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DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

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Design Professionals

Why design with natural stone?

Granite, marble, limestone, slate, travertine, sandstone and other natural stone bring to every new construction or remodeling project advantages no other material can offer:  unsurpassed natural beauty, durability, lasting value and increasing affordability.

Natural stone also offers architects the widest range of sizes, finishes, colors and textures with which to design, allowing creativity to flourish.  Natural stone can be three-dimensional and used as columns, statuary, balustrades, doorjambs and even furniture pieces.  When used in exterior applications, natural stone has also proven superior to manufactured or engineered stone in withstanding the effects of nature. 

Consumer Demand Continues to Grow.

The design industry is experiencing firsthand the growing demand for natural stone among consumers.  According to a study done for the Marble Institute of America, architects are increasingly specifying real stone in residential projects and 89% of those surveyed expect the demand to stay steady or increase over the next five years.

Stone’s popularity as a key element in home design is being fueled in part by widespread consumer interest in low and no-maintenance materials and the use of natural products both inside and outside the home.

6 Key Advantages of Natural Stone

Experienced architects know that the beauty of natural stone can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary in any setting.  Using natural stone also achieves what every client wants:  a unique finished product that can’t be duplicated, since every piece of natural stone is one of a kind.

But in today’s marketplace, misconceptions about natural stone’s versatility and affordability continue to linger and consumers’ are barraged with misleading advertising from firms that manufacture engineered stone.  Architects play a key role in educating clients on the value of natural stone and its superiority over engineered products. 

If your clients want beauty, style, luxury and durability, natural stone offers all this and more.  Here are several additional advantages you can share with commercial and residential consumers about natural stone: 

1.  ONLY NATURAL STONE IS NATURE’S OWN:
Quarried from rock beds formed over millions of years, natural stone has been a premium building material since the beginning of time.  It lends natural beauty to a construction or remodeling project that no engineered material can match.

2.  NATURAL STONE MAKES EVERY PROJECT UNIQUE:
Unlike the sameness of materials produced by machine or assembly line, natural stone’s naturally varied appearance has wonderful character and creates a one-of-a-kind effect everywhere  it is used.

3.  NATURAL STONE IS HIGHLY DURABLE:
Picture the Pyramids, the Parthenon, other magnificent structures from centuries past – when you want it to last, you build it with stone.  Unlike engineered products, natural stone will not fade or deteriorate in direct sunlight, will not discolor from heat, will not melt, takes a deep polish and can by refinished instead of requiring full replacement.

4.  NATURAL STONE SUPPORTS “GREEN” BUILDING GOALS:         As a completely natural product, natural stone plays a key role in the construction of environmentally responsible, energy-efficient and sustainable structures.

5.  NATURAL STONE IS AFFORDABLE:
Technological advances continue to significantly reduce the costs of quarrying, processing and installing natural stone – while significantly increasing the quality of the finished product.  New, automated machinery allows fabricators to cut stone thinner, at less cost and more consistently.  New anchorage systems make installation easier, quicker and more secure.  Contemporary cladding systems make it possible to use panels as little as ¾ inch thick, with a notable reduction in the cost of stone.

6.  NATURAL STONE IS A WISE INVESTMENT:                          Homeowners who remodel with stone recover a high percentage of their costs at resale. Upscale remodeling projects including natural stone recoup the following percent of their cost at resale:  Bathroom remodel – 85%, Kitchen remodel – 80%.

Design Considerations When Selecting Natural Stone

When choosing the best stone for a particular project, design considerations are nearly equal among the factors of aesthetics, strength and durability.

Color – Natural stones are available in a beautiful spectrum of colors.  Granites and marbles range from soft beiges and pinks and classic black-and-whites to rich corals, greens and multi-colors.

Finish - There are many commonly available finishes for natural stone including various smooth finishes as well as polished and honed that vary according to the type of natural stone used.  There are also many different rough and textured finishes available ranging from various machine-tooled finishes, hand carved finishes and bolder looks such as flamed, split face, rock face and ashlars.  Finishes vary with the type of stone specified and the application for which it will be used.

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• We use the most current, state of the art equipment and technologically advanced products