Friday, May 22, 2015

The Luxurious Beauty of Marble

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Marble is a type of limestone or dolomite, generally formed from limestone undergoing metamorphism. When exposed to extremes of pressure or heat limestone turns into calcite or dolomite crystals, the primary materials in marble. Typically white with mottlings or streaks of color, marble can take a high polish and is hard enough to be very useful. Although most commonly seen in white with “marbled” streaks, it is available in a wide variety of colors.

A distinctively beautiful natural stone, marble’s appeal is enduring, and a good investment in a high-end environment. Somewhat eclipsed in popularity by granite, many are still drawn to marble as their interior decor element of choice for countertops, flooring, and a number of architectural accents, such as columns and fireplace mantels and surrounds. Marble emanates a luxurious, regal elegance like no other material, with it’s rich history as the choice of kings, queens, and luminaries throughout all history.  

Long prized as a premier material for kitchen countertops, marble well maintains chilled items during food preparation, and is also resistant to damage from heat. It does require special maintenance to continue to perform well in a kitchen setting, as it is softer and more porous than other materials like granite or quartz, and therefore more susceptible to scratches and staining.

Marble is not to be used outdoors, as water corrodes its crystalline structure. It is also very smooth and therefore tends to be slippery, which makes it unfavorable to use in high traffic areas. Marble is a great way to brighten and elevate any space, with its stunning visual appeal - particularly in bathrooms.

If you have been considering adding the unparalleled beauty of marble to your home, stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom. Granite Warehouse is Middle Tennessee’s premier importer and fabricator of fine marble countertops. Contact us today at (615) 237-8987, or click HERE for info on special offers and updates.


Granite Warehouse Nashville | 74 Trimble St. | 615-627-0920
Granite Warehouse McKenzie | 25155 Highway 22 | 731-234-5599

Friday, May 8, 2015

Recycled Glass Countertops from Vetrazzo®

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One of the products we are proud to offer you at Granite Warehouse is a beautiful, eco-friendly line of surface materials crafted from recycled glass called Vetrazzo®. With over 85% recycled glass content, Vetrazzo allows homeowners, architects, designers, and builders to exhibit both their style and their respect for the earth and environment.

What is Vetrazzo?
Vetrazzo was invented by a passionate glass scientist in 1996 in Berkeley, California - back when "green" was just a color. Vetrazzo contributes to the beauty of our built environment by manufacturing sustainable recycled glass countertops. Recycled bottles and jars turns into a work of art creating a story in every surface.

How is it made?
When you dispose of your glass bottles into your curbside recycling bin, it ends up at a facility where it is processed by color and glass type. Once sorted, it's crushed and packaged for companies like Vetrazzo to purchase for reuse. We look for interesting colors and also source from post-industrial glass sources and demolition sites to get an array of options for making slabs. When the glass arrives to our plant, it's further crushed depending on the slab being made, and mixed with cement, water, and other proprietary ingredients. Glass comprises 85% of the total product content, so you can expect an extremely durable and gorgeous surface thanks to the big pieces of glass that appear in many of our surfaces. Once a slab color is mixed, it's poured into a pan and baked (much like making a cake). After the cooking process, the slab undergoes polishing and quality assurance procedures to ensure that every slab leaving our plant meets our quality control requirements.

How long does it take to make each slab?
Right now, it takes almost a month for one slab to be produced. Unlike other surfacing materials, our product receives a lot of human attention from our production team. From the woman who expertly applies the patina to our patina'd surfaces to the man who carefully monitors each slab's polish, Vetrazzo gets a special touch. You can be assured when you buy Vetrazzo that you are getting a product that many people are passionate about, especially the people who make it.

How will Vetrazzo hold up in my kitchen?
Vetrazzo is very durable and more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges particularly at sinks or dishwashers may cause chips.

Stop in & see us!
At Granite Warehouse, we love providing you with the best product options of the highest quality in Tennessee. Our sales, office, fabrication and install staff all have many years of experience and are experts in the field. We invite you to visit us at Granite Warehouse and see the stunning beauty of Vetrazzo for yourself. We look forward to meeting you and helping you design the project of your dreams!
or click HERE for special offers & updates!