Marble Institute Cutting Edge Newsbriefs

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Testing for Radon Puts Granite Concerns to Rest
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (NY) (10/03/08) P. 10D ; Carter, Diana Louise

Michelle Mastin had the air quality in her Victor, N.Y., home tested for radon after hearing in news reports that granite could emit dangerous levels of the radioactive gas. The test came back negative, so Mastin did not have to rip out 100 square feet of shiny, black granite countertops in her home. New processing techniques have helped to lower the cost of granite, ultimately boosting its popularity, according to Mark Makowski, owner of Solid Surfaces in Brighton. "More and more people are using it instead of maybe changing their cabinets" to update their kitchens, he says. "The biggest fascination is because it is part of the earth--nature that you can really put into your home, and people are really crazy about that right now." L.L. Chyi, a researcher at the University of Akron in Ohio, believes the amount of radon emitted is determined by the type of granite; but almost all varieties of the stone produce levels that are a tiny fraction of what the federal Environmental Protection Agency recommends as grounds for taking remedial action. And the amount of radon is reduced further in actively used homes, in which fresh air is constantly let in and out and countertops are regularly sealed.
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U.S. Consumers Overwhelmingly Prefer Granite Over Any Other Countertop Surface For Dream Kitchen, New Survey Shows
Marble Institute of America (10/15/08)

A new national survey finds that by overwhelming majorities U.S. consumers prefer granite countertops to any other countertop surface for their dream kitchen and believe that granite countertops increase the resale value of a home. The survey of 2,021 U.S. adults aged 18+ was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Marble Institute of America. It asked respondents which countertop surface they would most want in their dream kitchen. At 55 percent, "granite countertops" was by far the most popular response, followed distantly by synthetic stone at 12 percent. The survey was conducted Oct. 7 through 9. When asked how much they agree with the statement "granite countertops increase the resale value of a home," 90 percent of the surveyed consumers either strongly or somewhat agreed. "The survey reaffirms what we have known all along: across America, granite is the most desired countertop surface on the market today," said Jim Hogan, president of the Marble Institute of America. "After months of inaccurate reporting and questionable research aimed at raising doubts about granite, it is tremendously gratifying to know that consumers continue to feel that granite countertops are as safe as they are beautiful, practical and durable." In fact, 84 percent of survey respondents either strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement, "Granite countertops are among the most safe, beautiful and durable kitchen counter surfaces on the market today." "The results of the survey show that consumers' preferences for granite countertops are virtually the same across all regions, genders and age groups," Hogan said. The survey found remarkable consistency across the United States, with minimal variance in responses from different regions of the country. It also showed the appeal of granite was consistent among both age and socio-economic groups.
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Marmomacc Fair in Verona, Italy, Exceeds Expectations
Stone World (10/07/08)

Organizers of the Marmomacc Stone Fair have reported that the four-day event topped expectations. The expo, held in Verona, Italy, Oct. 3-6, drew more than 63,000 visitors--44 percent of whom were from outside countries. In addition, the fair featured 1,536 exhibitors from around the globe who presented natural stones, stoneworking equipment, tooling and accessories, and installation/maintenance products. In addition to the large number of visitors and exhibitors, the Marmomacc Stone Fair was also notable because it showcased a number of new trends. For example, many of the stone suppliers in attendance introduced new materials, including varieties of onyx and other exotic types of stone. Suppliers noted that demand for these materials has been stable in spite of the slowing global economy. They also reported that sales of "standard" stone materials have become more sluggish. Finally, suppliers of installation products and other material treatments showed off new innovations that aimed to improve finished products or make the stoneworking process more efficient.
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Italy Marble, Stone Exports Down 48 Percent Y/Y H1 2008
ANSA English Corporate Service (10/02/08)

Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara (IMM) reports that exports of Italian marble and natural stone totaled 849.9 million euros (US$1.172 billion) for the first six months of 2008. This reflects a 4.8-percent year-on-year decline, IMM said. A total of 1.6 million tons of marble and natural stone were exported from Italy, a decline of 1.7 percent. Exports to European Union members fell by 5.1 percent to 281.6 million euros in value and by 12.4 percent in volume. Exports to the United States, meanwhile, totaled 197.7 million euros. The volume of exports to Germany fell 20 percent. The report is based on information from Italy's National Statistics Institute and includes only costlier products like marble, granite, and travertine.
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Granite Countertops Still Top List of Home Improvements
Imperial Valley News (09/27/08)

