Marble Institute Cutting Edge Newsbriefs

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Trend Setter: Genuine Stone Proves Itself to Be a Time-Tested Option for Design Professionals
Masonry Magazine (03/08) ; Farnsworth, Jennie

While rapidly shifting preferences seem to dictate what is or is not hot in the design world, Genuine Stone has maintained a constant presence in the building sector as other architectural trends have come and gone. Not only has it held its own as design evolved over the centuries, experts say natural stone--admired for its durability, beauty, and especially its unique traits--continues to grow in popularity even today. "Architects and designers constantly reference uniqueness, creativity--they want something that's different--and every piece of genuine natural stone is unique," says Natural Stone Council Chairman Charles Luck. Propelled by its favorable attributes, the material has moved inside from its initial use in exterior and structural work and has expanded from the commercial sector into homes. Genuine Stone increasingly is found in flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, hardscaping, and other applications--growth that also has been fueled by the greater number of stone varieties available to design professionals. The wide array of options extends not only to type of stone but also to finishes as well as physical structure, such as the emergence of thin natural stone that can compete with manufactured stone on price. Additionally, the design community is recognizing and embracing the flexibility that genuine stone offers--which promises to further support the material's resilience in the face of architectural fads. "The trend seems to be that architects are using the full knowledge and capabilities of the industry to design the specific style of the home," says Tyra Dellacroce of Milford-based Connecticut Stone Suppliers. "So rather than saying, 'This is really hot right now, we're going to use this,' they're finding that the same product can be tumbled, flamed, sandblasted or bush hammered in any number of different ways. To that end, they are specifying specific to their architectural intent more than [designing for] what's considered popular."
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MIA Accepting Entries for 2008 Advertising Awards Competition
Marble Institute of America (03/14/08)

The Marble Institute of America has issued a call for entries for “Rocky '08,” the fourth annual MIA Advertising Awards Competition. Designed to showcase the best advertising produced by MIA members, the competition has consistently shown an increase in the quality of entries, said Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of the MIA. Once again, the competition will be sponsored by Salem Stone of Winston-Salem, NC. Award winners in four major categories will receive a coveted Rocky, while those earning special merit will receive a Rocky Certificate. Judging in 2008 will be on the following categories: Print, including newspaper and magazine, in black and white and color; Collateral, including brochures, posters and direct mail pieces and campaigns; Business to Consumer Web Site, including web design, functionality and best promotion of natural stone; and Business to Business Web Site, including web design, functionality and best promotion of natural stone. Deadline for entries is July 1, 2008. Awards will be presented at the annual Awards Luncheon at StonExpo in Las Vegas, October 17, 2008. Winners will be publicized in print, on the Web, and on the MIA Stone News Channel via the Internet and DVD.
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Stone Suppliers Maintain a Presence at Surfaces 2008
Stone World (03/01/08)

More than 35,000 people attended this year's Surfaces 2008 trade exhibition at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas from Jan. 30-Feb.1. Stone suppliers highlighted such products as mosaics, tiles, and slabs in several finishes including honed, polished, and textured. The event also featured suppliers of stone care, maintenance, and installation products. Many firms provided hands-on displays to emphasize the use and efficacy of their products. Additionally, the event featured a three-hour workshop entitled "The Facts About Natural Stone" as well as a discussion of "Stone Trends." While natural stone traditionally has had a relatively small presence at Surfaces over the years, stone suppliers and other industry representatives increasingly are releasing new products on the showroom floor.
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Beauty Is Stone Deep for MIA Award Winners
Kitchen and Bath Design News (03/14/08)

The Marble Institute of America recently held its annual Pinnacle Awards competition to spotlight some of this year's most impressive and original designs. Teams with at least one MIA member were evaluated on design and implementation, quality, workmanship, and acceptability of materials as designated by the Dimension Stone Design Manual. Besides meeting eligibility requirements, the top selections featured a combination of "beauty, creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship" that "exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone," according to MIA. Rewards were presented to recipients in the following categories: Residential Interior or Exterior, Renovation/Restoration of Merit, Renovation/Restoration of Excellence, and Commercial Interior. Port Chester, N.Y.-based Millennium Stone Ltd. was one of the ceremony's big winners. The team, led by Ralph Signorelli, outfitted a bathroom with 17 slabs of Paonazetto Italian marble and used leftover pieces on the ceiling, jambs, and molding. Other winners included Twin City Tile & Marble of St. Paul, Minn.; Columbia Stone of Tualatin, Ore.; and Lorton, Va.-based Rugo Stone.
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Plan to Enhance Marble Production Designed
Business Recorder (02/23/08) ; Ali, Muhammad

