Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in California

California: Known variously as The Land of Milk and Honey, The El Dorado State, The Golden State, and The Grape State, joined the Union on September 9, 1850.

In 1542 Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay, then continued north along the coast, making frequent trips ashore to claim land for Spain. On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the California Gold Rush and bringing settlers to the state in large numbers.  During the gold rush of 1849, miners sent their laundry to Honolulu for washing and pressing. Due to the extremely high costs in California during these boom years, it was deemed more feasible to send their shirts to Hawaii for servicing.

Now, one out of every eight United States residents lives in California.

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

On the Floor at KBIS 2015 and TISE

It’s been three weeks since the end of Design & Construction Week, but if you are anything like us, it has taken this long just to get back into the swing of a standard work week. For the second year in a row, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was co-located with the International Builders’ Show (IBS), and this year the two shows held at the Las Vegas Convention Center were joined by The International Surface Event (TISE), which was hosted by the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, also in Las Vegas.
For us here at CountertopResource.com, this was an exceptional event because it is the first that I personally had the pleasure of attending. I had a fantastic time meeting many of our longtime readers and clients in person for the first time and chatting with representatives and owners of some of the most prominent companies in the countertop industry. Not only was the show interesting and exciting on a personal level, it marked an upswing in overall attendance and the industry in general.
Design & Construction Week was held this year from January 20 to 22. It was the 51st annual event for KBIS, and including attendees and exhibitors at IBS, 2015 was a “banner year.” More than 500 exhibitors were on the floor in both the North Hall and South Hall while IBS was held in the Center Hall. The addition of the South Hall provided an extra 500,000 square feet of floor space for exhibitors and on-floor programming. Overall, 3,750 exhibitors spread across 4.7 million square feet of floor space participated in Design & Construction Week.

In all, more than 125,000 dealers, designers, suppliers and builders participated in the event, which is an increase of 5 percent over last year. In addition, more than 300 media representatives were on hand to cover what is the largest platform devoted to the kitchen & bath industry in North American. According to the Las Vegas Review, Design & Construction Week helps to make January one of the busiest months of the year for the Convention Center. “Everything about this year’s show lived up to the promise of bigger, better and bolder,” said Bill Darcy, CEO of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). “We were thrilled not only by the turnout but by how many innovations were introduced by exhibitors this year. We couldn't be happier that the industry sees KBIS as the platform to successfully launch new products.”

Brian Pagel, vice president of the kitchen and bath division of Emerald Expositions, the company producing the show, also released a statement about the event. “KBIS 2015 and our participation in Design & Construction Week was a huge success. We are incredibly excited about the future of these events given the prospect of a stronger housing market in 2015.”

At KBIS 2015, I was able to get a few sneak peeks at some of the latest technologies and designs from a few of the most prominent surfacing manufacturers in the world. Formica had two new collections on display, and Wilsonart announced the company was introducing a new line of quartz surfacing (although I kind of had the scoop on that a little bit early. A few miles away at the Mandalay Convention Center, TISE was being held in conjunction with Design & Construction Week. Last year, the event included SURFACES and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, and this year, it was co-launched with the all-new TileExpo, which brought together professionals from the stone, tile and flooring industries.

At TISE, I was in awe at some of the state-of-the art machinery that was brought out to display. One of the most prominent and impressive of these was the RoboSawJet from BACA Systems. However, Park Industries also made a distinct impression with the STORM Multi-Blade System and the HydroClear 90 water treatment system. Finally, I would be negligent if I failed to mention that ETemplate Systems walked away with the 2015 StonExpo Technology Award for its ELaser 3-D and 2-D measuring system. Back at KBIS and IBS, representatives from the NKBA and the National Home Builders’ Association (NHBA), announced that the two shows will continue to co-locate through 2020, and KBIS 2016 is scheduled for January 19 through January 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I am already excited for what this event will bring, and I hope to see you all there. And apparently TISE will once again be going on in conjunction with the other shows! I think it will be another one to remember...

