If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve probably spent hours scrolling through photos of luxurious marble islands, but just can’t bring yourself to add up the cost of a renovation.

When done right, an updated kitchen can have a huge impact on your daily quality of life. It can be a space that invites more family time and helps you relax even when dinner is late and the kids are starving. It is important to plan ahead to make sure your time, energy, and money will be well spent.

Preparing for a kitchen remodel may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips on how to navigate the planning of your kitchen remodel.

How do I find a kitchen remodeling contractor?

Photo courtesy of Stone Interiors LLC

1. Check their credentials.

Most experienced contractors will have a professional affiliation, such as being a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association or Natural Stone Institute.

2. If possible, partner with a company you already know and trust.

Chances are, someone has helped you with smaller home improvement projects in the past. If you’ve already worked with a local company, even if it was for something specific like flooring or countertop fabrication, get in touch and ask if they can recommend a general contractor. Their honest opinion could end up saving you thousands of dollars (and headaches).

How should I put together a kitchen remodeling budget?

Photo by Stone Interiors LLC.

1. Prioritize your projects.

Choose one or two larger aspects of your kitchen remodel (such as flooring, countertops, or cabinets) that matter most to you. Everyone has different opinions of this, so think about the changes that will have the biggest effect on your daily life, from aesthetics to functionality.

Start choosing your materials and researching installation professionals early in the process. This way, you can compromise on pricing for smaller projects later, and still rest assured that you’re investing in the items that are most important to you and your family.

2. Partner with your stone fabricator early on.

Photo by Stone Interiors LLC.

Most kitchen remodels involve new countertops, a new kitchen island, or both. It’s easy to start a Pinterest board and choose your favorite colors and styles, but there are a range of factors that will affect the look and cost of your countertops, including material type, slab size, and entrance sizes.

Find a stone fabricator you trust before you even start renovating. Talk to them about your plans, and invite them to check out the space so they can identify any challenges you might run into later on.

3. Track your expenses in a spreadsheet.

Once you know pricing for the high dollar items, materials, and installation costs, you can start planning your overall budget. List it all out in a spreadsheet to help you plan, and allow for an extra 5% so you’re prepared for any unexpected issues that might arise.

What are the benefits of renovating my kitchen?

Photo by Stone Interiors LLC.

1. Higher resale value on your home.

It’s common knowledge that a modern kitchen is one of the first things prospective homeowners consider when purchasing. The good news is that even relatively small kitchen renovations ($15,000 and under) can increase the purchase price of your home.

2. Better quality of life.

The monetary cost is important, but consider the benefits of a renovation that don’t come with a dollar value. Think about how much time you spend getting dinner ready, pouring a few glasses of wine with the neighbors, or having an after-school snack with the kids. If you and your family feel more content walking into a space with sturdy new cabinets and countertops, then that in itself makes a renovation a worthy investment.

Once you set your budget and choose your key partners, the whole project will become much more manageable.

TAGS:  fabrication installation educate kitchen abby sanders

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Installing natural stone in your home is an investment you’ll enjoy for years to come. While it’s important to choose the right material, you also need to find the right stone fabricator. A fabricator is the craftsman who turns a rough slab into a finished product. The best way to find a good fabricator is by visiting the Natural Stone Institute’s website, which offers a list of accredited fabricators, says Mark Meriaux, Accreditation & Technical Manager for the Natural Stone Institute.

“Being accredited means the company has been third-party verified and is an established, reliable company with the proper equipment as well as customer satisfaction processes,” he says.

Mineral Black Saratoga soapstone. Photo courtesy of Stone Store.

If an accredited fabricator isn’t available in your area, the next step should be to get referrals from friends or family. Try to get three names, suggests Laura Grandlienard, principal of ROCKin’teriors in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“All three will likely have different business models,” she says. “By interviewing more than one you can get a sense as to what is the best fit for you.”

You can also get referrals from stone yards, says Jon Lancto, a fabrication and installation consultant. “Typically they’re prequalified to some extent,” he says.

Be sure to hire the fabricator directly, says Dave Paxton, president and CEO of Paxton Countertops in Lansing, Michigan. “Don’t go through a second party,” he says. “You want a good relationship with the person who’ll be providing the service.”

