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Inside the Shop
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Dream Stone Inc., Frederick, CO

Dream Stone Inc. currently operates out of a 12,000-square-foot shop in Frederick, CO, which includes a fabrication facility, offices and a showroom. According to owner Scott Murphy, he was inspired to open his own shop shortly after his parents sold theirs. "My parents started in the granite business in the late 80s, and of course went on to sell in the late 90s," he said. "When they sold their company, I decided to open my own in 2001." Full article

Twin Stone Marble, Hollywood, FL

by Alexis Fisher, Associate Editor

As a company that began in 1996 doing small jobs for efficiencies and apartments, Twin Stone Marble of Hollywood, FL, currently gets calls for some of Southern Florida's most prestigious projects, and it is not feeling the effects of a slowing economy. Additionally, its most recent shop is more than 10 times the size of the original location, and it houses an entire new line of machinery from Coch Corp. of Argentina, supplied through its U.S. office in Palm City, FL. Full article

Fabricator Issue of the Month
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Countertop installation forum

by Michael Reis, Editor

What are some of the most common issues you and your crews are dealing with in terms of countertop installation? Are there some nagging issues (out-of-level cabinets, seams, etc.) that still don't have adequate resolution? Are there any new issues popping up out there?

Also, for fabricators who have shifted from new construction to remodel work, has it been difficult to make the adjustment? What are some of the new challenges you are encountering?

Click here to view fabricator responses

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Project Spotlight
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Private Residence, Southern California

Stone was recently implemented into the redesign of a 300-square-foot kitchen in a private residence in Southern California, where the aesthetic goal was to reflect a Tuscan style of design by selecting warm elements. Jennifer Jones of Dream Maker Bath & Kitchen of Fallbrook, CA, a Division of Imagination Builders Inc., carried out the design, which included the use of Desert Amarillo granite from Arizona Tile of Tempe, AZ.  Full article

Private Residence, Greensboro, NC

by Michael Reis, Editor

In a depressed real estate market, the prospect of building a speculative home becomes more and more daunting for builders, as they seek to make the property stand out to the limited number of prospective buyers currently in the marketplace. For Platinum Builders, Inc. of Greensboro, NC, the strategy of drawing interest in a spec home includes the use of stone in innovative ways. Full article

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Shop How-To
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Fabricator Forum: One to five years experience

transcribed by Michael Reis

In an effort to offer content that best fits specific attendees, the Fabricator Forums held during Coverings 2008 were divided according to the experience level of the fabricators present. The first of these sessions was geared for professionals with one to five years of experience, and panelists included: 

• Rafael Bernal of Great Lakes Granite & Marble, who has 11 years of experience
• Rejeana Ellis of The Stone Resource, who has 20 years of experience
• Aaron Crowley of Crowley's Granite Concepts, who has 10 years of experience
• Duane Naquin of Stone Interiors North America, who has 15 years of experience

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Industry Happenings
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Texas stone suppliers still rebounding from Hurricane Ike

by Michael Reis, Editor

Nine days after Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas, much of the region remains without power, and the stone industry has literally ground to a halt. The vast majority of stone fabricators and distributors in the area have remained closed as of the start of this week. Click here to read more

Reaction to the "Today Show" segment on granite countertops

by Alex Bachrach, Publisher

NBC's "Today Show" aired a segment on granite countertops earlier this month, and while the implied connection between granite and dangerous levels of radon is never positive, this piece at least included input from both sides of the issue. Bill Llope, the same Rice University physics professor that has spoken out against granite recently, was featured and spoke of the potential hazards of some granites. But in the "Today Show" segment, Jack McCarthy, a consultant who works with the natural stone industry and was hired by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), explained that the amounts of radiation that come from the 70+ granites his group has tested thus far is too minute to affect humans once mixed with the atmosphere. The reporter, Natalie Morales, also noted that "health experts say the risk has been totally overblown," and a quote from the Environmental Protection Agency was read aloud and shown on the screen, confirming that "most types of granite . . . are not typically known to be major contributors of radiation and radon in the average home."  These comments were sadly missing from previous articles and news segments on this issue. Click here to read more

Cosentino CEO severs ties with BuildClean, cites safety of granite

by Michael Reis, Editor

Cosentino North America has ceased funding of and disengaged itself from BuildClean^TM, a Houston, TX, organization. Although BuildClean's Web site states that its mission is to "educate consumers and the building industry about safe, healthy and environmentally friendly materials," it has thus far limited its focus solely on promoting a possible connection between granite and dangerous levels of radon -- a connection that has been refuted with abundant scientific evidence. Click here to read more

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