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Arkansas

Arkansas: Officially known as the Natural State, became the 25th state on June 15, 1836. 
In 1541, Hernando DeSoto became the first European to visit the land that would become Arkansas, which had already been occupied by Native Americans for some 11,000 years. Marquette and Joliet followed in 1673 and in 1682 LaSalle claimed possession of the territory in the name of France. The first permanent European settlement in what is now Arkansas was established by Henri DeTonti in 1686 at Arkansas Post. In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory (including Arkansas) from France for $15 million, bringing Arkansas for the first time under the U.S. flag.
Among the state's greatest assets are its seven national park sites, 2.6 million acres of national forest lands, 13 major lakes, and two mountain ranges.

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

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Arizona

Arizona: The 48th state is known as the Grand Canyon State and also as the Nation's Valentine because it joined the Union on February 14, 1912.
Spanish Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza, was the first European to explore Arizona. He entered the area in 1539 in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Although he was followed a year later by another gold seeker, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, most of the early settlement was for missionary purposes.
The name Arizona comes from a Spanish version of the Pima Indian word arizonac for place of the small spring or from the Aztec's arizuma meaning silver bearing.
The sun shines in Southern Arizona 85% of the time, which is considerably more than Florida or Hawaii! At one time camels were used to transport goods across Arizona! But since the Southern Pacific Railroad connected Arizona to the eastern states in 1926, we can get supplies to them much easier now.
Arizonans still need countertops, and there are plenty of places to supply them. You can find a list of countertop businesses in Arizona 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 third installment of our efforts to compile the most complete list of countertop fabricators in the United States from A to Z. We will be working on Arkansas 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!

On The Road - 3 Big Shows From Vegas

 

I feel this is a special edition of The Countertop Industry Insider because we are back from three of the most important trade shows for the countertop fabrication industry: the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the International Builders Show (IBS) and The International Surface Event (TISE). We were excited to cover all of these shows, meet with some of the top suppliers and manufacturers in the business and talk to a plethora of fabricators who were fortunate enough to attend, such as Dave Stocket of Stockett Tile and Granite Company in Phoenix, Ariz., for instance. But, for those of you unable to attend, never fear, we were there in your stead and will keep you informed. 

 

Tuesday, the first day of KBIS and IBS, started off strong. KBIS this year was amazing, although the multitude of walks to and from the North Hall and South Hall (with IBS smack in the middle in the Center Hall) to fulfill appointments proved to be excruciating after about the 15th time. At KBIS I met with most of the top surfacing material manufacturers present, including Vicostone, Hanwha, Wilsonart, Formica, Cosentino, LG Hausys, Santa Margherita, Neolith, Eos Surfaces, Icestone and too many others to mention. They all had a lot of great new products in the works to show off.

 

At the end of the first day, Wilsonart threw an amazing Austin, Texas, style party at the Gold Spike Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, and hundreds of people attended to enjoy the food, cocktails, live music and great company. It was really insightful getting to talk with professionals in the kitchen and bath industry outside of a business setting (and blow off a little steam).

 

The second day brought us to TISE, which included StonExpo and TileExpo. Here, I met with some of the most innovative manufacturers of CNC, cutting and finishing equipment, including Park Industries, BACA Systems and Alpha Professional Tools. In addition, it was a real pleasure meeting the folks behind the companies that supply ancillary tools, products and services, such as QuartzSource, Integra Adhesives, ETemplate, Glue Warehouse and Better Vacuum Cups, just to name a few. There was so much to see and do. 

 

Thursday, I was back at KBIS and IBS, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I had the pleasure of speaking with representatives and executives from a few of the professional associations attending the shows: the Marble Institute of America (MIA), International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) and Natural Stone Council. This industry, without doubt, has a lot of great advocates to be thankful for.  

 

Needless to say, we have a great deal of information concerning new products and company and industry news coming your way in the next month, and I can't wait to share it with you. As always, if you have comments, questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time at info@countertopresource.com.  