Once you’ve found your list of fabricators, ask them these six questions:

Monte Carlo granite. Photo courtesy of Chris Frick for ROCKin’teriors

1. How long have you been in business? Everyone has to start somewhere, but a company that’s been in business for years is a sign that they have good practices. Confirm this by checking for reviews on sites like Yelp or the Better Business Bureau.

“You can typically read between lines,” says Paxton. “Look for the number of reviews. If somebody has two five-star reviews, maybe it was their wife and son. Forty reviews with a four-star rating would be better.”

2. Do you have a physical facility or showroom? A showroom or workshop will allow you to see samples of their work. If someone says they fabricate the material on site, that’s a big red flag, says Lancto.

Use caution when choosing someone with a small pickup truck and minimal tools, adds Meriaux. “It’s not that they can’t be skilled,” he says. “In this case, you need referrals and recommendations, and to see examples of their work.”

When examining samples, look at seaming, which is an indicator of quality fabrication, says Lancto. “They won’t be inconspicuous or invisible; natural stone has some variations,” he says. “But you want to make sure they’re practicing the best techniques.”

Grandlienard agrees: “Verify that the fabricator attempts to match the grain of stone at the seam so it appears as one piece,” she says.

Onyx. Photo courtesy of ROCKin’teriors

3. What type of equipment do you use? Some fabricators do a physical layout on a slab while others use high-end software that provides a 3D visualization of the finished project.

“If it’s a complicated design or the material has a lot of veining, you want to be assured that they have the right technology,” says Lancto. “You’ll be able to see photos the layout ahead of time. The more complex the installation, the more technology you’d want that fabricator to use.”

4. What licenses and insurance do you carry? It’s rare that problems happen, but you want to make sure a contractor is covered when they’re working on your property, says Meriaux.

“Ask ‘what if’ questions,” says Meriaux. “Everything from personal property damage during installation or stone not matching up. Asking upfront is easier than duking it out after the fact.”

Grandlienard recommends establishing that the fabricator offers a warranty policy, both on the stone and fabrication.

White Fusion granite. Photo courtesy of Stone Store.

5. Are you a member of an industry association? Memberships show that the fabricator makes an effort to participate in the industry. Members of the Natural Stone Institute, for example, agree to abide by a code of ethics that includes treating customers and employees fairly and acting with honesty, integrity, quality, and professionalism.

6. How much do you charge? This question is last for a reason. “The worst way to make a decision is by price alone,” says Lancto. “You get what you pay for and if someone is super cheap, they’re probably doing something not as high quality or they’re not taking time to do a quality fabrication.”

After selecting your fabricator, Meriaux recommends getting all communication in writing and making sure you have a written contract and drawings to eliminate miscommunication and confusion.

“Natural stone is a lifetime investment for homeowners; it’s a luxury item,” says Grandlienard. “It behooves you to do the legwork to find the right company.”

TAGS:  fabrication installation educate stephanie vozza

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It is estimated that 170 million tons of construction debris is produced every year in the U.S. alone¹. An average home construction project creates 8,000 pounds of waste per every 2,000 square foot of house². Much of this waste is made up of the building materials. In order to keep more materials out of overflowing landfills, the materials are subject to regulations at the local, state and federal level, making it even more appealing to consider finding alternative uses for remnants.

Ways to Reduce Waste

Several key steps should be taken to reduce waste before it is even generated. You or your project team should be prepared to ask a number of key questions during every stage of the project.

• What can be done at the beginning of the design process to address waste? Plan well by designing the project in detail before finalizing any orders. Computer modeling and programs like Building Information Modeling (BIM) can keep accurate records of materials needed for the specific design and will revise the amounts when a change is made in the BIM model.
• Are there any design strategies that would help ensure that only the exact amounts of a material needed for a project are ordered? Use standard and consistent measurements and sizes on a project whenever possible. This will contribute tremendously to less waste, because the stone will be easier to fabricate and simplifies the packaging of the material. The project will also be easier to construct.
• How can using one type of stone reduce waste? Different looks can be achieved by simply applying different finishes to the same stone, which will reduce the amount of stone that needs to be quarried and fabricated.
• What type and how much packaging is necessary to complete an order? Coordinate with the supplier to reduce the amount of packaging that is used or needed for the stone. Packaging should also be recyclable whenever possible.
• What can be done with any leftover stone? Some stone suppliers have buy-back policies. Be sure to ask about this in advance to know what your options are for returning unused stone.
• Where is the best place to finish the stone? When a stone is finished off-site in advance of arriving at a job site, this helps to reduce and eliminate waste. Any time a contractor has to finish or further cut materials onsite, this will cause waste. Ask to have as many of the finishing and details done offsite before the materials arrive on the project site.
• How can the stone remnants be used? Stone remnants, whether large or small, can be created into accent pieces or support another design element.

