This episode of “House Crashers” celebrated the biggest Phillies fan. Josh and the team transformed the fan’s basement into a Phillies mancave, complete with eight keg taps in the Saratoga Soapstone bar, and an outdoor view area (with big, big screen) and an outdoor grill with a Saratoga Soapstone countertop.

Created purely by nature, Saratoga Soapstone is hand-selected in Brazil by our skilled stone inspectors to ensure the utmost quality. Soapstone is extremely durable and versatile, yet it exudes warmth and softness to the touch. This unique combination has made it the current material of choice for a variety of applications.

Quarried naturally with absolutely no synthetics. Soapstone is practically indestructible and adds elegance and enduring value to any project, especially those looking for a change of pace from traditional stone.

Check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbvJM0AbYoI&feature=player_embedded

In 1995 two Dutch entrepreneurs developed a digital measuring device to measure 2-dimensional objects.  Primarily it was designed to use in building yachts. The digital device enabled the designer to measure small nooks and crannies that might otherwise be hard to access. Later on the product was developed to a 3-dimensional measuring device and other industries saw the benefits. Great attention was paid to developing the product, and perfecting the three dimensional concept. Today Prodim is at the peak of technology in this field with its Proliner Series.

Recently, the entire facade of the ‘New Urban Museum’ in Amsterdam was successfully measured with the Prodim Proliner. HCI used the Proliner® 8 to measure the different plates and with the Proliner Survey software these were quickly and accurately positioned. This is the same technology Top Master uses to measure its countertops.

The benefits of digital templating for fabrication are that countertops can be measured quickly and made to fit perfectly the first time.  Accuracy and speed are two reasons digital templating has become an integral part of the modern countertop industry. Not to mention the fact the old coroplast template cutouts were expensive, you could not recycle them and in some instances the existing countertops had to be removed to get the correct measurements. (Leaving the customer without countertops for a period of time.) With the digital templating equipment there’s no need to move a thing to measure and once the measurement are back at the shop and loaded in the CNC the programmer can try multiple layouts in minutes achieving better material utilization and seam placement.

“These soldiers have given their blood, sweat, tears and in some cases part of themselves to defend our rights and freedoms in this country,” says Chad Seiders, Artisan Group Executive Director. “It is a privilege to give something back to them. Artisan Group has earmarked a portion of our first national yard sale for Homes for Our Troops so that these veterans can have a home that provides them more independence.”

Top Master will be hosting it’s sale October 14th & 15th. Click here for details.

Granite mining is a large industrial process which begins with exposing a granite deposit. Once the granite deposit is exposed open cast mining is the usual way to exploit the reserves. Granite is then extracted from the mine which in itself is a difficult process. Granite is usually drilled then hammered into separate individual blocks which are then lifted to the surface of the mine with cranes to be transported to a nearby processing plant.

Granite is transported from the mine in large blocks which can weigh up to 10 tons, to close by cutting facilities where they are cut and reduced to sizes which can be handled easier. From the processing plant granite is loaded into containers and shipped around the world. When the granite reaches its destination it is loaded onto HGV’s or other methods of transport and delivered to granite fabricator companies such as us who further cut and polish the granite.

Polishing granite is done in multi stages, starting with a very rough course diamond polishing pad the granite begins the first stage of polishing. Once the first stage is complete the process is repeated using a less course diamond polishing pad and repeated a number of times using finer grade pads. Once individual cutouts of your countertops are made from your granite the process is followed again but this time by hand to achieve the desired finish.

Is your home in need of new countertops? Select from granite, Corian and quartz products during Top Master’s annual remnant sale on July 15 and 16. Top Master, 2844 Roe Lane in Kansas City, Kan., has become one of the premier countertop fabricators in the Midwest over the past 27 years. The remnant sale – to be held this year from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 15 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 – will offer blowout prices on hundreds of designer remnants in a variety of colors and sizes. The remnants are perfect for bathroom vanities, wet bars and kitchen countertops. Customers must bring a sketch with measurements so Top Master experts can help you choose the right piece for your project.

In conjunction with the sale, Top Master will be a drop-off location on July 16 for the Habitat KC ReStore. Customers can drop off gently used furniture, appliances and building materials to donate. Top Master also will raise money by selling “Hot Dogs for Habitat.” Hot dogs will be sold for $1 each, and all proceeds will go to Habitat KC ReStore.

Top Master has had a partnership with Habitat KC ReStore for the last five years. Top Master donates remnant granite pieces to Habitat KC ReStore, which then sells them to the public to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. It’s a win-win situation: Top Master is keeping scrap out of the landfill, and ReStore is providing additional monies to help build houses in the Kansas City area for the under-privileged.

During the remnant sale, customers can register to win Kansas City Royals tickets courtesy of Midway Ford Truck Center, a bathroom vanity top and dinner gift certificates.

For more information, call Top Master at (913) 492-3030 or visit www.topmasterinc.com.

Mineral Black

Quarried naturally with absolutely no synthetics, Saratoga Soapstone offers a unique, soft color with light flowing veins. When oiled, soapstone exhibits an even more dramatic color variation. Soapstone is practically indestructible, requires almost no maintenance and adds elegance and enduring value to any project.

Natural: Soapstone is quarried naturally with no synthetics; composed primarily of talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnetite.

 Heat Resistant: No damage is caused when hot pans or dishes are placed on surface.

