Atlantic Stoneworks
Not so long ago, the DETROIT area had about 15 qualified marble and granite contractors that tempered powerful craftsmanship together with customers’ high standards. Now there are over 350 marble and granite contractors – but are they qualified? The easier something gets, the more people start doing it. And that is exactly what happened in the Detroit Area. Machining techniques have taken over the marble industry, and as a result, the quality of work has plummeted along with customers’ expectations. Don’t settle for second best.Experience and craftsmanship are being sacrificed for speed and lower cost. Unfortunately, when an expert is needed to configure one of the many applications of marble and granite, they can’t be found.
Training someone how to operate a marble and granite machine will never include the finer intricacies of true marble craftsmanship. The craftsman will recognize potential problems due to stone-thickness tolerance and will make necessary adjustments, whereas a machine will not. Gauging a marble slab by eye and by hand will reveal changes in a slab’s thickness. Experienced and well-trained craftsmen can detect these changes.
A craftsman is carefully trained to visually inspect marble for its particularities. Each family of stone has its own characteristics, and each stone within that family has its own special attributes: among other things, this will help put a great shine on any stone. A craftsman will also be able to square the inside corner of a counter top whereas with machine fabricating, a seam will need to be added. In slab work, the fewer the seams the better the job. When a piece of marble breaks or chips, knowledge in the finer characteristics of marble is needed to repair the stone. Only someone trained to properly inspect a slab of granite or marble by sight and by hand will be able to render a professional repair.
It really is the same old story – you get what you pay for. Take the time now and spare little expense in getting an expert, someone who knows marble inside and out, someone who can massage the stone into tough spots as needed. When you want marble crafted into place with skill, you simply can not rely on a machining technique. Instead, rely on the masters – it’s a totally different mentality.
A machine has its place, but it can’t replace a true craftsman. When it’s time to re-do your kitchen, bathroom, or fireplace with marble or granite, make sure you seek the expertise of well-trained craftsmen. They’ll make the difference.