There are a few additional things you should consider before you decide to work with remnants. Your choices of stone types may be limited if you want to work with remnants. However, stone remnants, including granite, quartzite, marble, limestone, travertine, and many others, can be found at stone yards or fabricators in various shapes, sizes and quantities. They tend to be small pieces, so that may limit what can be done with them or how they can be used. The stone might be damaged, perhaps with scratches that came from saws, grinders, or from being outside and exposed to wind, rain, and the elements. Some of these issues can be resolved through further cutting or polishing, or eliminating those pieces from the project. Make sure to ask for the highest quality remnants so you can be assured that the end result will be of a high quality as well. This approach to using remnants can also save money, since many companies will offer discounts on these materials that would otherwise go to waste.

Granite remnants at a stone yard available for selection and fabrication.

Remnants are often turned into smaller decorative objects or feature elements such as a tabletop, backsplash, cutting board, small countertop, mosaics, or a fireplace hearth. How about a unique, one of a kind, bowl sink made from a leftover block of stone? Even something as simple as a window sill, shower threshold, or bench can be made using stone remnants. Landscape elements including patios, fire pits, grill surrounds, planters, and paving are great for outdoor applications with the appropriate stone remnant chosen for the environment and conditions. Remnants also offer wonderful opportunities to create rooms and spaces that flow together with elements in other spaces and the materials, colors, and patterns will be coordinated across the stone palette.

Simple, elegant indoor uses for stone remnants including a vanity countertop, backsplash, and a bowl sink.

Stone planters, a grill surround and a combination retaining wall and bench made from stone remnants.

 

How Natural Stone Remnants Can Help with LEED Certifications

The LEED Rating system offers approaches to reducing construction waste for many different project types seeking Certification. Project designers and teams can achieve points in two different categories, essentially in the planning and management of waste. The LEED category Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning is a Prerequisite, meaning that it is required for the specific LEED project type for which Certification is being sought. The intent is to reduce construction and demolition waste that would otherwise end up in landfills and incineration facilities by planning for it. The goal is to recover, reuse, and recycle materials instead. Project teams need to develop waste diversion goals by identifying at least five materials (both structural and nonstructural) that are targeted for diversion that is based on a percentage of the overall project waste. You must also specify whether the materials will be separated or commingled and describe the diversion strategies planned for the project. So instead of natural stone ending up in a landfill, this plan could help you identify other ways to use the stone either in your current or future project.

After the plan is created, the approach to handling the waste must be managed.  This is addressed in the Construction and Demolition Waste Management LEED Category.  The intent is the same as the Planning category. However, the requirements are to recycle and/or salvage nonhazardous construction and demolition materials. Calculations can be by weight or volume but must be consistent throughout the process. There are different options for achieving these credits including diversion or reduction of the total waste material.

Partial LEED Checklist for New Construction and Major Renovation projects showing Materials and Resources credits.

It is important to coordinate the LEED credits with other team members and even the stone supplier and installer so that everyone does their part to support the process. Early communication, coordination and again, planning, are key to making these credits achievable. Since the materials being recycled or diverted have to be weighed or measured, develop a coordination and communication plan with everyone involved in those areas of responsibility to ensure that appropriate containers are provided and necessary documentation that has to be submitted is understood and completed in the timeframe required.

Many different patterns and configurations can be achieved using stone remnants for outdoor paths and paving.

Natural stone remnants offer endless opportunities for creative uses in your next project. Just ask and you will be amazed at what is possible, given a little imagination. It may lead you down a whole new path that you had not considered before.

