This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Stone World logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Stone World logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
  • CSTD Magazine
  • Topics
    • Fabricator Case Studies
    • Fabricator How-to
    • Large Scale Production
    • Stone in Architecture
    • More
  • Products
    • Featured Products
  • Statistics
  • Web Exclusives
  • Multimedia
  • Stone Guide
  • More
    • Calendar of Events
    • Classified Ads
    • Custom Content and Marketing Services
    • eNewsletters
    • Industry Links
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Research
    • Polls
    • Stone Industry Education
    • Stone World Store
Home » Chester A. Smith: A Long-Time Player in the Stone Industry
Fabricator Case Studies

Chester A. Smith: A Long-Time Player in the Stone Industry

GMM Brio bridge saw
For the majority of its fabrication work, Chester A. Smith, Inc. of Columbus, OH, relies on a GMM Brio bridge saw.
Two radial arm face polishers for honing and repolishing pieces
The company’s 8,000-square-foot facility also includes two radial arm face polishers for honing and repolishing pieces.
Gregori bridge saw
The shop also utilizes a Gregori bridge saw.
Tysaman bridge saw
A Tysaman bridge saw is in place for specialty cutting such as mitered edges and shaping molded edges
Custom residential bathroom vanity
Chester A. Smith, Inc. primarily caters to the upscale residential market, completing custom work such as this bathroom vanity.
Silgranit collection by Blanco
As an added convenience for its customers, the company offers several lines of sinks, including the Silgranit collection by German sink manufacturer Blanco.
GMM Brio bridge saw
Two radial arm face polishers for honing and repolishing pieces
Gregori bridge saw
Tysaman bridge saw
Custom residential bathroom vanity
Silgranit collection by Blanco
August 1, 2017
Jennifer Richinelli
KEYWORDS fabrication shops / granite fabricators / quartz fabrication / stone fabricators
Reprints
No Comments

With a history dating back to 1928, the family-run business of Chester A. Smith, Inc. is steeped in history. The company, along with eight others, was a founding member of the Marble Institute of America (MIA) when it was formed in 1944 and today is listed as “Member #7” in the MIA Directory. The fabrication business, which is based in Columbus, OH, has transitioned through the decades and today it primarily caters to the residential market.

“Chester A. Smith started out as a draftsman in 1912 working at a couple marble companies until 1928 when he started Chester A. Smith, Inc. doing ceramic tile and marble installations for mostly commercial projects like schools and banks,” explained current company president, Jeff Johnston. “In 1939, Mr. Smith bought Detroit Marble so he could fabricate marble pieces and hauled them back to Columbus, OH, for the commercial projects his company was installing. In 1946, Mr. Smith then opened a shop at our current location in Columbus, OH, and shortly thereafter sold the shop in Detroit. After moving the shop to Columbus, he continued doing commercial projects and also many residential projects. In 1959, Mr. Smith’s son, Paul Smith, became president of the company. The company slowly got away from commercial installations and the focus became more on custom fabrication for primarily residential projects. I am Paul Smith’s son-in-law and I’ve worked at the company nearly 30 years and in 2011 became president.”  

While Chester A. Smith is currently run by Johnston, Paul Smith remains a principal owner along with Leslie Smith and Stephanie Smith Johnston. The company operates out of an 8,000-square-foot office and fabrication shop, which includes an additional 4,000 square feet of warehouse space and outdoor slab yard. Fabrication focuses on marble, granite, slate and engineered quartz products. In total, the company staff includes 10 to 11 employees — four in the office and six to seven in the shop, along with one installation crew.

The fabrication shop is equipped with a GMM Brio bridge saw, a Gregori bridge saw and a Tysaman bridge saw; two radial arm face polishers for honing and repolishing pieces; a Hercules router and wet polishers; and Makita grinders. When it comes to templating, Chester A. Smith relies on plywood strips and currently has no plans to purchase any digital templating equipment.

The bulk of the company’s market is high-end custom residential — primarily kitchen and bath countertops – for local custom builders and remodelers. On average, the fabrication shop produces three to five kitchens per week, as well as other counters such as vanity tops, bar tops, etc. A typical kitchen size requires two to three slabs with a finished square footage of 65 to 100 square feet, according to Johnston. “Many kitchens we fabricate have specialty edging such as mitered 2- to 2 ½-inch-thick edges, or
6 cm molded edging” he said. “We also fabricate numerous honed marble and honed and leathered granite tops.” In addition to the residential market, Chester A. Smith also fabricates custom commercial projects such as lobby reception counters. “Our goal is to always provide a high-quality product — giving high customer service to all our customers while specializing in the high-end custom market,” explained Johnston.

As an added convenience for its customers, Chester A. Smith offers several lines of sinks. “Most of our customers purchase their own sinks through their plumbing contractor, but about six to seven years ago we started to offer sinks we purchase through a local distributor and also imported ceramic bathroom sinks we purchase through another local distributor,” said Johnston. “We started to sell these sinks since we are able to resell them at a small profit, and it also provides a convenience to some of our customers. We do not typically offer free sinks and have not had people get upset that we are charging for the sinks we supply.”

Johnston continued to explain stainless steel under mount sinks are the most popular for kitchens and Blanco Silgranit under mount sinks are also popular. “I am a big fan of Blanco sinks since they are a consistent quality sink and Blanco always provides a quality cutout template,” he said. 


Chester A. Smith, Inc.

Columbus, OH

Type of Work: primarily high-end custom residential
Machinery: a GMM Brio, a Gregori and a Tysaman bridge saws; two face polishers; a Hercules router and wet polishers; and Makita grinders
Number of Employees: 10 to 11 workers, as well as an installation crew
Production Rate: three to five kitchens (ranging from 65 to 100 square feet) per week, as well as other counters such as vanity tops, bar tops, etc.

Subscribe to Stone World Magazine

Recent Articles by Jennifer Richinelli

Stone Column: Getting involved

Rebuilding a house of worship with natural stone

Learning the components for success in the stone industry

An inside look at Intermac

The Natural Stone Institute's 2019 Study tour

Jennifer-200x200

Jennifer Richinelli has been covering the stone industry since 1996 as Managing Editor of Stone World and Editor of our sister publication Contemporary Stone & Tile Design. Much of her work focuses on design, and it has also appeared in a range of consumer and shelter publications. Email:  jennifer@stoneworld.com

 

 

Related Articles

Trivedi Group: A significant player in India's natural stone industry

The stone industry looks to kick off 2016 in a postive way with 86% of fabricators surveyed anticipating sales revenues to increase

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Stone World Subscriptions
  • CSTD Subscriptions
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Proliner digital templating by Prodim


IceStone Featured Product

Poll

Employees

How many employees do you have?
View Results Poll Archive

classifieds- for sale

Stone World Magazine

SW1219_Cover.jpg

2019 December

In this issue of Stone World Magazine, read about the latest Marmomac show, see how Margraf marble was used throughout an Sicilian home, view the machine of the month, PowerROC D60 from Epiroc,and much more!
View More Create Account

Contemporary Stone & Tile Design Magazine

01-CSTD2019Fall_Cover.jpg

2019 Fall

In this issue of Contemporary Stone & Tile Design magazine, read about a surprise kitchen makeover, the 2019 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition winner in the residential category, and much more!

View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Partners
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More
    • Stone World
    • CSTD
    • Connect
    • Survey And Sample
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to Stone World
    • Subscribe to CSTD

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing