Products from Kay Berry’s Custom Architectural Elements & Reproductions division include pier caps (above), medallions (middle), and facades (bottom).

New cast stone reproduction source
Kay Berry, a manufacturer and distributor of cast stone products based in western Pennsylvania, has recently introduced the company’s Custom Architectural Elements & Reproduction division. Employing Kay Berry’s existing cutting-edge technology, the new division produces made-to-order decorative stone accents in a broad range of colors for residential and commercial builders and architects. Established in 1993, the company product line includes stone sculptures, benches, birdbaths, and a wide variety of garden and home accent rock designs.

Kay Berry’s team of artists work with building professionals to produce original stone artwork that reflects the vision of a particular project, or to recreate existing designs, accurately matching color and texture. The architectural elements are available in a range of styles—from classic Old World to contemporary—in quantities from one to 1,000.

Two sample products from the new division include a reproduction of a meticulously detailed decorative medallion (far right) created by the latest rubber mold technology, and a Roman-style ball finial and pier cap (near right) that make a striking ornamental accent to a brick column. The division’s work is not limited to outside projects: The facade on the main entrance of the Kay Berry production facility (right) demonstrates examples of split rock, sill, and headers designed and created inside the plant. Kay Berry, Saxonburg, Pa. www.kayberry.com   [ Reader Service January 2006 # 209 ]

The Revere House (above), built around 1680, stands today clad in cedar siding.

Cedar siding continues to protect a landmark
The Paul Revere House, built around 1680, is downtown Boston’s oldest building and the twelfth-most-visited historic home in the nation. Restored to its original condition in 1907, the home still retains 90 percent of its original structure.

In addition to undergoing normal maintenance, a recent siding restoration using western red cedar clapboards was completed on the historic landmark over the course of a few weeks last fall. According to Nina Zannieri, executive director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association that owns and operates the home, cedar siding is used for the home for a variety of reasons. “Information provided by architect Joseph Chandler, who did the original restoration in 1907 to 1908, indicates he found clapboards on the house below one of the surviving 17th-century casement windows,” says Zannieri. In addition, a possibly original clapboard was found when the building was painted in 1996. There is also documentary evidence from the late-17th and early-18th centuries indicating that cedar was available in Massachusetts and was used on buildings of a similar age and construction to the Revere House.

The house uses high-grade western red cedar siding with a molded ege, in a range of lengths from 24'' to 44''. Using the material originally intended for the home was a top priority for the restoration project team. “Even if lower-maintenance or longer-lasting materials are available today, our goal of historical accuracy must dictate our choice of restoration materials,” says Zannieri. “In the case of the Paul Revere House, we’re lucky that we’re able to use a material as beautiful and durable as cedar, while still providing a historically accurate restoration.” Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, Vancouver. www.wrcla.com [ Reader Service January 2006 # 210 ]

Roof shingles built to last
Centennial Slate roof shingle simulates the natural color variations of true blended slate at a fraction of the cost. Centennial Slate utilizes CertainTeed’s Super Shangle construction with two full-size, 18'' x 36'' base shingles, resulting in four layers of shingle protection and 8'' exposure when applied. The shingle is available in six colors, is algae-resistant, features Class A fire rating, and meets ASTM D3462, a tough shingle performance standard required by many of today’s building codes. CertainTeed, Valley Forge, Pa. www.certainteed.com [ Reader Service January 2006 # 211 ]

Historic charm without the historic hassle
Custom made for each project, Kolbe & Kolbe’s Old World Classic windows feature a brass pulley system, complete with brass chains and alloyed weights, that lower the unit to operate with ease due to the proportionate balance between the sash and weights. Ideal for historic applications, the windows are available in various wood species and are traditionally designed triple-hungs, double-hungs, and single-hung units. Kolbe Windows & Doors, Wausau, Wis. www.kolbe-kolbe.com [ Reader Service January 2006 # 212 ]