Additional Resources

LEED Rating System
US Green Building Council

Endnotes

1. S. EPA.gov
2. Green Building Elements

TAGS:  selecting remnants installation educate sustainability stephanie vierra

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Architects have called it futuristic and compared it to spaceships. Envisioned and designed by late renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the 520 W 28^th Street residential condominium building in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood features a stunning piece of wall art carved from Grigio Brasile marble that expands 34 feet. Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are reportedly renting an apartment in the upper floors of the building while Ariana Grande and her fiancé Pete Davidson dropped $16 million for a condo in the building.

“The Modern organic design from Zaha Hadid gives the building a unique and impressive dynamic shape which changes from one viewing point to another,” says Colin Addley, CEO and president of Port Morris Tile & Marble.

Port Morris Tile & Marble was tapped to engineer and execute the artistic stone feature wall and matching floor design in the building’s lobby, no small feat, to be sure. The company is no stranger to working on large scale and challenging projects that involve complex engineering throughout the New York City area. “By having an international talented and experienced team which have worked with very well-known architects on numerous projects gave us the edge to add value and bring a skilled service to compliment the [Zaha Hadid] Design team,” says Addley.

Still, Hadid’s reputation for creating unique and challenging designs wasn’t lost on Addley and his team and the question raised several times when they first reviewed the drawings and renderings was how to turn this concept design into a reality.

Sourcing Natural Stone

Choosing the natural stone to meet the needs of the space and realize Hadid’s vision was an important part of the process.

The Grigio Brasile marble, quarried in Greece, proved just the right color variations and quantities for the monochromatic design with beautiful smoky grey color tones. It also featured highly-durable characteristics which made it attractive for this project.

“The structure and the grey background of the natural marble emphasized the organic 3-dimensional shapes and made it the focal area in the space,” says Addley.

The natural stone was then shipped to Italy for a highly-detailed fabrication process before all of the feature wall stone pieces were specially and individually crated like pieces of art sculptures and shipped to New York City.

Port Morris Tile & Marble worked closely with Hadid’s design team to refine the layouts required to accommodate the block size limitations in order to allow for proper installation, which involved everything from considering different engineering options, several sketches, technical drawings, 3D modeling, and mockups.

“Full-scale mockups were required from the design team in order to ensure and check the precision of the stone to the 3D model files. The wall stone pieces were shaped using a CNC machine from custom cubic stone as the first step and then finished by highly skilled and qualified craftsmen,” says Addley, who admits it would have been very difficult to realize the same wall with the same precision, budget, and schedule without involving CNC machines.

“The latest technologies represented in CNC machines played a big role in achieving this extraordinary design and vision,” he shares.

To reduce the waste factor, the stone was divided to custom cubic measurements to match with each stone piece.

Installing a Zaha Hadid-Designed Sculpture

The installation process took about three weeks to complete the wall stone pieces, which required between four and five mechanics from Port Morris Tile & Marble’s highly skilled union stone craftsmen and seven weeks to install the complete lobby stone (floor and wall) under direct daily supervision of its staff.

“We used a classic anchoring system, as recommended by the engineer,” says Addley. “The anchors were used around the stone pieces in different angles and were epoxied to the marble and bolted to the concrete substrate wall.”

The installation sequence of the expansive and very heavy organic curved stone with odd and pointy edges was the most challenging aspect of this project. The stone was rigged and installed in a creative planned process to put the wall puzzle together and turn the project into a reality.

The design of the lobby feature wall as a new standing landmark in New York City represents how an inspired vision combined with skill and engineering can push natural stone design and the industry standards to new limits by the integration of the latest technological innovations.

Having the once-in-a-lifetime chance to work on Zaha Hadid’s last designed project was an honor for Addley and his company. It recently was honored for its work by the Natural Stone Institute’s highest honor, the 2017 Grande Pinnacle Award for Best Overall Project and a Pinnacle Award of Excellence in the Commercial Interior category. These highly-coveted awards are given to projects whose beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone in commercial and residential applications.

Looking Ahead

Technology helped make this project possible and Addley believes we’re going to be seeing more work pushing limits as a result.

“The stone industry is in the process of pushing the limits of stone design to a higher level and creating a new realm of possibilities by integrating the latest technology,” he says.

Working on a project designed Zaha Hadid might have been a personal and professional highlight for Addley and his team, but working with challenging projects and buildings designed by architects pushing the boundaries is their trademark.