In spite of the struggling economy, consumer spending on home renovation is still strong. Throughout the country, homeowners are investing in remodeling projects--particularly kitchen makeovers. One of the leading upgrades in this respect continues to be granite countertops. A study of 10,000 consumers done by the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence discovered that kitchen improvements came in first place among consumers looking to increase their homes' value and that granite countertops were one of the features they most desired for that room. "Historically, consumers recognize that granite countertops enhance the value of a home in ways few other improvements can," notes Marble Institute of America Executive Vice President Garis Distelhorst. "No other countertop surface can measure up to granite in terms of practicality, timeless beauty, durability and safety." Distelhorst adds that granite has "held its value in ways more trendy materials have not."
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Italy Sees Turkey as Key Rival in Marble
Turkish Daily News (Turkey) (10/15/08) ; Dogan, Sinan

Turkey someday will pose some serious competition for Italy in the marble industry, according to Francesco Antolini, chairman of the Italian natural stone producer Antolini Luigi. However, Turkish natural stone producers will not be able to grow by just using raw materials, the executive told press covering the Verona Natural Stone and Technology Exhibition--the largest of its kind anywhere. He noted that if Turkey wants to be a force to be reckoned with in the marble industry, it needs to explore how to assess stones, raise their values, and think outside the quarry. Meanwhile, Arslan Erdinc, the chairman of the Aegean Minerals Exporters' Association, said he sees no reason why Turkey could not be a competitor with Italy in the marble industry. He said that barring any setbacks, Turkey could export $10 billion worth of the stone within the next five years. "We should realize our potential and lend enough importance to the industry," Erdinc stated. "We can offer rocks as good as the Italians do."
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Digging Deep in Lynchburg's Largest Quarry, Where the Rock Is About to Run Out
Lynchburg News & Advance (VA) (09/27/08) ; Watson, Sarah

The Lawyers Road quarry in Lynchburg, Va., is owned by Boxley Materials Co. The firm mines bluish-gray marble from the site using a blend of diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate fertilizer placed in 25-foot-deep holes. The outfit has been extracting the natural stone for more than 40 years, and executives say only 15 years worth of product is left. "This is a really good rock," says Tom Roller, Boxley's director of technical services. "We've looked for more deposits of this rock but there are none of this size." Boxley conducts blasts every seven to 10 days at the site, depending on order volume. The rock is crushed into different sizes for use in varying construction projects. The company also owns property in Evington, Va., that executives say has a deposit of greenstone--a dense rock that can be used in construction. If the company gets approval, rock mining in Evington could commence within 15 years. Just 100 acres of Boxley's roughly 900-acre property is suitable for mining the greenstone, but that deposit could last 100 years, says Jeff Perkins, Boxley's aggregate division's executive vice president.
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Rugo Stone First to Earn MIA Commercial A Contractor Accreditation
Stone World (09/26/08)

Lorton, Va.-based Rugo Stone LLC, Natural Stone & Mosaic Contractors is the first firm to receive the Accredited Natural Stone Commercial A Contractor designation under the Marble Institute of America's (MIA) accreditation initiative. Commercial A firms are businesses that facilitate large-scale commercial stone implementations, including high-rise inside/outside wall cladding, museums, or hotel exteriors. These firms handle non-prescriptive or "engineered," mechanically anchored stone veneer that is designed and erected to deal with imposed loads as dictated by applicable codes and/or specifications. In order to be considered for Commercial A status, a firm has to have been in business for five years and must have completed five mechanically anchored (engineered) exterior cladding implementations, usually over 30 feet. Every project needs to have at least 10,000 square feet of dimensional stone. A company should also have completed three commercial facility lobbies, and each of those projects should have at least 3,000 square feet of dimensional stone. In addition, firms being considered need to have erected five other installations--which can include cladding, site work, walls, paving, or big residential projects. The qualifying agent representing the company has to have 10 years of commercial experience within the last two decades. The firm must also have requested and passed a voluntary OSHA investigation within the last year or undergone an actual review and must currently be fulfilling all OSHA mandates. "You can expect to see the MIA Accreditation seal displayed proudly on all of our collateral material," states Rugo Stone President Brett Rugo.
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Dress Up or Down With Stone and Tile
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (09/21/08) ; Gann, Cherri

