Over the past decade, the international stone industry has seen some dramatic changes. In the American marketplace, stone has moved into the mainstream, and it is being used at almost every level of the building trade. The trade has grown tremendously, and as a result, virtually every sector of the industry -- from importers to fabricators and installers -- has changed the way it does business.
In the commercial sector, stone is still a staple for designs where the goal is to impart a feeling of quality, and it is being used extensively for interior and exterior applications. But the biggest changes are being seen in the residential sector. Stone is no longer limited to wealthy homeowners. It has found its way into middle class homes, and it is found in “everyday†retailers such as Home Depot, Lowes and others.