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The Stone Circle Issue #10-- Limestone Pool
August 24, 2005
Your central place for stone information.


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In This Issue:
  • What's New at Natural Stone Interiors?
  • Idea this month: Limestone pool
  • Hints and Tips From the Fabricator: Sinks gone awry!
  • Recap of this months "Question of the Week"



What's new this month at Natural Stone Interiors?

We finally got the Brown Granite pages up to give you an idea of some of your choices available in different shades and patterns of brown granite.
You can find the main page of Brown Granite Colors here.

The Blue Granite pages are up also. Beautiful, diverse, and expensive.
Main Page- Blue Granite Colors

We're working hard on the site map to simplify navigation for you. Hopefully it will be done by next week.

The e-mails coming in are asking for more pictures so we're working "round the clock" on a small picture gallery for those of you who love pictures.(that would include me!)

Idea this Month

Limestone PoolThis one is definitly not in our budget but it sure is fun to imagine! What a beautiful way to use limestone! Do you see the arrows? The entire edge of the pool and Jacuzzi is lined with limestone. The wall around the perimeter of the pool is also capped with limestone. It's hard to see in this picture but if you look back behind the pool, there is a shower area. Limestone was stacked to build an archway for the shower.(maybe the archway's in the budget... hmmm) Anyway, this took a lot of planning and designing to get the angles for the archway just right.
(Can't see the picture?) Try going to view and click allow blocked images. Or, go to the page online: Pictue Online

Hints and Tips: From the Fabricator

Alright guys...lots of problems this month with sink sizes and cabinets. The sinks are too big for the cabinets so we are customizing the cabinets to try and make the sinks work. BUT, customizing the cabinet doesn't always work! There's nothing worse than telling someone there is no way that brand new travertine sink is going to work! The fix? It will have to be a question of the week. Okay, alright, I'll share it here first...
Here's how you know what size sink to buy:
Grab a tape measure. Then measure the inside of your cabinet from side to side. Make sure you don't include any drawers. This is the width. Jot it down. Next, measure the inside of your cabinet from front to back. Subtract 5-6 inches for your faucet holes and your backsplash. This is your length. Jot it down. Your sink should be smaller than these dimensions.
TIP: Sinks are usually sold as "Kohler 3318" or "Kohler 2210". The first number, "33" or "22" is the width. The second number "18" or "10" is the length or the distance back. The depth of sinks will vary. Til next time...

RECAP of this months "Question of the week"

7/1/05
Why are there different names to describe one stone?
Sometimes stones are named after locality or where they are quarried. You may see the name black which is also noir in French or Nero in Italian. At times, stones are renamed to intrigue the consumer. Which would you buy? Ghadeer Granite or Tropic Brown Granite? It's the same stone.

7/11/05
How can my stone be protected from possible breakage around sink cutouts?
A steel rod is inserted into a groove that is cut out in the bottom of the stone. This is called rodding and adds additional strength and support.
Quick tips:
A threaded round steel rod will significantly strengthen the stone.
Round rods with fiberglass mesh increase the strength substantially.
Using a stainless steel rod will prevent possible rusting.
Your stone must thick enough to accommodate the rod.
The stone must be non-translucent.
According to the Marble Institute of America, "It is not appropriate to use a rodding technique to repair granite countertops."

7/18/05
What is the standard overhang on a natural stone countertop?
This will depend on the company you hire to fabricate your stone countertops. The stone overhang is usually between 1 and 1 1/2 inches. Make sure to ask.

7/24/05
Why does the texture and color vary from stone to stone?
Natural stone is a product of nature and subject to imperfections and variations. Characteristics such as veining and mineral deposits will affect each piece. Stone will not only vary from quarry to quarry but from stone to stone. Natural stone is unique... no two stones are alike.

7/31/05
What is meant by the term "slab"?
A slab is a flat, broad, and fairly thick piece of granite, marble, or other natural stone. Natural stone is quarried in larger blocks of stone and then cut into thinner slabs prior to fabrication.
Be original,
Darren & Carolyn
www.naturalstoneinterior.com
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