For those who want to get a glimpse of Zaha Hadid’s space age 11-story residential building, it can be seen hugging New York City’s High Line. It’s worth a step off the beaten path to stroll through the lobby and see the landmark and masterful craftsmanship created using natural stone.

TAGS:  wall technology installation inspire megy karydes

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This article was reprinted with permission from MARVA.

When a natural stone installation project is complete, many fabricators stockpile remnants that are too small for countertops, but large enough that they’d go to waste if not properly utilized.  These remnants can be used in many different ways throughout the home.

Remnants from natural stone installs present an opportunity for creative applications that go beyond the countertop. These remnants give fabricators an opportunity for additional projects, and homeowners a deal on additional stone pieces to be featured throughout their home. There is an exciting array of unique, tasteful ways to use stone remnants to carry the luxury of natural stone throughout different rooms in the home.

A Guide to Natural Stones

Maintenance for natural stone varies based its type and application. Since some stones can be more prone to damage than others, it’s important to be deliberate about the environment remnants are installed in. Below is a brief guide to some of the most popular natural stones and their features:

Granite

As the go-to for beautiful, durable, natural stone, granite can withstand water, mild abrasions, and heavy traffic with low maintenance. This stone type is ideal for kitchens, since heat, sharp objects, and water do not easily damage it. Flooring, shower surrounds, and fireplace surrounds are also excellent applications for granite, since it can stand up to regular heat, water, and weight. When using remnants, granite can be used for just about any application.

Marble

This stone exudes elegance and sophistication. Interior accents, such as tabletops, staircase handrails, and bathroom vanities, are all perfect for showcasing the luxury of the stone. Marble can also bring timeless grandeur along walls and chair rails, or to the kitchen in backsplashes.

Quartzite

Quartzite is an increasingly popular countertop option for homeowners. This stone is naturally strong and heat-resistant, making it ideal for countertops, bartops, and fireplace surrounds.

Travertine

Formed in hot springs and limestone caves, travertine’s textured and fibrous appearance wraps its surroundings in natural warmth. Since travertine is easy to cut, it is ideal for backsplashes and flooring, especially when working to fill a small or uniquely-shaped space.

Onyx

Onyx is a stunning choice for areas illuminated with backlighting, since the stone filters the light in an extraordinary way. Onyx’s natural glow is best used to make a statement in illuminated in-set shelves in a bathroom or living room.

Limestone

Often considered the mother of marble, travertine, and onyx, limestone’s presence throughout history makes it the ultimate choice for modern day homes seeking old world charm. Since it’s dense and durable, limestone is an excellent option for flooring, countertops, and wall cladding.

Soapstone

Soapstone’s flat, warm beauty offers a soft and rustic appearance. Since its finish is honed or leathered rather than polished, the surface of soapstone is quite durable. Soapstone is also acid resistant, making it a popular choice for kitchens or bar tops. This stone looks especially stunning on a desktop or tabletop, bringing elegance throughout different social spaces within the home.

Ideas for Repurposing Large Natural Stone Remnants

Tabletops

A custom tabletop is perfect for extending luxury stone, and can give life to an old piece of furniture. Depending on how much of the slab remains, consider using your remnants to top a coffee table, matching side tables, the top to a sofa table, or the top to an entryway table where a plant or vase could be displayed.

Kitchen islands

Leftover fragments from a stone install fit beautifully into a kitchen island, creating a striking “wow” factor. This is a great way to upcycle old material that is already cut into a rectangular shape, with minimal refinishing required!

Bar or buffet tops

Planning to entertain after your remodel is finished? Consider utilizing remnants to top a luxury buffet, serving table, or bar top to create a high-end look that is perfect for your next soiree.

Bathroom vanity

Since bathroom vanities – especially those used in half or guest bathrooms – are much smaller than kitchens, they make an excellent choice for using remnants to help create a consistent aesthetic of luxury and style throughout the home.

Windowsills

Older windowsills can detract from the high-end, luxury aesthetic usually achieved with the installation of natural stone countertops. Implementing fresh granite or marble windowsills would be a perfect detail to complete any remodel.

