Sturgis Materials Inc

Very helpful and friendly. Good prices as well as selection. Worth stopping here for sure.

We took out the old gas log system in our fireplace and replaced it with a pan burner. This allowed us to choose whatever material we wanted to cover the burner.
A lot of people (mainly cheese balls) like to use the broken glass. Since that was not an option, I decided on sand– which matches the fireplace. For fire, you need silica sand and this place has gobs of it.
I walked in the front door and three dudes were just staring off into space. Not a big day at the rock store. I told them what I wanted and one guy got off his chair a pulled a box out from beneath the counter of all these sand samples in vials. The difference in the grains of sand were in millimeters. I rolled them around in the light, like a discerning drug dealer, finally choosing one based on the guys recommendation. Ordered a 100 lb bag based on the dimensions of the fireplace, paid the $ 20 and drove over to the loading dock.
Mexican radio blasted as we waited in our borrowed van for the drop off. A beefy dude comes running at the van like a linebacker and body slams the bag in the back sliding door. He then starts yanking the door closed while it is closing automatically. He finally realizes it and steps back and waves goodbye. How easy breezy was that?
My mind started racing. What other kind of rock do I need? Where can I put more rock? Will that bolder fit in the van? How much for those river rocks? When you like to shop, I guess it crosses over to all categories! Now I want more rock.
I get home and this one bag fills my fireplace exactly! It was too perfect. Kind of bummed I don’t get to go back to the rock store. :(