Report : Interiors
Ever since stone companies working in interiors discovered the extra sales they could achieve by including engineered quartz in their mix, and tile companies discovered stone, the boundaries of once distinct sectors have been blurring.
When engineered quartz started entering stone processors’ workshops to be made into worktops a change in attitude began to take place among stone processors and contractors. It has been gradual, but those in the interiors market are coming to see themselves not so much as suppliers of stone as suppliers of hard surfaces, some of which happen to be stone.
It helped that the makers of quartz have included major stone companies and that quartz is supplied in slabs, like stone, that requires much the same handling and processing as stone.
The resistance to man-made materials felt by some of the longer-serving companies in the sector, especially those with a background in marble who had even resisted the incursion of granite initially back in the early ’90s, has withered as those materials have brought increased sales and profits.
Of course, growth of the sector has brought with it increased competition as companies such as PWS in County Durham stopped buying their worktops from the stone industry and set up their own state-of-the-art factory to produce them.
At the same time, stone has enjoyed meteoric growth in the tile sector, blurring what was once a pretty distinct line between the tile market and the stone market. Tilers have become familiar with stone and stone fixers have become used to laying tiles.
It has not always been a happy confluence, especially for the tilers who have found stone is not quite as straightforward as ceramic and porcelain with sometimes disastrous consequences on floors and walls.
Nevertheless, as customers often expect a contractor to be able to carry out the whole job and make little distinction between stone, quartz, glass or anything else they want, companies fixing granite worktops have found themselves working in other materials as well as laying floors and putting tiles on walls.
As stone has moved out from the kitchen into bathrooms and living areas, so stone companies have found new opportunities in those areas… with natural stone, engineered quartz and increasingly other materials such as glass surfaces as well.
One masonry company that has always been willing to offer a more diverse range of products is London company Diespeker (www.diespeker.co.uk).
Having started out in terrazzo, which they still sell, they have no problem seeing themselves as a hard surfaces company rather than a stone company and are happy to include ceramic and quarry tiles in their product mix.
“Being diverse helps,” says John Krause, who runs the company with his brother Ewart. “Being more client driven rather than product driven has helped us through.”
He says he is glad he took up marathon running (he has run 11 of them this year alone) because it has given him the stamina to compete in the current market. Having cut overheads by 20%, including losing some staff, John told NSS: “I do know we’re working many, many times harder than we have ever worked in our lives. It’s finding our share and getting good margins by finding people who are slightly less price sensitive.”
It has paid off, with several domestic projects Diespeker have won being worth hundreds of thousands of pounds each to them. “We have just finished one in Wimbledon that was worth £430,000.”
They have had the same difficulty as everyone else in financing their work and have made use of the government guarantee scheme to enable them to borrow £100,000 from their bank.
Although the engineered quartz manufacturers have seen the opportunity for their products as tiles, it has tended to be secondary to worktops.
One Spanish stone company, Levantina (www.levantina.com), with depots in the UK in Rotherham and Basingstoke, has made more of a commitment to the tile sector by investing in a new factory making high technology ceramic tiles that it sells under the Techlam name.
Printing man-made tiles to look ever more convincingly like natural stone has been the quest of the ceramic tile industry for years – and they get nearer to their goal all the time.
Now Levantina have decided if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em and featured Techlam dominantly on their stand at Marmomacc in Verona this year. It can be used as a lightweight facade cladding and even paving, as well as for kitchens and bathrooms.
Techlam is only 3mm thick, weighs just 7.1kg/m2 and comes in panels of up to 1 x 3m.
Shaun Hopkinson, who heads Levantina in the UK, says that because Techlam is so thin it can easily be used to overtile.
Shaun told NSS: “We’re looking for big things in 2011/12.” They have already recruited one new salesman, Mark Payne, and are looking for another. They are also considering opening a third depot.
Stone is still the main part of Levantina’s product range and they make the most of the low carbon footprint and environmental friendliness of the natural material.
They emphasise their use of the most advanced technology for extraction and processing of blocks to reduce CO2 emissions and water use (their water is recycled), as well as further reducing the carbon footprint by using rail for transport. Their efforts have been recognised by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute, which accredits sustainable production with low emissions.
In the UK, Shaun says there are distinct regional differences in the materials customers want. While marble already accounts for a sizeable and growing proportion of sales in the South, it is less significant in Rotherham. Thousands of square metres of Levantina’s Crema Marfil from their own quarries are currently being supplied to contractors for developments at Lancaster’s and One Hyde Park in London.