 Stain Resistant: Soapstone is inert, meaning acids and alkalis will not harm the surface and normal household items will not stain.

 Non-Porous: Unlike other stone surfaces, sealer is not required.

 Versatile: Easier to cut and shape than marble or granite, so joints can be made inconspicuous. 

For 10 years, Mineração Pemagran has been extracting Iberê Crema Bordeaux from its quarry in Afonso Claudio, Espírito Santo, Brazil. During this time, the material has gained international appeal for its aesthetic value and its ability to be used in a variety of design styles.

Currently, Pemagran is extracting more than 500 cubic meters of first-choice blocks per month, and the average block size is approximately 10 cubic meters. It is then processed at the company’s state-of-the-art facilities in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, into a range of finish products, particularly slabs.

During extraction, vertical holes are made into the quarry face using hydraulic hammers. Diamond wire saws are then used to cut into large walls of stone, which are then freed using hydraulic extractors. These large blocks are then further worked into smaller, gangsaw-sized blocks using drills.

 As a refresher, Gen X is the generation born after 1964 and Gen Y mostly consists of the children of Baby Boomers born since 1980.

OLD HABITS DIE HARD
The Boomers have been around for a long time. They have been researched to the point of exhaustion on purchase attitudes and other behaviors. There are between 75 and 80 million of them, making them the largest buying demographic right now. A lot of them have money. And there are still a plenty of “experts” advocating marketing them heavily.
TIME TO CHANGE (apologies to The Brady Bunch)
Change is hard, but necessary. Remember when Peter Brady’s voice was cracking and he was having trouble singing? The Brady Six figured out a way to make it work for them. First, let’s be clear. The purpose here is not to advocate ignoring Boomers. But it is time to start transitioning to the next generation of customers. You or someone in your business needs to get to know Gen X and Gen Y and what their purchase drivers are.

WHY?
Gen X is between 45-50 million strong. Their average education level is higher than that of the Boomers, which means their average earning power is higher, plus they are the first completely tech-savvy group. They are fairly mature in their careers and are starting to hit prime earning years.

Gen Y will rival Boomers in numbers as they are estimated at around 75 million. They are now moving full-bore into the workforce and many are already established in careers. Boomers are buying less and transitioning out of the marketplace. Gen X and Gen Y are just reaching their earning/spending power.

INTERESTING ATTITUDES
Some business owners and marketers may shy away from Gen X and Gen Y because of their perceived attitudes. They are often seen as difficult, entitled, self-absorbed and demanding and they certainly can be. It’s open to question whether they are more self-absorbed than Boomers, but that’s another debate. They are also perceived as only being interested in the new, new thing because of their affinity for the fast-changing world of technology.

Gibbs & Soell, an independent public relations firm, that specializes in the residential and commercial building and remodeling industries recently commissioned some research around American hardwoods for a prospective client. Hardwood is a very traditional material for flooring, cabinetry and furniture. Therefore, one might assume that Boomers would be most likely to select hardwood versus some of the newer materials available. It turned out that consumers under 45 were most likely to choose hardwood. They see it as natural and classic without being old-fashioned.

The lesson here is that Gen X and Gen Y attitudes are still forming and can be shaped. They aren’t necessarily prejudiced in favor of something just because it is new. They look for quality, style and value just like any smart consumer.

If you want to grow your business, you need to grow your customer base. There are well over 100 million Gen X and Gen Y consumers out there waiting to do business with you. Your job is to give them a reason to buy what you’re selling.

In Europe, which typically runs ahead of the U.S. in design trends, wood countertops are very popular. In Scandinavia alone, wood tops have better than 40 percent of the market share compared to the United States, where they hold about 7 percent currently. For kitchen and bath dealers, that figure alone represents a huge opportunity, provided they know the basic selling points of wood countertops.

CHOOSING A WOOD SPECIES

There are a number of wood species to choose from for a kitchen island or butcher block. Domestic and exotic wood species range in color from the palest beige to nearly black and everything in between. You can also choose from a broad range of thicknesses. For example, depending upon the construction style, a single piece of wood can be as thick as 6 in. There are also dozens of construction styles and edge profiles to choose from to complement the design styling of the kitchen.

CHOOSING A FINISH

In addition to wood species, you’ll want to make sure that the countertop is properly finished. Three types of wood finishes are available:

1. Polyurethane finish. Typically, polyurethane is sprayed on and can turn brittle over time. Once the film is damaged by something falling on it or denting it, moisture can get underneath, which can look unsightly. When the finish fails, the moisture lifts the finish off the wood. Some vendors still use variants of this today.

2. Natural oil finishes, such as mineral oil, walnut oil or other natural oils, do not harden or seal the wood, but protect it. When using this finish, homeowners must routinely (every three to four weeks) re-oil their wood top to maintain its functionality and beauty. The benefit of this matte finish is that homeowners can use the entire surface as a chopping block and any scratches can be easily sanded out by the homeowner with a sheet of sandpaper.

3. Penetrating tung oil finish is very durable. It is the finish that was used originally to seal ocean-going ships. Today, it dries fast and flexible, so the finish won’t chip or break off around the corners. Because it penetrates into the wood, moisture can’t get underneath the surface, which prevents water rings. It is highly durable, resists most household chemicals and is highly moisture-resistant. This mid-gloss satin finish is typically chosen by the homeowners who use a separate cutting board and do not use sharp objects on the countertop without surface protection.

Read Entire Article