Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Where Do We Draw the Line on Additional Regulation vs. Acceptable Cost of Safety?

Workplace health and safety in the fabrication industry has become a growing concern over the past couple of years. You have surely heard about OSHA's plans to lower the acceptable exposure limit of silica dust for workers. We have watched this story closely as it has unfolded, and have covered it from the very beginning, when federal OSHA first released a formal notice about the proposed rule change.

The Marble Institute of America (MIA), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC), as well as individual fabricators and many others made their voices heard during the open debate and public commentary regarding the rule change. The MIA and CISC believe that the industry is capable of regulating itself, citing statistics that show the mortality rate from silicosis dropped by more than 90 percent from 1968 to 2010.

 The cost that fabricators will have to pay to come into compliance is the primary concern about the rule change. OSHA estimates the annual cost across all businesses in all of the affected industries at $511.2 million, but the CISC says in a letter addressed to David Michaels, the Assistant Secretary of Labor, that the cost will be 20 percent higher than the original independent estimate of $3.9 billion at $4.9 billion per year.

The $3.9 billion is said to reflect the direct cost of compliance - including new equipment, monitoring equipment, respirators and labor - while an additional $1.05 billion will be for indirect costs, such as the increased prices of construction materials.

Even though the period for open debate has ended, the CISC continues to challenge the rule change, stating that it is unnecessary, technologically and economically infeasible. However, despite the cost, technology and practices have already allowed businesses in Europe to meet these higher silica standards. In addition, cases of silicosis directly related to countertop fabrication have begun appearing in the United States for the first time.

After speaking with compliance officers and officials, it seems that the OSHA administration is acting purely out of compassion and dedication to the health and safety of American workers. So, why such a discrepancy between OSHA's estimated costs and those by the CISC? The cost of the increased regulation, has a direct influence on the willingness for compliance. After all, no company wants their seasoned workers to suffer and die from a horrible illness, nor do they want to shutter their businesses because they are losing money on unnecessary regulations. 

No matter what happens with the rule for silica dust exposure, the MIA has declared that it will continue to work closely with OSHA and ask all of its members to make the safety and health of their workers a top priority. The MIA even released an informational video on the issue called Silicosis: Incurable, but Preventable.

Regardless of who is right in this matter, we can only agree that workplace health and safety should be a top priority for all businesses. Although ensuring health and safety in the workplace carries a few upfront and ongoing costs, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that companies end up saving from $3 to $6 in lost labor, training, down time, insurance premiums and other expenses for every dollar spent on workplace safety.

How do you budget for the safety of your workers? Do you consider the cost of workers' comp claims? What do you expect from OSHA's proposed rule change? How are the costs going to affect your business? We want to hear from you!

Feel free to email us any time with your stories, opinions and comments, or better yet, take our Countertop Industry survey to add your voice to more than 400 others who have already done so. You have until May 15, and all you have to do is click here to start.

info@countertopresource.com

Thursday, April 23, 2015

2015 Kitchen & Countertop Trends

2015 Kitchen and Countertop Trends Come Into Focus


12-3-115-2015_ConnorsKitchen_f-1-716x1024 KBISLast fall, we ran a piece looking at the early and forecasted kitchen trends for 2015, and it proved to be a very popular theme. Now that 2015 is well underway, some of this year’s trends are clearly coming into focus, and we’d like to share what we’ve learned. However, I’d like to mention that we have been trying to do a little forecasting of our own, but we need your help to do so.
If you complete our short survey, you can let your opinions and experiences be known. This will help us bring the industry new and increasingly relevant content. We will also be able to share what we discover after compiling and analyzing the data we  gather. The survey can be taken anonymously, and you can be assured that we will never connect you or your company with your answers. In addition, you can also be entered in our drawing for one of two $250 gift certificates to Best Buy. Click here to take the survey now.
That being said, let’s now check out the top kitchen trends of 2015 with the help of some of the most trusted sources in the kitchen and bath industry.