Ideas for Repurposing Smaller Remnants

Backsplashes

Slab remnants can be cut down and shaved to become thinner for use as backsplashes in kitchens or bathrooms. If you have scraps from several products, consider cutting them down and matching coordinating stones for a mosaic design. This solution would be best used in bathrooms, where the backsplash would simply be a small strip between the countertop and the vanity mirror.

Cheese boards

This is one of the most popular uses of remnants, as it is an impressive statement piece that requires little material. The homeowner can envision inviting company over to see their gorgeous new bathroom or kitchen, and serving artfully arranged cheese on their perfectly coordinated cutting board!

Coasters and trivets

Cutting down leftover material to coaster or trivet size is both functional and beautiful.  By discovering new functions for old surfaces, fabricators can offer a thrifty, environmentally-friendly way to use slab remnants.

Environmental Benefits of Natural Stone

A major selling point for repurposing natural stone remnants is reducing the amount of product that goes to waste. Making use of every bit of stone that has already been quarried and transported ensures that there are no extra costs associated with shipping new surfaces for furniture. Plus, repurposing natural stone remnants is a great way to coordinate the design of a home from room to room.

Since natural stone is recyclable, remnants can also be crushed and re-used in the construction industry. Using recycled stone can save the water, energy, and other resources used to generate new building products from raw material sources. Recycled marble and granite are frequently used to make paving stones, fire pits, and mosaic tile, offering plenty of opportunities to make the most of what the Earth has provided. Smaller pieces can also be used as gravel fill or concrete aggregate. Similarly, in a powder form, natural stone can be used in fertilizer or as a sidewalk bed as the minerals like calcium and magnesium are vital nutrients for soil and plant life.

The durability of stone guarantees minimal impact on the environment overtime, as stone outlasts other manufactured products, therefore fewer slabs need to be quarried, finished, delivered, and cut, resulting in a lower net usage of resources.

With the beauty and popularity of genuine natural stone, homeowners will surely want to make the most of every slab!

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Updating your home with natural stone kitchen countertops is an exciting home renovation project, and choosing the perfect material for your lifestyle and décor is just the first step. The next phase is installation, and if you’ve never gone through the process you might not know what to expect.

Choosing natural stone is only the first step in your countertop installation process. Photo courtesy of Natural Stone Designs.

“Customers often don’t understand all that’s involved in having stone countertops installed,” says Patty Davis, commercial business development manager for Natural Stone Designs, a natural stone fabrication shop located in Tualatin, Oregon. “They might not realize how heavy the stone is or the amount of time it takes to do it right.”

That’s why it’s important to have realistic expectations, says Abby Sanders, marketing manager for Stone Interiors, a natural stone showroom and installer with locations in Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina. “This is a major construction project, especially if the old countertops are being removed,” she says. “As long as everybody is on the same page, it can be a seamless process from beginning to end.”

Pre-Installation Preparation

Fabricators must know the make and model of sinks, faucets, and appliances going in or against countertops. Photo courtesy of Ontra Stone Concepts.

Installation of natural stone countertops can take two to three weeks, and the first step is having a measurer come to your home, says Sanders. “They will take measurements of your entire room so the fabricator can fit the stone to your unique space and appliances,” she says. “We use digital measuring tools that get recorded in our system, and it takes about an hour. It’s typically the first time we’re in the customer’s home.” Prior to templating, your fabricator will also need to know the exact make and model of sinks, faucets, and appliances going in or against the countertops. They should also be made aware of other design details, including edge details, backsplashes, and rear wall treatments.

While many installers utilize the latest digital measuring technology, Buddy Ontra, owner of Ontra Stone Concepts, a stone fabrication expert located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, sticks with the “old school” method of making physical templates using luan wood strips. This process offers customers a preview of what their countertop will look like by creating a skeleton frame that is placed over the stone.

“We lay it on the slab and look for inclusions and veining,” says Ontra. “This process leaves no surprises. If we see a trouble spot, such as a fissure, we can avoid it or put it in a cutout area such as where the sink or cooktop would go.”

After the template is finished and approved, the stone is cut and fabricated into the countertop at the installer’s workshop, and an installation date is scheduled. If old countertops are in place, they will need to be removed prior to installation to provide enough time to make repairs if cabinets become damaged in the process.

“We have to make sure the cabinet are perfectly level before the countertops are installed,” says Davis. “If they’re not, we can’t set the stone.”

