FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
2026 Midyear Meeting Registration is OPEN ↗

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.
 0
The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

MAP Partner
Read More
Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Lily Burger
Masonry in the Media
Read More
Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More