Cabinet Trends

In February, Kitchen and Bath Business (K+BB) revealed six kitchen cabinet trends for the coming year. According to RnRMarketResearch.com, demand is set to rise by 6.6 percent in the U.S. through 2018, and 80 percent of this demand is for kitchens. Among the trends for cabinets are the following:
Laminate cabinet K+BB
  • Color will begin to make a comeback in the form of soft, muted trim and accents.
  • European laminate mimicking natural wood will be popular.
  • Cabinets with motion or touch sensors are coming onto the scene.
  • LED lighting is being used for accents and functionality.
In March, Kitchen & Bath Design News reported on the Houzz Kitchen Trends Study released at the end of 2014. According to the results, the top priority in a kitchen, at 65 percent of responses, is that it should be “easy to store and find things.” However, when it comes to design, it was said that “stylish and beautiful” is the most important consideration. In addition, white is the most popular color choice (49 percent), followed by medium wood (20 percent) and dark wood (13 percent).
Kitchen & Bath Design News also released this video concerning The Latest Research in Kitchen Trends.

Best in American Living Awards

The Best in American Living Awards (BALA) is one of the top indicators of kitchen design trends in North America, and the winners were announced earlier in the year at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas. The awards represent the most creative and innovative designs for single-family and multi-family homes spanning all sizes, styles and communities.
Past Basket NKBA“While each award winner was unique, there are certainly a number of common themes among these honorees,” said Stephen C. Moore, the chairman of BALA 2014 and senior partner of BSB Design Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. “Homes are being designed with relaxation in mind, as this year we saw an overall simplification in the designs with cleaner lines and more natural elements.”
Highlights of BALA 2014 include the following:
  • All-white kitchens – White is trending not only for cabinets but for everything else as well, with the exception of appliances, of which stainless steel is the undisputed ruler. White cabinets with white countertops, backsplashes and trim are very popular now.
  • Dual-island kitchens – One island is no longer enough. Back-to-back islands and side-by-side islands are thought to be more casual and creative than traditional kitchens.
  • A blend of natural and contemporary – Designers are starting to blend natural materials with the contemporary. One popular combination includes stainless steel, glass and natural wood.
  • Wine rooms and bars – Small nooks for relaxing at home with adult beverages are being incorporated into and just outside of kitchens.

Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Report

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) also released its annual Kitchen & Bath Design Trends report following the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) this January. According to this highly respected organization, contemporary kitchens will lead the way in 2015. More than half of designers are expected to produce contemporary kitchens, closely followed by transitional styles. Shaker-style kitchens are among the most popular single design.
Other highlights of the report are as follows:
  • Kitchens will have an overall contemporary feel with a fusion of styles and colors. White, gray, black and blue will be the most popular colors for the year. “I am seeing lots of white painted kitchen perimeters with espresso stained islands and dark stained kitchen perimeters with light colored painted islands. Lots of painted white kitchens with light countertops and espresso islands and painted gray cabinets,” said Christine Shorr of Morris Black Designs in Allentown, Penn.
  • European-style cabinets with a focus on accessibility are popular. More than 90 percent of designers are including pullout and rollout cabinets, and 40 percent expect see these styles increase in popularity.
  • Tables are being replaced by islands and countertops. Countertops and islands are replacing the kitchen table as the hub of a home. Among the specific designs increasing in popularity are furniture-styled dry bars.
  • Kitchen home offices call for expanding technology. Nearly two-thirds of kitchens are used as home offices, and because of this, technology is finding its way into the room by way of charging stations, TVs, LED lighting and “convenience appliances.”

Countertop Trends in 2015 (and Beyond)