Although man-made products are making an impact on the stone industry, natural materials are not static. The major stone wholesalers have been scouring the world to find the exclusive, rare and exotic products that will appeal to the top end of the market that has remained most active in the current economic climate.
“We have introduced 10 or 12 exotic and superexotic materials,” says Rogerio Moutinho of wholesalers MGLW (www.mglw.co.uk) in London. They are mostly from Brazil, although there are also new and exclusive ranges from China and France.
The ‘superexotics’ include Iron Red and Emerald Green, won from small quarries in remote parts of Brazil. It’s rare and difficult to extract, process and transport, which is all reflected in the price.
“We felt since a year ago that marble has come back into the scene,” says Rogerio. MGLW have revamped their website to reflect the change and are promoting marble and the exotics with email shots.
“The upper part of the market is still alive, but the bigger middle section, the granite and quartz worktop market, has reduced quite considerably. At the top end of the market we sell more expensive marbles for entrance halls and bathrooms – often five or six bathrooms in a house. Marble has one big advantage: clients do come to see different materials to make their decisions, so it’s up to us to put more interesting material out there for them to see.”
Rogerio is concerned that the government’s austerity measures are going to hit confidence in the coming year but believes London is cushioned by being one of the places the world’s richest people want to own property. Property prices in London might be rising in sterling values but because the pound is weak they look like bargains in other currencies.
Pisani Director Nick Telfer sees regional differences in the market. Pisani have showrooms and a warehouse in Feltham near Heathrow Airport that they opened in 2008 and another near Matlock in Derbyshire. “The London market is pretty resilient,” says Nick. “We have seen a lot more marble being used in the South especially and a broader selection of it.”
Pisani (www.pisani.co.uk) were among the first to make a feature of exotics for the top end of the market and display it to full effect at their stylish showroom in London, which is designed to attract the client and their architects in order for them to select their materials in comfort.
And there is plenty for them to choose from – 350 different materials. “People like walking up and down and looking at the different materials. We have made the distinction here – stone isn’t just a commodity.”
Commercial projects may not be as common as they used to be, but Pisani are currently supplying one of their customers, The Marble Shop in Reigate (they only supply the trade) with the hard surfaces for Pizza Express and Strada restaurants.
Pisani even have their own Vratza limestone quarries in Bulgaria, the stone from which (among other materials) they are currently supplying for the swimming pool area of a £15million house being built in Wentworth.
The new state-of-the-art depot in Feltham replaced the two depots that Pisani had operated in London previously. The move did not help sales in what was a difficult market in any case, but Nick says they have picked up 13% on last year in London this year to recover the disruption to sales that resulted from the move. He says the new environment for selecting the stone is encouraging customers to bring clients and architects into the centre at Feltham.
“Our philosophy is relatively new and fresh to the end user and we have a constant stream of new materials so there is always something of interest for them to see.”
One area Nick says they have not invested as much resource in as they had intended to is reaching architects, designers and other specifiers. But it is a gap they intend to plug next year. They know from Fyfe Glenrock, their Scottish operation, that establishing relationships with the professionals requires a long-term strategy, but investment in achieving that pays dividends from the lucrative bespoke market.
A whole new range of solutions to processing and handling in the new CRL Stone catalogue
There are novel solutions to working stone for interiors in the new CRL Stone range of tools that can be seen in the 172-page catalogue they have just published and on their new website (the address is at the end).
For more than 15 years the company that today is CRL Stone have been involved in the nationwide supply of products into the stone, granite and marble markets.
Rebranding as CRL Stone has reaffirmed the commitment to the stone industry of the company that was previously Ebor.
They relocated into purpose-built 7,500m2 premises in Rochdale, near Manchester, during the summer and are now signing off a significant year in the company’s history by launching their new catalogue and website featuring a whole array of new and exclusive products.
As well as showing the new CRL Stone tools, consumables and stone handling equipment, the new website also links to the company’s Caesarstone quartz .
The 172-page CRL Stone catalogue further underlines CRL’s on-going investment in and commitment to this market sector.
Among the highlights in it are ‘Ninja’ Blades from ADI Italy, a full range of Akemi products – according to CRL the first time the entire range has been available in the UK and Ireland – and unique cleaning and handling equipment manufactured by CRL themselves.
‘Ninja’ blades will be of particular interest, says David Beckett, Sales Director for CRL Stone. “This new, patented system provides a unique solution to the requirement to hold multiple profiling wheels in stock. It is a system of individual blades that can be stacked in any combination to create more than 45 different edge profile options. The first orders for the UK are arriving now and we expect this system to revolutionize edge profiling.
