster + Partners, London, England, and A. Epstein & Sons, Chicago, Ill.), construction project manager, general contractor (Gilbane Building Company, Milwaukee, Wis.), and mason (Arteaga Construction, Milwaukee, Wis.). The Mankato Kasota Stone team included sales, project management, estimating, drafting, and operations, including the quarrying and fabricating personnel.
As a result of winning the Grande Pinnacle Award, a representative from Mankato Kasota Stone will be flown to Verona, Italy, in September to attend Marmomacc, the world’s most prominent and significant stone trade show.
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About Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc.
Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc., founded in 1885 by T.R. Coughlan, quarries and fabricates dolomitic limestone for commercial and residential use. Headquartered in Mankato, Minn., Mankato Kasota Stone provides exceptionally crafted custom stone products to enhance the beauty and durability of any design at an affordable price. Visit www.MankatoKasotaStone.com for more information.
About Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Minnesota-based Coughlan Companies, Inc. (CCI) is the holding company for Capstone and Mankato-Kasota Stone, Inc. Capstone is the leading publisher of children’s books and digital products and services, offering everything from nonfiction, fiction, and picture books to interactive books, audio books, and literacy programs. Divisions include Capstone Press, Compass Point Books, Picture Window Books, Stone Arch Books, Heinemann-Raintree, and Capstone Digital. Visit them at www.CapstonePub.com. Mankato Kasota Stone, Inc., quarries and fabricates dolomitic limestone in southern Minnesota, providing crafted custom stone products for commercial and residential use. Visit www.MankatoKasotaStone.com for more information.
Contact:
Doug Smith
Marketing and Business Development
507-385-8344
d.smith@mankatokasotastone.com