The Pakistani government will provide the nation's marble industry with the latest technology in order to increase production and foreign exports. Geologists estimate that over 3 billion tons of high-quality marble are in reserve in Pakistan. Despite the vast holdings, only 900,000 tons of marble have been extracted annually--just 3 percent of total reserves. Experts say that a lack of advanced technology has prevented the largely unskilled miners from extracting more than 100 tons per day at each site. Government officials say that over 25,000 workers are employed in the marble industry, a number that could grow if production barriers are removed. They blame inefficient extraction techniques, an unprofessional approach, insufficient finishing, and poor transportation for holding the market back. The government's plan will create "model" mines, equipped with the latest technology, to train quarry masters. It is estimated that Pakistan's quarry losses are 70 percent, compared to 41 percent to 50 percent internationally.
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Granite Can Be an Affordable Option
Chronicle (Lewis County, Wash.) (02/29/08) ; Stanton, Carrina

Insiders in the natural stone business say many residential customers bypass granite, mistakenly assuming that the material is unaffordable. A common belief, according to Gail and Larry Gallanger of the Granite Shoppe in Winlock, Wash., is that using quartz stone or manufactured products, such as Corian, will save money. Gail, however, insists that granite generally is priced competitively with other materials; and she and her husband both point out that the stone's durability and other favorable characteristics make it the better and more cost-effective choice over the long term. "I think for so long the misconception has been you have to be rich to have [granite]," says Larry. "But we went to Argentina and there they don't have a lot of rich people; in fact, a lot of them are poor. But they all had granite countertops because when they build things, they build to last." The couple notes that while Corian and other surfaces may have lower upfront costs, granite is stain- and heat-resistant, low-maintenance, and long-lasting. End-users who select granite, they say, must first agree on the surface to be covered, take general measurements, and have a color theme in mind before visiting a granite yard. However, Larry stresses, customers ultimately should choose a stone that really grabs their attention. "The biggest mistake I see people make," he says, "is they try to match a granite to the colors of their walls. Choose your granite first because it's the thing you're never going to change."
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Coverings 2008 Returns to Orlando
Stone World (03/01/08) ; Reis, Michael

Organizers of Coverings--the trade show for tile, stone, and related machinery and products--are hoping that this year's show in Orlando will top the increases in the number of exhibitors and attendees that have been seen in previous years. When Coverings was held in Chicago last year, it drew more than 1,300 exhibitors and a record of nearly 37,000 attendees. In order to increase those statistics this year, the organizers of Coverings have recruited several high-profile speakers to give presentations at the show. One of those speakers is best-selling author and consultant Mark Matteson, who will be presenting a session for installers and contractors entitled "The Art of Change." In addition, there will be a number of stone fabricating machines on display at Coverings--including bridge saws, polishing machines, and CNC equipment. Several major manufacturers and suppliers of stone installation, cleaning, and maintenance products will also be at the show to give hands on-demonstrations of their offerings. Finally, there will be 21 seminars specifically targeting the stone industry, including Preparing for MIA Accreditation--What You Need to Know, Women in the Stone Business, and Stone Trends 2008. Coverings is scheduled to take place at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center from April 29-May 2.
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Even for Small Homes, Granite Is a Must
NewsOK (03/01/08) ; Morgan, Chris Brawley

Granite has supplanted Formica as the top choice in modern kitchen countertops. Surprisingly, however, even buyers of relatively modest new homes are demanding granite in their kitchens. "It's really shocking to me," admits Oklahoma-based home builder Aaron Tatum. "Even for a 1,500-square-foot home, it's a granite top or you can't sell it." Another builder in the state, Steve Shoemaker of Ideal Homes, confirms the trend. "It's not uncommon in a 1,000- to 1,600-square-foot range for people to choose to add in a solid surface, as opposed to upgrades in carpets or other areas," he says. The granite movement is not restricted to Oklahoma, however. A survey by the National Association of Realtors shows that buyers increasingly consider it "very important" to have granite countertops in their kitchens. According to the group's 2007 Profile of Buyers' Home Feature Preferences, 23 percent of poll participants favored granite--up from 17 percent in 2004.
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The House of Stone
San Luis Obispo Tribune (CA) (02/22/08) ; Juretic, Rebecca

To accentuate the structural beauty of their recently purchased 20-year-old residence in Atascadero, Calif., the Colamarinos brought in various stones to cover surfaces and add character to the inside. "We love its look and feel, its durability and its ageless appeal on floors, counters and walls," says Len, the husband. "Also, quality stone reminds one of its natural character, through the unique color combinations and patterns." Len and his wife Katrin, both former New York City attorneys, chose approximately 10 varieties of stone from a Southern California showroom and slab yard owned by Walker Zanger. With the help of a tile contractor, Zanger created a floor pattern with varying compositions of mosaic tile, relying on designs with little "motion," or pattern and variation. For their kitchen bar and adjoining table, the couple chose the bolder and more variegated Juparana Caramelo granite but opted to top the kitchen counter with a different stone--a chestnut travertine--after determining that too much Juparana would be "overwhelming," according to Len. The Colamarinos also selected Indonesian Sahara Gold marble, Italian Rosso Veneto marble, Shetland Grey limestone, and Winter Cloud marble from the Philippines for use in their home. "The dominance of stone and wood in our décor, along with the readily accessible nature views throughout the house, gives us an environment that we feel is very life-affirming."
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Home Buyer Tax Credits Needed to Jump Start Housing and the Economy
NAHB News Release (02/28/08)