“Another interesting patented product is the MFP5 wheel, specifically designed to ensure minimum lining on the edge profile, and thereby vastly improve the final polished appearance. Our long association as exclusive distributors for ADI in the UK means not only can we bring this innovation to market, but we can provide the full technical support to help our customers realize optimum results fast.”
CRL are also offering a bespoke sourcing service for a wide range of non-stock and non-standard diamond products from the new facility. They already have the capacity of more than 36,000 individual stock locations at their company’s disposal.
CRL Stone are a division of Los Angeles based CR Laurence Co Inc, a privately owned company with 30 locations worldwide and more than 1,200 employees.
Among a range of market segments the company serves, a critical area is the glazing and architectural hardware sector. The synergies offered between the stone, glazing and hardware markets are clear, explains David. “The cross-over opportunities with products are wide. In addition, we have discovered at exhibitions around Europe that the market potential in combination are vast.
“Recently, projects we have won on the Olympics include countertops and bathroom pods from our Caesarstone range, railing systems from our architectural hardware range and glazing products from our Glass range.
“CRL can help customers not only exploit current activities, but discover new, complementary, product lines and sales development opportunities.”
Because although the stone processing and handling catalogue is impressive, it is just one of a library of catalogues CRL produce to show their ranges. They have 488-page catalogue just for the hospitality industry, including systems for food service, display counters, restaurant booth dividers and partitions, all of which are sparking a lot of interest from companies involved in countertop production, say CRL Stone.
With more than 20 dedicated and experienced staff in the UK focused on the stone market segment, CRL have everything in place to offer the stone sector what it needs.
David: “With the new CRL Stone catalogue, coupled with Caesarstone and now the additional new products that complement and enhance our customers’ business development, we feel confident we can continue to grow and assist the industry.”
Ardex in a wet room. The floor is treated with Ardex WPC waterproof protection, to which tiles can be fixed after just two hours. Limestone tiles are fixed using Ardex S 16 W and Ardex E 90 and are grouted with Ardex MG, a marble and stone grout that virtually eliminates the risk of water staining at the tile edge and allows tiles to be walked on only 90 minutes after application.
A polished vanity top from stoneCIRCLE in Basingstoke and Newbury. Steve Vanhinsbergh, Director, says: “Stone tiles are now used in all areas of the house and in bathrooms, vanity tops, bath surrounds and shower trays are also popular in many different types of stone, including marble, limestone and travertine. There is a large choice of stones to achieve exactly the look that is required.”
Burlington’s versatile interiors
Stone is undoubtedly attractive or it wouldn’t get a look in when it comes to interiors, but also central to its appeal is its functionality. Natural stone does, after all, speak permanence. What’s more, it provides the perfect complement to a host of other interior finishing materials, man-made and natural – wood, metals, fabrics, laminate… you name it.
Cumbria-based Burlington Stone, with a heritage that dates back to 1843, have access to rich sources of natural stone – their blue/grey Kirkby, olive green Bursting Stone, mid-green Broughton Moor, pale green Elterwater and silver/grey Brandy Crag as well as their two Baycliff limestones, Caulfeild and Lord.
And the company are today finding themselves a rich vein of development (if you will excuse the pun) in the interiors market, which they are targeting with considerable success through the creation of standard, off-the-shelf products in addition to the bespoke items they have always offered.
The standard range includes tiles in four different sizes from 300 x 300mm to 600 x 600mm for floors and walls, Burlington Mosaic for shower walls made from a mix of the company’s stones, shower trays and other off-the-shelf products in a range that continues to expand.
While walls can sometimes be essentially two dimensional from a design perspective, stone offers an opportunity for a third dimension that can be deployed to dramatic effect with linear finishes, or random and rough-hewn appearances, entirely appropriate for residential and commercial property.
Burlington offer worktops, sinks and splashbacks that are equally at home in traditional and contemporary settings. Bathrooms and wet rooms can be dramatically enhanced by stone, not just as flooring, vanity tops and sinks, but also as the newly introduced ‘aquapanels’ and showertrays.
Aquapanels come as standard in line textured and honed finishes and are available in other finishes to order. They are available in Broughton Moor green, Kirby blue /grey and the Lord and Caulfield limestones.
Alongside other interior products such as pool surrounds and linings, skirtings, fire surrounds, step treads and risers, dado rails and table and counter tops, Burlington are bringing on stream bath panels, up stands and wet room benching and even
For the interior designer these products can add the final dynamic principle of colour and texture to the equation. Every stone is unique in the way only nature can achieve and can be specified not just with a smooth finish but as honed, gritblasted, flame textured, spot textured, sanded, line textured, riven/cleft and water jetted.
