THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 16, 1994 TAG: 9411150118
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINDSOR LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Business is off to anything but a rocky start for Tidewater Stone Co.
``Things have been going even better than I expected,'' said Harry Young, a retired nuclear engineer who opened the company at 21 E. Windsor Blvd. three months ago.
``I think business will continue to improve as more people realize we are here.''
According to Young, stone is one of the world's oldest building materials and has become increasingly popular in recent years. He said that more and more people are using stone as an alternative to brick and wood for a variety of building and landscaping projects: fireplaces, patios, driveways, fences and walls.
Young, who is also certified in environmental engineering, believes stone has some safety advantages over wood.
``Wood concerns me a little bit because we use a lot of preservatives to treat it,'' Young said. ``These chemicals could prove to be very hazardous later on.
``And you can never actually tell what the condition of a wood structure is,'' he said.
``Termites can destroy wood and you have to watch a lot of woods because of decay.''
Tidewater Stone Co. is one of only two stone businesses in Hampton Roads, Young said. While most stone companies only stock a couple of stone styles, Tidewater Stone Co. has more than a dozen kinds in stock and can access another 50 within two days, he said.
Young charges between $160 and $190 per ton depending on the type of stone. Delivery within five miles is free.
Most Tidewater Stone customers come from outside the area, Young said. Low prices and the ample selection of stone is drawing customers from Virginia Beach, Hopewell, Richmond and even Roanoke, he said. MEMO: For more information, call Tidewater Stone Co. at 242-3389.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Harry Young, owner of Tidewater Stone Co., touts uses of stone.
by CNB