With the amount of information we here at CountertopResource.com are exposed to on a regular basis, we are often able to see things from all angles, and there are certainly some that we can report directly:
  • Quartz surfacing continues to grow in popularity. More and more companies are entering the field, whether it is a major player like Wilsonart bringing on a new line of quartz or a new, smaller import from Asia, engineered stone has a strong foothold and will continue to be among the most popular choices.
  • Sintered compact surfaces are making their way into the picture. Both Cosentino with its ultra new Dekton and TheSize with its Neolith products are coming on strong. Once fabricators get used to the ins and outs of these new materials, hold all bets, because they have some great qualities.
  • The marble look – Nearly every quartz, solid surface, laminate and just about any other countertop material being made today has released a new color/pattern that mimics marble with a white base color and dark/black veining, and with the cost of actual marble and the ease at which it is stained or scratched, these options will allow homeowners to have the look without the troubles.
  • Lighting – It seems lighting is increasingly coming into play surrounding countertops, whether it is backlit translucent materials (which are also becoming more common among quartz and solid surface producers) under-cabinet lights that highlight the counter surface or edge-lit tops, light is playing a bigger role in the countertop world.
  • Green, and I’m not talking about the color. The amount of “eco-friendly” materials being used for countertops and other surfaces that are finding their way to the market are growing at an amazingly fast pace. It is astounding what they make surfacing materials out of now. On the coasts, where homeowners seem more environmentally conscious, we will see this trend continue to develop. And ultimately, as the next generation gets into the housing market this bang will boom! (Watch for a big announcement later this year from CountertopResource.com in this very arena).
  • European thick or thin – We’ve noticed trends toward sleek thin countertops with no drop edges at all that are only 1/2-in. thick alongside of countertops with huge edge drops making them appear 6 cm thick. Both of these trends hit the European scene in previous years, and U.S. designs seem to be following.
  • Curves (especially with solid surface) – Designers are recognizing thermoforming capabilities and taking advantage of them. It’s not hard to find examples of these types of high-end kitchens in places like ISFA’s Countertops & Architectural Surfaces magazine.
  • Mixed materials – This trend has seemed to hold on for several years now. It is not uncommon to see a variety of materials all being used in the same space in a sort of fusion that wows. Tile backsplashes with quartz countertops and an exotic granite island can really make a showing.
  • Smart Kitchens – We are all certainly aware how appliances today can be controlled by an iPhone app, but we are starting to see some of these technologies being built right into countertops. If you haven’t seen the wireless built-in tablet/smartphone charging stations that have been developed, you aren’t paying attention. You might not get a lot of orders for them this year, but Starbucks is installing them in most of their stores, and that is going to pave the way for this and other direct add-ins to countertops.
  • The wooden look – Another trend that is emerging (or maybe re-emerging) seems to be the wood look, whether it is actual wood, reclaimed wood, wood-patterned laminate or wood-textured concrete, there are definitely more options to appeal to consumers and designers who want a natural feel in their kitchen designs. You don’t have to look far to find several examples.
  • Beyond the ordinary – The last countertop trend I want to throw out there (because I could go on and on) is the trend for something beyond the ordinary. Recycled glass based materialsbright throw-back laminates, eye-catching pops of quartz surfacingunique veined solid surface and exotic granites are all becoming more common for those who want their kitchen to reflect their personality and be a sort of centerpiece for their homes. It isn’t all uba tuba, neutral-colored HPL and tan solid surface with slightly darker particulates these days.

Kitchen Trends Fading in 2015

Earlier in the month, Kitchen Bath Trends by Whitehaus Collection reported on several trends that are being abandoned this year. According to the article, Trends to Ditch in 2015, those seeking kitchen remodels are being recommended to forget about the following once-popular design ideas:
  • Chevron prints
  • Bare windows
  • Mirrored walls, furniture and fixtures
  • Tile countertops
  • Over-the-range microwaves
  • Kitchen desks (Along with kitchen tables, these are being replaced by additional countertop surface.)

Tell Us What You Know

It looks like 2015 is shaping up to be quite a year in the world of kitchens and kitchen countertops. Although we have scoured the nation to bring you the latest reports and what we have seen and heard at the shows and on the streets, your input is still invaluable. Let us know what trends you have noticed in the comments below or by taking our Countertop Industry Survey.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Idaho

Idaho: The Gem State was acquired by the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and became the 43rd state on July 3, 1890.

Idaho's first permanent settlement in Franklin was founded by the Mormons in 1860. That same year miners found gold, and mining towns such Boise, the state's capital, and Idaho City were established.

Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Silver Valley in northern Idaho has produced more than $4 billion in precious metals since 1884, which makes the area one of the top 10 mining districts in the world. One of the largest diamonds ever found in the U.S., weighing in at nearly 20 carats, was discovered near McCall, Idaho.

People in Idaho need countertops, and there are plenty of places to supply them. You can find a list of countertop businesses in Idaho here!

There are still some inconsistencies to the list, but we are working to correct them and I just couldn't wait to share it.

This is a sneak peek at our efforts to compile the most complete list of countertop fabricators in the United States from A to Z. We will be working on Illinois next and hope to give you a look at that list as soon as its available. And you will find it here first.

In coming weeks (and likely months), we will be compiling lists for all 50 states, and once we get them done, we will seek input from the industry to make sure everything is in order before we release the information to the public.

We think this is going to be very popular with the countertop community and very useful for those seeking new countertops.