Nick Williams, Burlington Stone’s Sales & Marketing Director responsible for delivering the company’s dynamic product proposition into the interiors sectors, enthuses: “When it comes to today’s interior design styles, traditional and contemporary, Burlington is proving it has the capability of delivering relevant and proven solutions that assist designers to create individual schemes of great beauty that are guaranteed to stand the test of time. Stone is, after all, a material that, through the use of shapes, colours and textures, can be deployed to stunning effect.”
NEW IMAGE ADD STUNNING STONE IN SUNNINGDALE
The interiors of this six bedroom house in Berkshire have been fitted with marble and limestone floors, walls and surfaces supplied by New Image Stone in Staines, who offer a consultation and design service including recommendations for the most appropriate stones to use.
The developers were Richard Finlay Homes, whose architect and design team put the scheme together. Teresa Finlay of Richard Finlay Homes says: “Stone has the ability to transform a property, but for great results you need a company who can source the best materials and install them with precision. New Image Stone is definitely a company who meet all these requirements and we were pleased to work with them.”
Turkish Cappuccino Marble was imported by New Image Stone to create the main entrance hallway pictured here, giving an inspiring first impression to the house. Statement entrance halls creating that first impression wow factor are a significant selling point.
All the en-suite bathrooms use marble of various kinds with ceramics and limestone for vanity tops, mirror surrounds, floors, skirting, shower walls and shower trays.
In the master bathroom, also pictured, New Image Stone supplied and installed Crema Europa limestone floors and cladding to the walls as well as a one-piece bespoke shower tray in a honed, slip resistant finish.
Putney & Wood make a lasting impression in Oxford
London stone contractors Putney & Wood have completed the internal stonework contract as part of the £61million renovation of the UK’s oldest museum, the Ashmolean in Oxford.
The project, which included elements of both renovation and modernisation, has doubled the exhibition space while retaining the Victorian external façade.
The renovation work on the museum that was built in 1683 was short-listed for the RIBA Stirling Prize and although it didn’t win, it was the public’s favourite, receiving 43% of the public vote – three times more than the winner (see last month’s issue of NSS). The work, which took place during 10 months while the museum was closed, expanded exhibition space to add 39 new galleries surrounding an imposing Portland stone staircase in the main atrium.
Main contractor BAM Construction appointed Putney & Wood to carry out the internal stonework package. This included the cascading stone staircase in the atrium and large expanses of 1200 x 600mm Portland stone slab flooring. Putney & Wood’s in-house design team provided practical solutions to a number of technical challenges to ensure the finished work fulfilled the architect’s expectations.
The central staircase is illuminated by natural light from above and gives visitors access to all six floors of the museum.
Referring to its importance to the design, architect Rick Mather commented: “Wherever you go, whatever you’re looking at, the central stairwell, which holds the design together, is easy to find.”
Tony O’Keeffe of BAM said: “The stone flooring and staircases are a central part of the building. The design and installation were complicated but Putney & Wood completed the stonework to our satisfaction. Their workmanship was good and their team performed well. I’d have no problem using them again.”
The stone used was Portland Basebed from Albion Stone’s Jordans Quarry.
Tiler who knew he could do better offers Classics
London tile company Stonehouse Tiles offer a range of 200 kinds of stone tiles under the name of the ‘Classic Collection’ as well as offering their own bespoke stone items .
The tiles include travertine, granite, limestone, marble and slate with prices that start from £16 per square metre. Grey Silver Shadow marble is £50/m2 and Nero Absoluto £30/m2.
Stonehouse was set up by Simon Errill, the Managing Director, and his business partner, Georges Ruiz, in 2001. Simon had been a tiler working on bespoke, high-end projects, but says the materials he was supplied often arrived late and were of poor quality.
“I didn’t want to compromise on quality and, as an independent tiler, I already had a decent client base. I knew I could supply a superior product. I wanted to offer value for money, quality products and unrivalled customer service.
“We travel the world sourcing our products, visiting all the quarries and manufacturers to ensure the materials are of the utmost quality and that we don’t sell anything that is sub-standard or ‘commercial’.”
Stonehouse now have two big warehouses in Kent as well as the retail showroom in Ossory Road, London. And as well as selling and fixing tiles, they also process stone for bespoke wall linings and floors themselves and distribute their tiles to other retailers and tilers across the country.