Longtime business files for bankruptcy
One of the city's oldest businesses has filed for bankruptcy.
Casto Tile and
Marble Works Inc., whose roots date back at least to the 1920s, sought Chapter 11 protection from creditors on Jan. 17 in federal bankruptcy court in Charleston.
The Smith Street company specializes in crafting granite and
marble countertops and tables.
Chapter 11 refers to a part of the U.S. bankruptcy code dealing with business reorganizations, as opposed to Chapter 7, which involves the liquidation of business operations.
Owner Robert Casto did not return calls for comment.
Casto became owner of the business in 1993 after a predecessor company, Charleston Tile and Marbles Works Inc., closed.
Charleston Tile is thought to have first opened in the 1920s.
According to the bankruptcy filing, Casto Tile is claiming to have assets of $31,729 and liabilities of $500,520.
Its biggest debt is to Huntington Bank, which it owes $282,389 for a real-estate loan. and $45,523 owed to Arc Stone, a Capitol Heights, Md., stone supplier. Its biggest assets are $16,239 in accounts receivables and $9,840 in
marble supplies
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 | | Marble | MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS
This standard includes general information on the characteristics
and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems
associated with the material.
INTRODUCTION
Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite
(CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of
limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic
processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone
with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite
porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high
polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and
sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially
polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects
of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed,
is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is
readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the
actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the
acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds
react differently with marble and produce various by-products,
which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability
of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine
the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration.
Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the
other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid
attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the
brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red,
yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition.
TYPICAL USES
Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for
outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture
it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative
features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is
used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of
exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the
feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not
the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage
to which marble is susceptible. | |  |
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Linear Mode
