Let me see if I can get through this review without making jokes about it. I probably can't but…read moreread on, anyway. There are a number of quarries in Waukesha County, some are private for construction companies but others are open to pros in the trades and to regular home owners, like me. Halquist is probably the best known of that type of quarry. The company carries a wide range of construction materials from the simplest crushed limestone to stone veneers, stone kitchen counters, decorative stones of all kinds and even to pavers. There is a very impressive showroom for you to inspect.
The Halquist staff is helpful and as comfortable with construction pros as they are with the most ignorant consumer that walks in the impressive front door. The building is clad with a wide range of stone veneers, all labeled for your research. Various types and sizes of crushed stone are on display as are pavers and landscaping blocks of all kinds. Rest assured, all are clearly labeled for your research. In fact, the grounds display an impressive array of landscaping, patio and construction concepts and ideas.
I was in need of several tons of crushed stone to replace stone washed out of my driveway. The experts listened to my needs and what I thought I wanted, then patiently explained what I really wanted and why. Crushed stone is sold by the ton but measured in cubic yards. Even with an online calculator that figures out how much stone I needed, I still completely underestimated how much I actually needed, and wound up making three trips to Halquist. No one laughed at me, in fact, they were happy to see me again.
Ready to make a purchase but you're intimidated by construction yards? Don't be. The Halquist system is idiot proof, if you know the procedure. Understand, all products here are sold by weight. When you pull into the parking lot, look for the scale. Drive up on to the scale, it doesn't matter if you have a dump truck, heavy trailer or washtubs in the back of a pickup truck, just drive on to the scale. Stop and wait for a voice command to come over the loudspeaker. Typical consumer products (crushed limestone, decorative stone, sand, etc.) are in the first aisle. Turn left. You can shovel your own into buckets (sand, small amounts of stone, etc.) if you like, but more likely, you'll have a truck or trailer. Wait in your vehicle, a front end loader will soon appear and the operator will ask what you're purchasing and how much you need. I had a rented dump trailer.
Before you know it, you'll be loaded and on your way. Stop on the scale again, and wait for the voice command to proceed. There is a parking area just to the right of the scale, pull into one of those long, angled spaces. Head inside and settle up your bill. It's that easy!
Nope, can't do it. I went to Halquist today to get stoned. And yes, they rocked my world. You see, I told you I couldn't get through it without the requisite gags.