CalStar chiseled cast stone unit

Words: Dan KamysCalStar is expanding its line of cast stone products with a 24-inch-long (nominal) unit with a chiseled appearance that emulates natural, cut limestone.

The chiseled-texture units have a bed depth of four inches (nominal) and are available in four heights: four, eight, 12 and 16 inches (nominal). CalStar’s cast stone starts with molds mastered from real stone, contributing to an authentic look. By using several different faces per size and an alphanumeric installation guide inscribed on each piece, CalStar ensures installers can place the units in patterns that are not repetitive to the eye. The CalStar staff will assist designers with developing an installation hierarchy. In addition, units are available with a chiseled end for use in corners.

Unlike some products, the units are suitable for at-grade applications and, therefore, eliminate the need for starter courses. Other uses include band courses, wainscoting and window accents.

The cast stone products are made with CalStar’s process that incorporates up to 18 percent recycled content and eliminates the need for Portland cement, used to bind concrete masonry products; for calcium silicate materials, which require energy-intensive autoclaving; or for kiln-firing, typical of traditional clay brick. As a result, each product requires less energy to make as well as having a lower carbon footprint. The chiseled-face units are available in any of CalStar’s monotone colors.

For more information, visit www.calstarproducts.com.
PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
August 2026

In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh

Why "The Software Can't Track That" Is Finally Going Away
August 2026

For as long as specialty contractors have used field software, most of them have kept a workaround somewhere: a spreadsheet on a foreman's laptop, a whiteboard in the trailer, or a text thread where crew leads send block counts at the end of the day becau

Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin