FAQs
Q: Where is Thomas Stone & Materials located?
A: We serve landscapers, builders, contractors and homeowners at two locations in the San Antonio Area:
- In Spring Branch, off of Hwy. 281 just 2.5 miles north of the Hwy. 46 on the east side;
- And in San Antonio, off of Loop 1604 East between Redland and Bulverde Roads (next to Mustang Equipment).
See below for addresses, contact info and hours.
Q: Can I pick up material at your location?
A: Yes, we are open to the public and will load all types of open trucks (pick-up trucks or flatbeds) and trailers.
Q: How can I pay for my order?
A: We accept all major credit cards, debit, cash, or check. You can pay with a credit card over the phone.
Q: Do you offer delivery?
A: Yes! Whatever your order size, Thomas Stone & Materials has the right truck to fit your needs. Delivery price is determined by your location and the amount of material needed. See our Delivery FAQs for more details.
Q: Does Thomas Stone and Materials offer installation services? Do you spread dirt or mulch, lay sod, place stone, etc.?
A: Thomas Stone and Materials offers a Bobcat service, with a Bobcat and driver available to work on your site at your direction to clear land, spread materials, level surfaces and more. We do not offer installation services, but since many of our customers are experienced, qualified landscapers, we are happy to provide referrals to experts who can assist you with your needs. Please note that this is a courtesy to our customers; we do NOT receive any fees for providing referrals and we do not guarantee the work of any contractor we provide referrals to.
Q: How much material can I fit in my truck or trailer?
A: Here are examples of vehicles and the amount of materials they typically hold:
- Small Pick-Ups: 1 Yard of Mulch, 1/2 Ton of Stone and 1/2 Yard Topsoil
- Mid-Sized Pick-Ups (F150, 1500): 2 Yards of Mulch, ½ Yard Ton of Stone and 3/4 Yard Topsoil
- Full-Sized, Heavy-Duty Pick-Ups (F250, F350, 2500HD, 3500HD): 3 Yards of Mulch, 1 Ton of Stone and 1-1/2 Yard Topsoil
Q: How big is your loader bucket?
A: We have a ½ yard bucket and a 1 yard bucket.
Q: How much material can fit in our dump trucks?
A: We have 3 dump truck sizes. Depending on the material, our smallest single-axle truck can hold 5-7 yards; our tandem axle dump truck can hold 10-15 yards; and our end dump can hold 18-25 yards, but requires one of our drivers to assess the drop location first.
Q: Do your sell bags or buckets of material?
A: We will sell 5 gallon buckets of bulk material. We charge $4-5 per bucket depending on the material, but currently do not sell the actual buckets, so please bring your own.
Q: What is your return policy?
A: Bulk materials, sod, and palletized stone are non-returnable. Changes or cancellations made to any prepaid order will incur a 6% processing fee.
Q: Do you offer a military discount?
A: To thank our service members, we are proud to offer a military discount for the men and women who are serving or who have served. Please contact us for details.
See our Thomas Stone & Materials Guide To a Beautiful Lawn guide [insert link to Turfgrass section] for complete turfgrass information!
Q: When is the best time to lay sod?
A: You can apply sod at any time; however, spring and fall are the best times. If the sod is dormant (not green) make sure you purchase it from a reliable supplier. Dormant sod and dead sod (due to drying and freezing) look the same but, of course, do not perform the same. Dormant sod will green up in the spring.
Q: Where can I get more information on sod and sod installation?
A: See our Thomas Stone & Materials Guide To a Beautiful Lawn guide [insert link to Turfgrass section] for a free, step-by-step primer on sod and sod installation.
Q: How much soil do I need to apply before laying sod?
A: Experts recommend a minimum of 4″ of top soil or sandy loam. For best results, use soil that contains compost, such as New Earth Top Soil Enriched (available at Thomas Stone & Materials) [insert link to product], and till it in with your existing soil.
Q: What should I use and when should I fertilize my grass?
A: Thomas Stone & Materials recommends organic fertilizers for the health of your lawn, and we stock some of the best available. In both the spring and the fall, apply a layer of lawn dressing (sand & compost mix) not more than 1/2″ deep and a granular fertilizer such as Medina Growin’ Green Organic Granular Fertilizer or Hou-Actinite [link to these items in Landscape Products].
Q: Are the brown spots on my lawn a fungus?
A: If you can grab a handful of grass and it pulls up by the roots, most likely you have grub worms. You can treat with beneficial nematodes or other organic methods. If you can’t pull up a handful, you most likely have a common fungus called “brown patch.” You can either spread no more than 1/2″ of compost and do a deep watering or apply whole ground corn meal. The microbes in the compost will help eliminate the brown patch and you should see color from new growth in 6-8 weeks.
