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A beautiful Juparana Bronze granite dining table sits upon 18-inch-by-18-inch Ivory Crema Turkish travertine, from Marblehaus Hawaii, in this Na Pali Haweo home. The tabletop, three pieces of Brazilian granite forming a seamless slab, is from Selective Stone. The teapot is courtesy of Executive Chef.
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From luminous honey onyx to bush-hammered limestone, the world’s collection of stone can fit any taste. And it has stood the test of time, evidenced in Rome’s Coliseum (built with travertine) and Europe’s gothic cathedrals (typically built with limestone, brick or marble).
These days, stone is sought for its natural, classic look, its durability and ease of maintenance. Stone is sometimes considered pricey, but industry insiders who know value offer their ideas of how to get it—without going over budget.
In the KitchenThe price of granite definitely has come down, and competition in the local market is the driving force behind this trend, says Valerie Chan, of LF International Trading, which imports granite from China. “More and more people are using it,” she says. “It’s very affordable.” Kanamu, whose company specializes in fabricating and installing granite countertops, agrees. In fact, he says, “Granite is so competitive that you pretty much wouldn’t use Formica anymore.”
A cost-conscious way to select a granite countertop is with prefabricated panels, available at Selective Stone. Prefabricated means a counter edge already has been created. This simplifies the cutting and grinding required, reducing the total cost. Prefabricated panels can’t always accommodate large or odd-shaped counters, but a matching slab can be added to complete the project.
Engineered quartz, sold under the brand names Silestone, Zodiaq and CaesarStone, among others, is harder than granite, more resistant to scratching and virtually nonporous. In comparison studies, engineered quartz typically trumps granite.
Silestone exclusively features Microban antimicrobial protection. Plus, it’s the only engineered quartz to offer jumbo-size slabs. James Sharp, of Aloha State Sales, says Silestone has the most competitive prices and widest selection of finishes and colors, compared to other engineered quartzes on the market. Aloha State Sales distributes Silestone and also fabricates and installs it.
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Gold is IN. (from left) Onice Miele onyx; Miele travertine; Imperial Gold granite; Afyon Gold marble; and Giallo del Nico limestone. Onyx, a soft stone, can be backlit for dramatic effect. Travertine and limestone can be used for wall cladding or paving. Granite is a popular choice for kitchen countertops and floors. Marble is ideal for foyers, bathrooms and floors. Stone (above and below) courtesy of Bella Pietra.
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Andy Pham, of Pacific Craftworks (formerly Stone Concepts), does a lot of work with Silestone. However, he still personally prefers granite. “Every piece of granite is different,” he says. “When you look at granite, you feel like it’s something that’s alive. When I look at my granite countertop in my house, I never get tired of it.”
Whereas one’s choice of product is purely a matter of personal preference, both Kanamu and Pham emphasize the general importance of proper installation. “I advise people that stone is not like wood,” Pham says. “It’s a very hard product to install. You cannot make even a little mistake. People have to be careful about who they hire. Obviously, they pay for what they get.”
Stone, according to Kanamu, also absorbs energy: heat, cold, good vibes and bad. Through the fabrication and installation process, his employees put a lot of love and pride into their work. That energy is retained in the stone when it’s placed in the home. “All of our customers would agree,” Kanamu says. “It shows in our work.”
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A close look at this Solnhofen limestone reveals tiny fossils-not an uncommon trait, since limestone can form by the accumulation of millions of shells, shell fragments or coral fragments.
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OutsideOutdoors, stone works well in a wide variety of applications: walkways, driveways, water features, retaining walls—the list goes on. “Natural stones are about the best possible choice of product to use outside,” says Clifton Crawford, of C&J Contracting. “They’re the longest lasting. They’re durable. They weather with nature. And the older natural stones get, the more character they develop.” According to Pat Cozzo, of Futura Stone of Hawaii, flagstone provides a warmer, natural look than concrete. Flagstone also blends in well with Hawaii’s red dirt.
