Cool Granite Counter

[Huligar]

By Joe Dowd
January 2007
What do you think? E-mail us your feedback, contact information and the subject line, Industry Profile' with your message.
REDDING, CA—
When you talk to Hal Davis, you get the idea that his company’s motto is ingrained in his personality. That motto, “Completely out of the box,” is heralded not just by his design philosophy, but in the myriad innovative ways the team dreams up to make one-of-a-kind countertops.
Davis knows that in an industry full of beautiful things, to stand out from the competition, one has to have something truly unique
to offer.

However, while others are content to offer the same products as their competitors, Davis has devised a totally new application for onyx that allows him to provide his clients with a product that no one else has – and it’s won his firm tremendous word-of-mouth business, he notes.
Estate Granite & Marble is a full-service stone and tile design and installation company that works primarily with granite, marble, travertine and onyx. The firm handles a variety of jobs including kitchen countertops, waterfalls, full slab showers, outdoor furniture, barbecues, tables, fireplaces, etc.




Outside the Box
In December 2005, the company began experimenting with a 6-cm, dual-lamination application that utilized the “translucent beauty of onyx,” Davis recalls.
“By placing the onyx as the center lamination, and then backlighting it with commercial grade LEDs, all controlled by a remote dimmer system, we created what appears to be the first of its kind,” he explains.
“In this natural stone countertop application, we create a 6-cm edge, utilizing various edge details, and a 2-cm onyx strip is placed as the center lamination.” When lit by a commercial-grade LED system, the “effect is nothing short of jaw dropping exuberance and wow!” believes Davis.

In fact, the response has been so positive, it is garnering him both media and client attention as word of the new application spreads throughout the region.
The company currently fabricates and installs an average of six to nine kitchens per week out of its 9,500-sq.-ft. production facility in Redding, CA. The business, Davis notes, is based on the principle of “Old World craftsmanship meeting New World technologies,” and its motto – “Completely... out of the box” – is reflected through unique applications of multiple-lamination edge details, as well as the use of light, water and fire to create visual masterpieces that can be used to personalize spaces while adding visual drama.
It’s a big order to fill.
Prior to launching Estate Granite & Marble, founded by Davis, Michael Huber and Keith Hickman, Davis and Huber co-owned a corporation that purchased land and developed and remodeled high-end properties.
Then, Davis saw a new way to serve clients in his area: “As a statistician, I followed the fact that more than 85% of buyers for high-end homes were couples, and of these, 99% of the decision-makers were the wives,” he explains, adding that consumers’ (especially the wives’) favorite rooms were always the kitchen and master bath. “And the real ‘sizzle’ in these rooms, of course, is the countertops...”
So, it’s no surprise, then, that high-end countertops have become his passion.

Now in their fourth year together, he and his partners equipped their facility with a series of high-tech, state-of-the-art tools capable of doing the latest high-tech work – equipment that can transform the ordinary into something ground-breaking, Davis asserts.
The company is currently in the process of acquiring a “cutting-edge” CNC machine. This will enable the firm to produce more repetitious work for projects such as hotels and banks, as well as increase efficiency on custom applications, reports Davis.
These and other investments in new tool technology allow for increased production and increased quality for his clients, Davis believes.
The company’s market is evenly divided into new construction and remodels, and production currently stands at 90% residential and 10% commercial. However, Davis believes that the new equipment will allow his firm to expand into other areas as well, including more commercial projects, such as banks and hotels in the Las Vegas, NV area.
“Obviously our new innovation puts us on the cutting edge, but a key set of attributes that sets us apart is the ability to quickly identify the realistic expectations of each client [whether it’s a custom home or spec home]. Identifying the total and actual use of each room and then balancing the two key factors – function and fashion – is what makes it work,” he explains.
The firm’s primary clientele is high-end home builders, individual homeowners and contractors who want to install all natural stone products, such as granite, marble and onyx, into their homes.

Pushing the Bar
Complying with the company’s motto to think outside of the box, the owners say they are constantly pushing the bar to create new and innovative products.
“My partners and I have engineering and marketing backgrounds – we are unique in our approach to contracting,” believes Davis. “We push the machines, the tools and the creative instincts,” Davis adds.
Estate Granite & Marble currently employs a staff of 14, who receive special training.
“We implement a strong cross-training environment,” elaborates Davis. “Each person can cut on the bridge saw, use all hand tools, run the machines and install [product].”
As a fabricator, Davis finds it challenging, but necessary to educate the customers. “We like to try and find a balance between function and fashion,” he says. “For example, when designing a kitchen, it’s important to know if the homeowners dine out a lot or like to stay in and cook. And, of course, some edges aren’t practical for those who like to entertain, and some are more child-friendly than others,” he continues.
“We take the time to explain to our customers where some aspect of the project might be a shortcoming. We believe that a well-informed customer makes wiser choices, and we realize that an ounce of foresight is worth more than a ton of hindsight,” Davis adds.
The area around Redding is still somewhat rural, which Davis says “limits the scope of our practice financially.” However, the area’s high-end properties allow the company a fair amount of latitude, both creatively and in terms of the scale and scope of each project.
Davis notes that his firm is always trying to look ahead.
“We’re truly hands on, and with three owners, each overseeing a different aspect of the company, the pride of ownership that accompanies such work is invaluable,” he concludes. “We have the consistent desire to be not just the best in the area, but the gold standard of the entire

	Marble MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS This standard includes general information on the characteristics and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems associated with the material. INTRODUCTION Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite (CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed, is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds react differently with marble and produce various by-products, which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration. Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red, yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition. TYPICAL USES Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage to which marble is susceptible.

[rockwell]

Now that is some really neat stuff.

[Topshop]

Neat - how much is he charging for that?

[Mlynch]

i wonder if he could implement different color led's... you could program all kinds of effects! As an added bonus you could just use red or green for december and orange for october boom seasonal decorations are done! Seriously though the different colors look great in pools and hot tubs i wonder if it would just come out as cheesey in this application?

[Topshop]

Depends on the Onyx used.

I would hate to have to replace the lights after they burn out. It must be a rope light or something tucked in under the layers of lamination.

Man, I hate laminating stone.