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian Jones, Editor/Content Manager 

 

www.CountertopResource.com

Fire Destroys Blume's Solid Surface Products in Pittsburg Area

On January 14, Pittsburgh area countertop shop Blume’s Solid Surface Products was destroyed in a fire.  Blume’s was a full service fabricator of solid surface, quartz and granite countertops. As a wholesaler, the company fabricated and installed through independent kitchen and bath dealers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The company was a recognized leader in the countertop industry, as a founding member of the International Surface Fabricators Association and an ISFA Certified Professional, member of the Artisan Group, Marble Institute of America Accredited Fabricator member, member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). The company was also won numerous industry awards and recognitions.

More than 100 firefighters from at least 12 fire departments were needed to get the four-alarm blaze under control. Nobody was hurt in the fire, although around two dozen employees of the business lost their jobs because of the catastrophe.

A state police fire marshal was investigating the fire because of the manner in which it spread so rapidly. The fire appears to have started when an engine block heater caught fire in a truck that was parked behind the building in a loading area says South Buffalo Township Fire Chief Randy Brozenick.

Many condolences and warm regards from past customers and friends of the business on Facebook and other media outlets served as testimony to the positive image the business held in both its immediate community and the professional countertop industry. We wish to add our own condolences to that list.

A statement on their official Facebook page read:
With great sadness and heavy hearts Blume’s is announcing that we do not intend to reopen. It has been an amazing 27 years of business, and we want to thank all of our employees, customers and vendors.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Gus, Dot, Michelle and Gus jr.

 

Countertop Brackets and Legs Can Improve Designs

An interesting story came to my desk this week that showcases how countertop brackets and support legs can do much more than hold up heavy surfaces, such as granite, engineered stone and solid surface. The creative use of support systems can help you overcome design obstacles and perceived limitations to remodel or build a new kitchen space that is not only functional but also quite attractive.
Federal Brace, a leading manufacturer and distributor of designer support brackets and legs for countertops, was contacted by Rob Stepp, president of Creative Kitchens, Inc., about a job his company had just completed with products from Cambria, Schluter and Federal Brace. Stepp said that he experienced great “enthusiasm with the results,” and wanted to share the story because it was such an “exciting and successful project.”


In turn, Cathy Morgan, general manager of Federal Brace, wanted to share this story with CountertopResource.com so that other fabricators and installers could take a look at what is possible when we work together on tough projects. I have to admit the enthusiasm of both Rob and Cathy rubbed off on me, and I am happy to present the story and photos to you in this month’s blog.

Creative Kitchens was charged with remodeling the kitchen in a local condominium unit, but they were put off by a few architectural elements, namely a large structural pier in the center of the island. The team, however, was not dismayed and developed what turned out to be the perfect solution.

In order to streamline the look of the kitchen, Creative Kitchens wrapped the pier in durable and sleek stainless steel and then used a Schluter corner molding and sheets, which were originally developed for the tile industry, to finish out the columns.


For the countertop, White Cliff, a quartz surface from Cambria was chosen, but the design called for a slab that was much larger than the base of the island, and it had to extend far past the structural pier with no other support. To overcome this challenge, classic Brunswick brackets from Federal Brace were used to support the overhanging countertop, which left ample legroom for the client to add seating. This could transform the kitchen island into a great entertaining area for guests should it ever be required.

For the end of the countertop, Federal Brace’s versatile Anteris Metal Support Legs were used, which are designed specifically to “hold up heavy stone and composite material countertops.” These legs are constructed of double-steel plates to provide superior carrying strength, but they are also visually appealing, giving the kitchen a sleek, modern look. Click on any of the photos presented here to see larger, more detailed versions of the finished project.

For further information about Creative Kitchens, they have three showrooms in Huntington, Charleston and Lewisburg, W.Va., or visit the company website at www.creativekitchens.com.
To learn more about how countertop brackets and support legs can fit into your projects or about the Dealer and Distributor Program offered by the company, visit www.federalbrace.com or contact a representative at sales@federalbrace.com.