But concrete is changing, too. Decorative concrete can be dyed any color and stamped with a design to create an aesthetically pleasing look. Kevin Pena, of Foundations Hawaii, says earth tones are popular, especially browns and greens. Concrete can be dyed in two ways: the dye can either be mixed in as an integral dye throughout, or cast directly onto the concrete by hand. The latter process is a little more economical; however, it dyes only the top layer.
Another kind of decorative concrete is made locally by Big Rock Manufacturing Inc. “What we do is make stone out of a lightweight concrete mix,” explains Bonnie Cooper, of Big Rock. The concrete is poured into molds made from real rocks and pigmented to mimic the rock’s color. “There’s nothing to it but concrete, water, dye and stain,” she says.
Big Rock, she continues, is extremely versatile for use inside or outside. Take for example a stone veneer or rock wall. One decisive advantage to Big Rock’s moss rock veneer: there are no cracks or crevices where insects and geckos can hide. The company encourages its customers to install the product themselves—and even teaches them how. “Our customers can save thousands of dollars by doing it themselves,” Cooper says. “They can buy the stone for under $7 a square foot. It costs them less than $1 for all the materials, sand and super mortar. If they were to hire somebody to do that wall, it would probably cost them, including the rock, $25 to $30 a square foot.”
StyleThe current trend is to get creative. Mixing and matching materials can create an eye-catching, distinctive look that shows off one’s personal style.
“I see a lot of people getting into different finishes for the stone,” remarks Kevin Nip, of Marblehaus Hawaii. Different finishes include tumbled, which gives a rustic look; acid wash, an antique look; fine-line chisel finish, a rougher look; and flaming, another technique to roughen up stone.
“I’ve always been a professor of mixing and matching,” Nip says. “People shouldn’t look only at stone, but also consider mixing it with carpet or with wood. Stone is definitely a handsome material to use for bordering carpets or bordering wood.”
John Pasternak, of Daltile, agrees. “When the customer comes in, we look at the whole package,” he says. “Using different textures and materials breaks up the design and gives the space a really interesting feel and unique look.”
CareA key benefit of stone is its low maintenance. Most stone experts recommend sealing stone, and that’s about all it needs. The surface needs to be cleaned thoroughly, then dried, and the sealant applied. Sealing protects the stone from ultraviolet rays and helps preserve the grout, where applicable. It also protects the stone from stains or bits of dirt getting into the crevices. C&J’s Crawford notes two types of sealant available: a wet look and a dry look.
“I think the most important thing people should know about installing any kind of stone is sealing to protect it, whether it’s indoors or outdoors,” Cozzo, of Futura Stone, says. But sealing isn’t such a big deal, she adds. She compares it to waxing a car or getting an oil change.
“Stone is natural,” Valerie Chan says. “Every now and then you have to seal it, but then it’s not as easily stained as the general public thinks. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, I really have to take care of it.’ But you don’t have to. It’s just a piece of rock.”
Where To Get It
808 Stone Inc.621-2711
Aloha State Sales2909 Ualena St.
844-2929
Bella Pietra, Bringing the Beauty of Stone to Life2 locations on Oahu
560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 109
536-9600
www.bellapietra.comBig Rock Manufacturing Inc.1050 Kikowaena Place
834-7625
www.bigrockhawaii.comC & J Contracting Inc.32 Kainehe St., Suite 101
261-3508
www.candjcontracting.comDaltile1200 N. Nimitz Hwy.
523-3660
www.daltileproducts.comFoundations Hawaii Inc.94-547 Ukee St., Suite 211
677-4905
Futura Stone of Hawaii2895 Ualena St.
833-7433
www.futurastonehawaii.comLF International Trading LLC2855 Kaihikapu St.
735-7114, 833-3825
Lokahi Stone518 Kamani St.
596-8833
www.lokahistone.comMarblehaus Hawaii2933 Koapaka St.
836-3449
www.marblehaus.comPacific Craftworks2829 Awaawaloa St., Unit D
839-2345
www.pacificcraftworks.comSelective Stone2979 Koapaka St.
839-2979
www.selectivestone.net