Let us know what you think!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Countertop Industry Survey Deadline Extended

 
Fotor0414104940Our sincerest thanks to everyone who has already taken our informational Countertop Industry Survey. You have helped make this survey become one of, if not the widest reaching of its kind. We know we may have bothered you a bit to get the results we have received so far, and we appreciate your patience with us. However, we are not content to wrap it up just yet. We want to be absolutely confident that it is a solid representation of your opinions and we know there are still many of you who have not yet had time to complete this short survey.
 
Therefore, we are happy to announce that the deadline to take the countertop survey has been extended for another month. You now have until May 15 to participate in the survey and provide your insight to not only help us understand our audience but also what you need to help grow your business to make it the best it can be. All you have to do is click this link to go directly to the survey. It will only take a few minutes of your time, and at the end, you can register to win one of two $250 gift cards to Best Buy.
 
We will not extend the survey deadline again, and once the deadline comes, we will cease to bother you about helping us  to gather important information for the betterment of our industry. We wouldn’t be so persistent if we didn’t feel that it will make the results even more worthwhile for everyone.
 
Our countertop industry survey has already grown beyond what we had anticipated, but we hope to make it even bigger by simply giving it another month to allow everyone a chance to get on board. You can be assured that the survey can be taken completely anonymously and that all of the information you provide will not be associated with you or your company directly, and only generalities without identifying specific sources will be shared.
 
When the survey has reached its final deadline on May 15, we may share some of the aggregated statistics that we believe will benefit the countertop fabrication industry as a whole, but no single respondent will be able to be identified. We are doing this because we want you to be as open and honest as possible with your answers, which will help us all move into a prosperous future.
We’ve already learned quite a bit about what you would like to see in the coming months, and we are gearing up to bring you some exciting new offerings and features. So regardless of what material(s) you work with or in what particular capacity you are associated with the countertop industry, we continue to urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to be heard and help shape things to come.

Do it for yourselves; do it for your industry; do it for us; or do it for the chance to win one of the $250 gift cards, but whatever your reason, you will be helping in a worthy cause for the cost of only a few minutes of your time.
Once again, thank you all for your support. If you haven’t already done so, simply click here to take the survey now.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Hawaii

Hawaii: The Aloha State and Paradise of the Pacific, entered the Union on August 21, 1959 to become the 50th state.
The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world and being 2390 miles from California and 3850 miles from Japan makes these islands the most isolated population center on the face of the earth!

Hawaii also has the highest population density in the United States. However, on Kauai no building is allowed to be built taller than a palm tree by law!

But, people in Hawaii still need countertops, and there are plenty of places to supply them. You can find a list of countertop businesses in Hawaii here!

There are still some inconsistencies to the list, but we are working to correct them and I just couldn't wait to share it.

This is a sneak peek at our efforts to compile the most complete list of countertop fabricators in the United States from A to Z. We will be working on Idaho next and hope to give you a look at that list as soon as its available. And you will find it here first.

In coming weeks (and likely months), we will be compiling lists for all 50 states, and once we get them done, we will seek input from the industry to make sure everything is in order before we release the information to the public.

We think this is going to be very popular with the countertop community and very useful for those seeking new countertops.

Let us know what you think!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Georgia

Georgia:  Entered the Union on January 2, 1788 to become the 4th state.  
Cherokee and Creek Indians lived in present-day Georgia when Hernado de Soto explored the region for Spain in 1540. Colonized in 1732, Georgia was the last of the original thirteen English Colonies. 
Historic Saint Marys, Georgia is the second oldest city in the nation.

Stone Mountain is one of the largest single masses of exposed granite in the world! The figures of Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, and Robert E. Lee carved on the face of Stone Mountain make up the world's largest sculpture.

People in Georgia still need countertops, and there are plenty of places to supply them. You can find a list of countertop businesses in Georgia here!

There are still some inconsistencies to the list, but we are working to correct them and I just couldn't wait to share it.

This is a sneak peek at our efforts to compile the most complete list of countertop fabricators in the United States from A to Z. We will be working on Hawaii next and hope to give you a look at that list as soon as its available. And you will find it here first.

In coming weeks (and likely months), we will be compiling lists for all 50 states, and once we get them done, we will seek input from the industry to make sure everything is in order before we release the information to the public.

We think this is going to be very popular with the countertop community and very useful for those seeking new countertops.

Let us know what you think!