With the housing industry facing its greatest crisis since the Great Depression and the economy teetering near recession, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to move quickly to enact a second round of economic stimulus directed squarely at the housing sector. Specifically, NAHB believes the best policy is to create a tax credit for the purchase of a home. "The biggest bang for the buck most likely would be provided by a temporary home buyer tax credit," NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders told the Senate Finance Committee. "Tax credits for the purchase of a home are a means of eliminating excess inventory, relieving some of the pressure on falling housing prices and ending the waiting-on-the-sideline strategy some potential buyers have adopted in response to overly negative media stories concerning the future of the housing market." The recently enacted Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 could fall short of achieving its intended results because it does not address the problems posed by the housing contraction that are at the root of today's economic and financial market problems, he said. "The U.S. housing market now is in the contraction phase of the most pronounced housing cycle since the Great Depression," said Seiders. "Single-family housing starts are already down by 60 percent from their peak at the beginning of 2006 and the bottom is not yet in sight. Congress can, and should, do more." A national first-time home buyer tax credit would stimulate buyer demand for households who do not have a home to sell, who are waiting on the sidelines until prices stabilize and who now face greater housing affordability than a year ago. Furthermore, those who sell their existing home to a first-time home buyer will in turn purchase another home and spur additional economic activity. A similar version of a home buyer tax credit was used successfully in the mid-1970s when Congress established a temporary tax credit for the purchase of a newly-constructed home to help clear off a then-record number of unsold homes on the market.
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Carrara Fair in Italy to Take Place Every Other Year
Stone World (03/07/08)

Changes in global trade models and the need to satisfy the new requirements of the natural stone industry have resulted in a revamp of the CarraraMarmotec expo in Carrara, Italy. Under the revisions, the fair will be held every two years and will focus more on architecture and design. The event also will devote more attention to technological innovation and the transfer of knowledge. The next CarraraMarmotec show will be held May 29-June 1. The changes will be complete in time for the 2010 event.
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The STONA 2008 trade fair was held Feb. 6-10 in Bangalore, India. The event provided a meeting ground for stone buyers, exporters, processors, builders, architects, and equipment manufacturers to interact. The exhibit range included marble, granite, mining equipment, polishers, processing machines, and slabs/blocks. This year's key sponsor was SVIL Mines, which showcased its Floriana marble product in a 12,000-square-foot stall. Floriana marbles are pre-polished and cut to size; and they can be laid and ready to use within three days rather than 20 days, the company claims. SVIL Mines intends to launch several boutique chain stores called Café Floriana. The company also unveiled its natural, thin Convinio marble that can be paired with other materials like glass, steel, and aluminum honeycomb. Applications include partitions, ceilings, furniture, and wall cladding. STONA, which was held for its eighth year, has been hailed as the largest stone fair of its kind in the world.
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Nanotechnology Materials to the Rescue of Stone Monuments
Nanowerk.com (02/19/2008) ; Berger, Michael

Architects, restorers, and renovators have several tools at their disposal for dealing with historic buildings and monuments crafted from marble and other types of stone that have decayed as a result of exposure to airborne contaminants. One such resource is a product called a consolidant. After a consolidant is applied to a natural stone surface, polymerization takes places in the stone's pores via a sol-gel process, which creates a silica network that stabilizes the decaying stone. Consolidants have a number of advantages for professional restorers. For instance, their low viscosity allows for a deep and homogeneous penetration into the decayed substrate. However, there are a number of disadvantages to using consolidants, including the fact that the use of the product results in fragile gel with a number of fractures. According to Dr. Maria Jesus Mosquera Diaz, the fractures in the gel often result in damages to stone buildings that have been treated with consolidants, rather than restoration of the material. To solve this problem, Spanish scientists created a hybrid gel that consists of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and colloidal silicon particles. Although the nanotechnology material does not produce cracks, its whitish color makes it clearly visible on dark-colored stone.
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Indiana Limestone Used in New Yankee Stadium
South Bend Tribune (IN) (02/18/08) P. B8

Indiana Limestone Fabricators is in the process of preparing over 93,000 square feet of limestone that will be used on the outer façade of the new Yankee Stadium. More than 600 stone panels have already been shipped from Empire Quarry in Oolitic, Ind., to the Bronx for the project. The $800 million ballpark, set to open in spring of next year, will feature carved stones reading "Yankee Stadium" above three of its entrances. Indiana Limestone Fabricators is using a machine to carve out the letters, which are then embossed in gold leaf. The Yankee Stadium project will bring in over $1 million for the company, an illustration of the recent improvement in business for the state's limestone industry. In addition to new buildings on Indiana University's campus, limestone is being used in residential construction on the East Coast and in the South.
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