Stone and tile remain among the best investments for families looking to improve their homes for their own enjoyment or to command a better price on the sale market in the future. Marble, granite, limestone, slate, and travertine continue to be popular choices for kitchen and bathroom surfaces such as backsplashes, countertops, floors and tubs, and sink and shower surrounds. Homeowners can use the materials to create a style, but choices for surfaces and accessories should be based how the room is used. They should look at home decorating and design books and magazines to discover the style that they prefer. "With natural stone, each piece is unique," says Don Sanford, manager of Fort Worth-based Stone Distribution. "It's a reflection of you." A stone dealer will likely supply the slab, and a fabricator subcontracted by a builder or the homeowner's general contractor will create and install the finished surface. The cost varies and will be included in the bid for the entire installation job. "With all the colors, textures and accents available today, it's just endless what you can do," says Tom McClure, owner of Fort Worth-based Roma Tile. "Just use your imagination."
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The natural stone industry is taking steps to better position its products as environmentally friendly. For instance, Natural Stone Council (NSC)--a group of businesses and trade associations that promote the use of natural stone in homes, commercial developments, and educational buildings--has established an external advisory committee. The panel, consisting of individuals who are knowledgeable about green building and environmental issues, is charged with providing the NSC with the guidance and insight it needs to accomplish its goal. In addition, the council's Green Committee has been assembled to raise awareness about sustainability within the natural stone industry and to plan and implement sustainability initiatives. The NSC has also contracted with the Center for Clean Products at the University of Tennessee to evaluate the environmental performance of the natural stone industry and to work to improve it. Researchers from the school, in conjunction with the Green Committee, hope to establish the baseline environmental footprint of the natural stone industry and create life-cycle data and assessments of stone compared to other types of building materials. In addition to positioning the natural stone industry as environmentally friendly, this effort could also result in the addition of new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits for natural stone products.
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Stone+tec Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary
Construction and Maintenance (09/17/08)

With about 1,000 exhibitors and more than 40,000 trade visitors from across the globe, Stone+tec--the International Trade Fair Natural Stone and Stoneprocessing Technology at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in Germany--will be held in May 2009, when it also will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Besides domestic attendees, the last Stone+tec event in 2007 drew guests from the Benelux nations, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Poland, Switzerland, France, Ireland, and Spain as well as from the Baltic States, Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus. Stone+tec usually focuses on the whole chain of natural stone processing--including the technologies for removing the material, a big selection of natural stone varieties, and expertise application in building and design. Natural stone exteriors and floors in leading construction projects have highlighted the material's diversity. In addition, natural stone is attracting a growing number of fans in the home design and domestic applications sector. Design-focused bathrooms, kitchen countertops, and furniture items in a material combination are examples of how natural stone can fulfill a variety of needs. While Stone+tec provides an extensive exhibition range covering the various areas of application for natural stone, it also offers installation expertise and ideas.
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The Natural Stone Council (NSC) has identified water reclamation as an industry best practice and water-consumption efficiency as key to establishing an environmental profile. NSC has spent a year examining the quarry and processing operations of 42 North American companies. The Hollis, N.H.-based group is in the final draft stages of building an initial life-cycle inventory for granite, limestone, and sandstone quarries, while it continues to collect data to create one for marble. Aside from water issues, site maintenance and quarry closure have been targeted as topics for best-practice briefs. NSC is conducting its research efforts with the Center for Clean Products at the University of Tennessee. "We are encouraged by the initial results of this comprehensive research," said John Mattke, co-chair of the NSC and chairman of its Committee on Sustainability. "With solid data behind us, we may now move forward to highlight our industry's best practices, as well as work together to improve those areas that will solidify natural stone's position as a sustainable building product."
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