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In this Online Stone Fabricators Forum - conducted at www.stoneadvice.com - stoneworking professionals from around the country discussed how countertop “blanks” are affecting their business

For the Wall of Memory and Hope in Albany, NY, marble slabs were adhered to the wall surface, reducing costs and labor

Adam Bauer, president of Planet Granite Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO, was first introduced to the stone industry at a young age. “I would spend my summers in high school in Aspen, working in the stone and tile industries with my father,” he explained. “At age 14, grinding marble and grouting were not high on my 'enjoying life' list, but the industry was sprouting a seed in me without my knowledge of ever knowing where it could lead.”

What started out as a hobby for Bob Opsal eventually led to his current career as a stone fabricator and owner of Ancient Stone located in Brentwood in Northern California. Utilizing a CNC machine, the company averages eight kitchens a week, and handles all aspects of natural stone fabrication, including flooring, countertops and full shower enclosures.

Exterior stone paving is unmatched in performance and appearance. Nothing makes a bolder statement and speaks class like a well-installed stone paving application. In order for the installation to be successful, good detailing, design and construction practices should be followed. This type of application requires the experience of tradesmen that are familiar with the nuances of these demanding installations.

Attendees flooded the halls of Surfaces 2006, which was held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, from February 1 to 3. In all, a record-breaking 40,588 retailers, manufacturers, distributors, architects, designers, builders and installers from around the world - marking a 6% increase over 2005 - came to see the thousands of new products being introduced at the show.

When JT Interiors, LLC, of Henderson, NV, began fabricating stone for itself - in a division called American Countertops & Floors - it inherited a relatively small 3,000-square-foot space that houses the fabrication shop as well as 300 square feet of office space. And to ensure that production would flow well in this environment, the company invested in a range of material handling and storage equipment.

Although Cumar Marble & Granite of Everett, MA, was founded in 1994, the history of its owner, Angelo “Ivo” Cubi, goes back farther than that. Cubi, a native of Italy, has a solid background in stoneworking, and he has developed a state-of-the-art shop that serves the residential and commercial markets.

This lively “Countertop Fabricator Forum,” which took place at StonExpo 2005 in Las Vegas, NV, addressed a broad range of the issues facing the industry - both in the shop and in the field.

The San Diego metropolitan area has been enjoying solid growth in the building trade - with new commercial projects being developed on a regular basis. One of the latest examples can be found at the Grande at Santa Fe Depot, an upscale, multi-tower housing complex in Downtown's Columbia District, a short walk to the Little Italy Village, the Marina District and the bustling Gaslamp Quarter.