In addition, the existing sink and cooktop will need to be removed, with water, gas and electricity shut off prior.

Installing the Countertop

Homeowners can expect to welcome multiple installers into their homes for large installation projects. Photo courtesy of Ontra Stone Concepts.

When the big day arrives, homeowners can expect to welcome at least two installers who will deliver the prepared countertop and put it in place. Large jobs may require as many as four people. Homeowners must be home during installation.

Before the team arrives, you will be asked to clear the pathway for the installers to enter the home. It’s a good idea to take extra measures to protect valuables or breakables.

“We advise customers to cover items in cabinets to protect them from dust,” says Sanders. “They also need to make arrangements for pets or kids to be out of the area. We prefer to have minimal interruptions when handling a very heavy stone slab back and forth from the truck into the home.”

Mark Meriaux, Accreditation & Technical Manager at the Natural Stone Institute, offers this advice for homeowners during a countertop installation: “Stay out of the way! You’ve entrusted this skilled work to worthy professionals. Each job is unique and your project may already present challenges that will have to be overcome onsite. A hovering or ‘overly helpful’ homeowner can send messages of distrust and even slow things down.”

Most installations take four to eight hours. Large areas can sometimes take more than a day, adds Sanders. If the countertop has seams, a strong chemical adhesive is used to cement the pieces together. Then the countertops are adhered to the cabinets with silicone or paintable caulk. If your kitchen includes a cooktop instead of a slide-in range, the installers may cut the hole onsite.

After Installation

Though countertop installations require a bit of preparation, choosing natural stone is worth it. Photo courtesy of Stone Interiors.

Once installation is complete, the homeowner will be responsible for scheduling a plumber to come and reconnect the water source, and an electrician to reconnect drains, water, gas, and electrical hookups. This generally happens the day after the countertops are installed to give them time to set. If you are having a backsplash installed, that should also be scheduled after the countertops are installed.

Your kitchen will likely need a good cleaning. “Usually the dust settles up to 24 hours after we leave the home,” says Sanders. “Even though installers clean up after themselves, there is usually some minor clean up a homeowner should be prepared for.”

Then your kitchen is ready to go. While the process requires a certain amount of prep work, it’s well worth it. “You’re investing in a piece that will last for years to come, contributing to value of your home and providing a piece that can be enjoyed possibly for generations,” says Sanders.

Puns aside, schist is a metamorphic rock that is made mostly of mica minerals and has grains that are large enough to see with the naked eye. To put it another way, this stone sparkles like a Vegas hotel; its dazzling luster is its hallmark trait. The sparkly aesthetic comes from mica minerals, which are nature’s glitter.

If you’ve ever looked at a piece of mica up close, you can tell that it wants to separate into thin flakes. That’s because of the mineral’s internal structure – the atoms are arranged in thin, sheet-like layers. The family of flaky minerals includes muscovite (transparent or silver), biotite (black or brown), chlorite (dark green), talc (white, grey, green), graphite (metallic grey), and others. The flat shape of these minerals reflects light like a mirror, which causes the trademark sparkle.

Vishnu Schist

In addition to mica minerals, schist often contains quartz, which gives the stone much more strength than if it were pure mica. Sometimes, other eye-catching minerals are in the mix. Crowsfoot schist offers an intriguing blend of silver mica, dark pink garnets, and black needles of hornblende.

There are many variations, colors, and textures in schist stones. Perhaps the most famous schist lies at the deepest, oldest part of the Grand Canyon – the 1.75 billion year old Vishnu Schist. In commercial use, schists like Galaxy and Metallica can bring depth, shine, and personality to a space, when traditional granite just doesn’t quite have enough “umph.”

Tectonic forces transform dull mud to dazzling schist

Schist is a metamorphic rock, and it started out as a different kind of stone before it became so sparkly and awesome. In fact, schist was boring mud before metamorphic forces got to it. If you compress mud (underneath the weight of the ocean and a whole lot of other mud) you get shale. If shale gets buried deeply, compressed, and heated it will turn into slate, which is denser and harder than shale. If the heating and compression increase, the slate will become phyllite, which is a shiny version of slate. Phyllite has a subtle shine because the original clay minerals in the shale have transformed into small mica minerals. If phyllite remains in the geologic pressure cooker, the mica minerals grow larger until they are glitter-sized. Voila! We have schist.

