BEAUTIFUL STONE. BEAUTIFUL WORK.

BRIAN'S BLOG
Thu. Jun. 18, 2009

Last week, I had a customer ask how we are different from our competitors. I was stumped for a second, before I could come up with any real differences.
I know many things that we do differently, but I wasn’t prepared for the question. It will not happen again.
Here are just a few things that we need to point out to our customers:

- 5 day turnaround

- Custom layout. Customer can select the area of the slab they want to use.

-Bullet proof sealer ( Don’t just say sealer, say it by its brand name)

-All cutouts are reinforced with fiberglass rods. This is more expensive than typical steel rods, but eliminates cracking caused by rust. Some companies skip rodding altogether.

- Ledge overhangs are smoothed and enhanced.

-We have a large selection of remnants available at bargain prices. Our competitors sell remnants for the same square ft. price as anything else.

- Digital templating. This is the most accurate way to template, but we go way beyond the norm with our template process. The printer is in the van, and the customer can actually see the blue templates on their counter. If they don’t like a particular detail, we simply print again until they like it. Most places with a digital template system simply digitize the tops and leave the jobsite.

BRIAN'S BLOG
Wed. May. 27, 2009

“S” Shaped Seams

S shaped seams are something that we have experimented with over the past couple of years. We first dreamed up the idea during a project for Harden Homes. The homeowner had selected slabs of Juperana Bordeaux for their kitchen. The only problem was that their island cabinet was much too large to fit into the slab dimensions. So, of course, we needed to have a seam somewhere in the island in order to do the job. We toyed around with several different seam placement options, but no matter where you put the seam it was going to be staring you in the face. The stone had some movement or flow to it, so we decided that a more flowing seam would work better. Rather than spending so much time trying to make a straight seam disappear, we incorporated an S seam into the island’s design. The end result turned out magnificent. A creative solution solved the problem, and the customer was extremely pleased with the outcome.
We have done several other projects using the S seam since then. The most recent was the Taggart house on Lemon island. Their island was massive in a piano shape with 2 ½” thick edges. The S shaped seam again turned an awkward island into a masterpiece that we can be proud of.
Rarely does nature have any straight line patterns, so why should your countertop?

Brian Baltzegar

JOHN'S VIEW
Fri. Oct. 3, 2008

MINERAL DEPOSITS AND WATER MARKS
Mineral deposits on stone countertops are common in hard water areas of the country, such as Hilton Head Island. Tap water is the root of this problem. The water piped into your home is loaded with minerals, and even with a purifier, water is only as good as the filter.
Water gets on your beautiful stone counter and as this water evaporates from the surface, the minerals in the solution are simply left behind. This is how mineral deposits can build up on your countertops and around your faucet. Deposits can appear as white or dull areas, but all is not lost. The granite underneath these areas can be restored to its original luster.
The methods for removal are simple. If there is a substantial build-up, it will appear white-ish and crusty. It is usually concentrated around the faucet, but can be in any areas where water has been left to sit and evaporate. A single-edge razor blade will not scratch granite and will remove most of the mineral crust. Use a fine gauge steel wool for the rest . Once you’ve removed all the build-up, the granite underneath should be good as new.
Keeping the area around the sink dry is a good preventative measure. Drying with a microfiber towel is a quick and easy way to keep your countertops free of dulling mineral deposits.

