Porphyry paving stones are now easy and cost effective to ship to the US and Canada. Despite the vagaries of oil prices, advances in trucking, ocean freight and logistics services make transporting and delivering stone to your jobsite very economical. The single most important innovation in this process was the introduction and eventual adoption of the shipping container. On April 26, 1956 the first shipping container was loaded in Newark, New Jersey. Today there are ships that have as many as 3,000 containers moving goods all over the world. Before the container transporting goods was expensive and a square foot of stone pavers is heavy. Port to door shipments of Porphyry pavers can be accomplished in about 3 weeks. Containers changed the world and the economy.
There are nuances to shipping porphyry stone pavers and selecting the right port to land it in as well as the inland transportation by either rail or truck in the US or Canada. Milestone Imports is well acquainted with these issues and can provide quotes and manage the process from quarry to jobsite.
Below are some general points to know:
1. Porphyry stone is most economically shipped on full flatbed semi trucks (typically 24 tons) or in full shipping containers (typically 20-22 tons). The shipping cost is usually the same if the truck or the container isn’t fully loaded so it is more cost-effective to ship in full units.
2. Dimensional porphyry stone is shrink wrapped on pallets, cubes are normally placed in super sacks and then on pallets. Porphyry stone pavers from nearby quarries such as those in Mexico are most often shipped on flatbed semi trucks and will cross the border with 22 tons of material. Depending on the thickness of the stone you order, this could be approximately 2,000 sq. ft. in nominally 2” thick material. A pallet of stone usually will weigh approximately 3500 lbs.
3. Porphyry from Patagonia will be containerized for ocean travel, normally in a 20 foot container. Again, approximately 2,000 sq. ft. of material depending on sizes and shapes.
4. Stone is always transported on pallets which must be loaded and unloaded with a forklift. In most cases, customers are responsible for unloading pallets of stone from the trucks or shipping containers at the job site. This requires a fork lift. When unloading shipping containers, a pallet jack is necessary to move the pallets to the back of the container for unloading with a fork lift.
5. For cost-effective delivery, the delivery site must be accessible to a typical flatbed semi truck. Roads and driveways with tight corners and weight-limited bridges can prevent the truck from reaching the delivery site.
If you have specific questions about Porphyry stone pavers and the freight costs and methods of shipping, please contact Rob Kean at Milestone Imports. [email protected]
Super sacks typical for shipping porphyry cubes
Porphyry’s composition determines its high compression strength, resistance to stains, slip resistance, and high freeze/thaw ratings. The stone is the most popular paver in Europe, and is favored for its flexibility in design, beauty, durability and low maintenance requirements. ADA Compliant Porphyry pavers are also adaptable to a permeable paving set. The stone is by far one of the most durable pavers in the world. These beautiful materials are available from Milestone Imports. Milestone supports the creativity of architects, planners and designers. Porphyry offers surfaces of various finishes and mixed colorings, tending towards tones of grey, gold, violet and red, depending on where it is extracted. – www.milestoneimports.com