If the metamorphism continues, the mica minerals won’t be able to tolerate the increasing heat and pressure and they will become feldspars. At that point the rock is called gneiss. And if the poor thing heats up even further, parts of it will begin to melt, creating a taffy-esque rock called migmatite. After that, the whole thing just melts and becomes liquid magma. That’s the rock cycle in a nutshell.

Each step in this metamorphic process is a graduation, and each type of stone eases into the next category. There are phyllites that could also be called schists, and schists that look almost like gneiss. To the chagrin of geology students everywhere, there are usually grey areas when identifying rocks.

This whole metamorphic process often happens in subduction zones, which are places where the ocean floor is colliding into a continent. We currently have subduction zones off the northwest coast of the US, the west coast of South America and along the coastline of Japan, among other places. In these tectonic crumple zones, the rocks on the ocean floor get shoved down into the Earth’s interior while the continent runs over them. All kinds of interesting things happen to the rocks in these collision sites; they get buried deeply, squeezed, folded, and bathed in hot, mineral-laden fluid. It makes sense that many of our most dynamic and colorful stones were formed in subduction zones.

Use the right schist in the right place

Schists can make wonderful dimension stone, landscaping stone, or countertop slabs. In a showroom or stone dealer, you may not find many stones actually labeled as schist. In some cases, schists are lumped in with slates and phyllites. This is especially true if the stone breaks into flat layers or if the mica grains are small. Some types of schist are commercially categorized as granite. This is likely if it’s leaning more toward gneiss on the metamorphic spectrum. In either case, schist warrants some extra attention to make sure it’s suitable for its intended use.

Depending on exactly how much mica is in the stone, schist can be a remarkably strong stone, or one that’s a little flaky (pun intended). New York City’s iconic skyscrapers are built into schist bedrock. The Manhattan schist is holding up all those tall buildings, showing us that schist can be a durable and capable stone. But in general, the higher the mica content and the larger the grains, the more you need to proceed carefully.

Large-grained schists include Magma Gold, Asterix, Saturnia, and Kosmus. These dramatic stones offer vivid colors and bold movement. They are fine choices, but there are some caveats. The large mica grains do not hold a perfect polish like a traditional granite slab does, so the slab may have a slightly irregular or rough finish. This is particularly noticeable on the edges. For this reason, a simple eased edge is recommended, because any of the more detailed edge treatments are likely to end up with mica flakes poking out. Also, areas that have a lot of mica will be softer than a typical granite. That said, the non-mica parts of the stone will behave similar to granite.

Schists have an obvious ‘grain’ to them; all the flat minerals tend to lie parallel to each other. For this reason, schist can have planes of weakness where the rock is prone to split. If the stone will be supported underneath, like on a floor, this is less of a concern. But when the stone is overhanging, like the edge of a countertop, be wary. Try to avoid an overhang that runs parallel to the grain of the stone. If possible, try to avoid using mica-rich parts of a slab on areas that will be overhanging or unsupported.

Galaxy schist. Photo courtesy of Ashfield Stone.

In general, schists with small mica grains like Galaxy schist or Quicksilver schist are safe bets. These stones have an overall shimmer rather than a full-on glittery look. Because the mica pieces are smaller, they are less likely to flake off and cause problems.

If you are considering schist for a countertop or other interior use, spend some extra time inspecting potential slabs. Ideally, look at both a fabricated piece as well as a raw slab. Pay close attention to the edges, where you can see into the stone a bit. Does the stone have a tendency to split along its layers? Can you peel up the edges of any of the mineral grains? On a finished slab, run your hand over the surface and the edges. Does the stone feel smooth and uniform? Talk to the fabricator. Have they worked with this type of stone before? Do they have concerns or suggestions for how it should be used? An unconventional stone can produce a spectacular result – but only if it’s used knowledgeably.

As with any extraordinary stone, it’s worth the time to learn about your stone, find the right fabricator, and make sure you are using the stone in a way that is compatible with its natural beauty. And then you can join in on the geologists’ humor and claim: “My countertop is the schist!”

More from the Geology Series

The National Building Stone Database is a central repository for information about the stones used in American buildings and monuments.

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