John Baltzegar IV

PATRICK'S POST
Thu. May. 15, 2008

SEAMS…… The unwanted stepchild of Granite Countertops


I’m going to dive right in here folks, nobody LIKES seams. Nobody. Anyone one who says they like seams is, well…., a LIAR. Let’s start internally. Templating a top is much easier to do without any seams. The layout goes much smoother when no one has to worry about matching the color of two pieces seamed together; Fabrication is a breeze when tops don’t have to be put together so the front edges can be gauged to ensure a perfect union between stones. And last of all Installation can take as much as 80% less time to install a seamless kitchen as opposed to one with seams. So now that we all agree it’s much easier for Stoneworks to go forward in a seamless world lets talk about home owners. In my experience I have yet to meet a homeowner that said I must have a seam or I just won’t be satisfied. Nor have I met a homeowner ecstatic that the main focal point in their beautifully designed kitchen would be set off with a seam right down the middle. So you may wonder why? If everyone agrees that seams are nobodies’ friend then why do granite fabricators use them? Well that’s easy, so we don’t install a broken countertop. Everyone agrees that seaming granite is a tricky process. Try fixing a broken top!
O.K all kidding aside, the bottom line is this. Seams are an unfortunate necessity in the granite business. You may find a young granite company, maybe a Corian fabricator trying to get into granite that will attempt these seamless feats of heroism. They will learn very quickly. Its wonderful when they say, sure we can do that with no seam. It’s a totally different story when the installation is attempted. A top is generally seamed for three reasons; the top is longer than the slab, the top cannot physically make it to its final destination, or the risk of breaking is too great. The top longer than the slab is an easy one. A top that can’t make it to its final destination can be for a number of different reasons. The most common occurs in finished high rises, Stairwells and/or elevators are too small. Or even houses with narrow hallways. Sometimes it’s a design issue like an L-shaped top that is surrounded by walls. It’s the last one that really gets the blood boiling, risk of breaking. The main complaint is “you guys are professionals, you should be able to install this top the way I want it”. This is very true and it is because that we are professionals that we add the seams in. Imagine this you come to Stoneworks and pick out an amazingly beautiful piece of natural stone. We show up to template and you don’t like the seam. We say alright and against our better judgment fabricate the top in one piece. Five days later here we come for the install, 5 or six guys struggle their way though your house an attempt to put the oversized top in place. Every one is huffing and puffing, the walls get nicked up and then it happens. CRACK….BOOM. The top has broken and maybe worse someone gets hurt of something gets damaged. There is no more stone left to replace the top. We don’t come out looking very professional and you are not a raving fan. These are the experiences a reputable granite company has lived and learned through. Stoneworks is that company. We understand than nobody likes seams, we don’t like them. But in the end some peace must be made with the unwanted stepchild of our industry. With age we realize that seams are here to help us, they mean us no harm and can be quite surprisingly pleasant. Another myth about seams is that they all look bad, not true. While granted some look better than others I have seen some that are hard to see even with professional eyes. So before you decide that seams are unacceptable think about why they are there .I promise Stoneworks will only add a seam to your job if it is our professional opinion that it is necessary.
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BRIAN'S BLOG
Thu. Apr. 24, 2008

“Quartzite – What is it?”

Each day I am learning more and more about quartzites. I have to admit that up until about 2 years ago, I was not very familiar with quartzite at all. Quartzite is a metamorphosed sandstone comprised of mostly fine grained quartz.
Our company is directly importing slabs of this exotic and beautiful material from Brazil. I have talked to some of our suppliers about the stone, and I was surprised to find that their knowledge of quartzites is very limited. In fact, many quartzite colors are sold as “granite” to U.S. companies. This is a shame because quartzites have their own unique properties that should be appreciated.
First of all, the grain size is much finer than granite. This gives the stone a softer, almost marble-like appearance. Typically the slabs have a smooth flowing grain direction that resembles a painting with blended colors verses the hard, instantaneous color changes common to granite. So far, I have seen a wide color range of quartzites including green, grey, and red varieties.
When cutting quartzite, one will soon learn of its extreme hardness. This can come as a surprise because of its powdery grain and marble look. Don’t be fooled, use plenty of water, and keep your diamond blade dressed!
Another piece of advice for fabricators – Don’t hammer off a sample from a slab. The stone doesn’t break off exactly where you expected, and a larger area around the sample will fracture in a spider web pattern.
For practical purposes as a kitchen countertop, I think quartzite is an outstanding material. I have tested several different types of quartzite for staining, scratching, and etching. Of all the stones that I tested, none were etched by acidic products commonly found in the kitchen. I tested lemon juice, vinegar, and ketchup with the same result. Imagine that - The elegant look of marble without the fear of etching!
When properly sealed, I found that I couldn’t get anything to stain it either. Again, I tested several different colors with common stain producing products.
I tested for scratching as well. I found that quartzite can be scratched, but not easily. You have to use something very hard like the rough corner of a piece of granite. Even then, the scratch is very fine and not easily seen. I found quartzites are harder to scratch than many granites.
Of course, not all quartzites are exactly the same. Each color has its own unique characteristics. For instance, Luce de Luna ( white with soft gray / greenish veins) would not stain, but is instantly darkened by any moisture even when sealed thoroughly. The darkened areas will dry out within minutes, but this could definitely be a nuisance to a homeowner.
I suppose the best advice I could give someone considering a quartzite or any other natural stone as a countertop would be to take a large sample home and perform your own tests on the stone. There is a vast amount of information available on the internet and throughout the stone industry – helpful, confusing, conflicting, or just plain wrong.
Get familiar with your stone before making your final decision.

- Brian Baltzegar
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