Q: How many pieces of sod on a pallet?
A: About 169 pieces or blocks
Q: How do I figure out how much grass to buy?
A: One pallet of sod covers 450 square feet. Try to square up your yard as much as possible. Then calculate the following:
- Measure Length X Width = Square Feet
- For each section, add the square feet together
- Divide the total square feet by 450 square feet (1 pallet)
- This will show you how many pallet you will need. For example: 45’ X 60’ = 2,700 sq. ft. / 450 sq. ft. = 6 pallets
Q: How much does a pallet of sod weigh?
A: Approximately 2,000 lbs.
Q: Will the sample I received from a supplier be an exact match to the stone?
A: Because samples represent a small area of the stone, they can be indicative of general coloring, texture, and veining. Stone is a product of nature and will vary, sometimes greatly, from slab to slab and block to block. Two batches of the same stone from the same quarry can look very different. In order to obtain the best idea of what your finished product will look like, always view current, full slabs when making your material decision.
Q: How much stone is a ton?
A: One ton = 2000 lbs. Our pallets of stone (i.e., patio flagstone, boulders, and chopped) weighs approximately 1.5 to 2 tons per pallet.
Q: How much does a cubic yard weigh?
A: That depends on the type of material. For example, river rock and gravel weigh between 2400 & 2700 lbs., mulch about 600, soils from 1400-1800 lbs. per cubic yard.
Q: How do I know how much stone I need?
A: The amount of stone depends on the type of stone and your particular project. You can use either our pricelist or our materials calculator to determine the amount you will need.
Q: How much waste should I figure into my job?
A: Different stones have variable waste factors. Please contact us for estimates.
Q: What is flagstone?
A: Most people refer to flat, wide patio stone as flagstone, however any uncut irregular shaped stone is also considered a flagstone.
Q: Is sand the best product to use under flagstone?
A: Most books and websites will tell you YES since sand is easier to level; however, sand can wash away with rain leaving your patio uneven and dangerous. We have found using road base and/or decomposed granite works best.
Q: I have an existing patio that is cracking, can it be repaired without tearing it out and starting over?
A: More often than not, the “cracks” you see are not cracks, they are caused by shrinking of the mortar pulling away from the stone and can be easily repaired by a mason. Wire mesh under your patio usually eliminates this problem.
Q: How do you determine the price of patio stone and building stone material?
A: Building stone, patio stone, and boulders are sold by weight, in pounds or tons.
Q: We are building a house. How do I know how much stone I need?
A: Just bring in a set of your plans and we will be happy to do an estimate for you.
Q: Do you offer delivery? How much do you charge for delivery?
A: Yes, we deliver! Delivery prices start at $45 and vary based on your location and the amount of materials being delivered.
Q: How far in advance do I need to call for a delivery?
A: During our busy season, which begins around February and lasts through October, we may need a 2-3 day notice to schedule your delivery. In later fall and the winter time, we typically need 1 day notice to schedule a delivery. Please give us a call to get a firm delivery date.
Q: Can you deliver to an exact location on my property?
A: We do our best to place your materials exactly where you want them, but final delivery decisions are left up the Thomas Stone delivery driver who will assess the safety and feasibility of accessing the area.
Q: Is there a minimum purchase for delivery?
A: We have a 2-yard minimum in our dump trucks and a minimum of 2 tons or 2 grass pallets for stone and sod. A $50 surcharge is added to orders of only one yard, ton or pallet.
Q: Is it possible to order more than one material at once to be delivered?
A: We don’t recommend it because if two products are delivered in one truck, they will mix and it can be very hard to separate the materials. But if you insist, we will do it.
Q: Do I need to be home when a delivery is made?
A: No. When you place your order, just let your Thomas Stone representative know where you want your product placed and mark the location with a cone or other marker for your driver.
Q: Do you promise deliver times?
A: We schedule delivery days, but do not schedule times.
DELIVERY DISCLAIMER
Thomas Stone and Materials will not be held liable or responsible for any damages occurring to personal property past the curb line. All customers must realize that the size and weight of trucks, machines and materials contained in them could possibly damage the driveway, sidewalk, house, garage, buildings, vehicles, lawns, shrubs, utility wires, underground systems, or any other items or property, real or personal located at the delivery site including possible staining from natural or dyed materials. NOTE: Our drivers are required to not fold in any mirror at any time. If the truck will not fit past a house, gate, tree, shrub, etc. without folding in a mirror, then the truck will not fit.
Customer service is good. Products are great, If your not sure about something walk the yard and see for yourself. If you dont see something your after, ask and they probably have it at their other location. Delivery fees are reasonable but they will load your truck too.
Cathy V.
