Ok. So many months back I started a company that does Faux stone products. Well... finally it's taking off! And I'm really enjoying it. I always liked construction because it helped me express my artistic side but still make a living. Well... this takes it one step further. I get to do Faux finishing on every Job! I now represent a full line of undermount sinks, and many other fixtures, plus a few stone products that I love. Not everyone loves it, but people that are sick of Granite but don't want concrete seem to love it. I know I do!
Thought I'd post some pics for OT to see some jobs I've done recently. Here are some clips out of a promotional packet I'm putting together from pictures of my work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/JoelLindow/Shirestone/beforeandaftertimandcandy1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/JoelLindow/Shirestone/beforeandafterjanstencil2.jpg

First! Very nice. How much?

Those look really good. Congrats on your success.

I'm going to be doing my first concrete countertops next month and I'm looking forward to the challenge and learning curve.

It ends up being about 80-85 a sqft installed cost. Small demo fee, and my sinks are way cheeper than you can typically find them anywhere else.
You can get really crappy granite for like 35 or 40 a sq ft but it's got tons of glue in it, I guarantee. Decent granite is much moe expensive, plus for cool edges like I offer (double concave with captivated bullnose) you pay a fortune to have that routed in granite. I include an edge like that for free. Pluss I have no color limitations since it's faux finished! Granite really limits you in color, until you start spendgina lot of money.
I used to install and fabricate granite... I'll never do it again. This stuff is so much cooler! And... this stuff is seamless. I could do 1000 SQft totally seamlessly. HOORAY!

Those look really good. Congrats on your success.

I'm going to be doing my first concrete countertops next month and I'm looking forward to the challenge and learning curve.

Ok.... go to Home Depot and they have a book in their do it yourself section called something like "How to make decorative concrete countertops". It's a great step by step tutorial for concrete. Really good tips in there. I suggest you get it. Good luck to you man! And make sure you reinforce the cabinets and floor beneth the kitchen if you can, since concrete is so heavy. I've seen base cabinets colapse after a few months or floors start to bow.

GOOD LUCK MAN! HAVE FUN DOING IT!

Very nice. How much?
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2522/boratqs2.jpg

That's right.

I work for Diamante and Danze

FTW

Nightwing-- I have seen several posts in the past about your work and enthusiasm. It is impressive to me. Good job for starting on your own company. Good luck with it. By the way, do you have a website I can look at some other work you have done. I love the idea or a surface like this or concrete. I am so sick of granite. It is so boring to me...not to mention retardedly expensive.

Andrew

^ Yo Andrew. I'm partners with my Dad. He's getting older and needed to get in on something lucritive that he could get out of in a few years and know that I ould take care of it, so... my mother makes the website. I used to do web design, but I just don't want to do the website, so... be warned... it's a little wierd but it does give some good information. It will be getting majorly renovated soon, but there is a gallery and some information on there.

www.StoneInOvation.com

PM me for more info, or PM me and I'll give you my E-Mail address

thanks man...I am going to check it out tonight.

Lord of the Rings countertops FTW!

I know. I actually hire hobbits to put in the plumbing cause it hurst my back to work that low down to the ground. LOL

a place next to my shop does a boatload of Silestone.


looks the same. izzit?

no. Silestone is a slab product. It is fabricated the same way that granite is. It's always smooth
This has some texture to it so most people think it real stone! Like.. a real hunk of raw rock. Also mine is poured so it's totally seamless. Silestone will have seams just like granite.

no. Silestone is a slab product. It is fabricated the same way that granite is. It's always smooth
This has some texture to it so most people think it real stone! Like.. a real hunk of raw rock. Also mine is poured so it's totally seamless. Silestone will have seams just like granite.

interesting and that makes since as I see trucks bring in raw slabs for cutting and tons of grinding. They do push quite a bit of product through as I believe they supply Menards and others.

yah. but people are getting sick of it. I like silestone better than plain ol granite though!

Well since i need an anonamys (sp??) name for help, i will respond to some random threads.

I think the counter tops look great. Thats awesome that a project yo uhave picked up is panning out, financially for you.

My wife and I were thinking about concrete... I did a test section and it was cool looking but super heavy as you said. We ended up getting a nice blue Zodiaq brand quartz composite countertop which we really like. We also got a great deal on it(rebates + friends and family savings) so it was only 2500ish to replace the countertops.

So I take it your product is similiar to concrete as in it is poured but weighs a lot less? What is it made out of?

EDIT: One cool thing I saw in the concrete books was that they put metal trivits(sp?) directly in the countertop. You might want to do something like that and take a pictar for advertising.

My wife and I were thinking about concrete... I did a test section and it was cool looking but super heavy as you said. We ended up getting a nice blue Zodiaq brand quartz composite countertop which we really like. We also got a great deal on it(rebates + friends and family savings) so it was only 2500ish to replace the countertops.

So I take it your product is similiar to concrete as in it is poured but weighs a lot less? What is it made out of?

EDIT: One cool thing I saw in the concrete books was that they put metal trivits(sp?) directly in the countertop. You might want to do something like that and take a pictar for advertising.

great indoors right?

FTW

great indoors right?

FTW

How did ya know? :D

friends and family day....

FTW

huh? what are you talking about?

looks good.........plus you get to do inside work. i'm a mason (not the secret kind) and waiting for this damn snow to go away. ahhhhhh!!

finding a job where you can make a living and enjoy it is freaking awesome!

Nightwing, your work always looks so good...:eek:

Thanks Uberu! I appreciate it!

Nighthawk
I run a granite countertop business and had a guy go through the Shirestone training with me. Unfortunately, he moved to North Carolina and I'm in NH. I still have the bulk of my order from Shirestone and with my current crew am unable to use it. The cost was $25k and I'm looking for someone who would like to buy the stock at a deep discount. If I could get $10k plus freight I'd do it. Are you interested and/or do you know any other Shirestone people I could contact? The company is not interested in helping out.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Nighthawk
I run a granite countertop business and had a guy go through the Shirestone training with me. Unfortunately, he moved to North Carolina and I'm in NH. I still have the bulk of my order from Shirestone and with my current crew am unable to use it. The cost was $25k and I'm looking for someone who would like to buy the stock at a deep discount. If I could get $10k plus freight I'd do it. Are you interested and/or do you know any other Shirestone people I could contact? The company is not interested in helping out.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.
You joined just to post that.

You joined just to post that.

nice kill





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lol lol lol

I live in NH...I will take it off your hands for $125, a bag of Cheetos and a sixer of the High Life...

nice kill

nice zing

Nightwing, this is some really nice looking work

nice zing

I was agreeing, being a night crewer, I never really get a chance to interact with the famous rogue.





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lol lol lol

I was agreeing, being a night crewer, I never really get a chance to interact with the famous rogue.





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lol lol lol
:unamused:

I think I'm being sent up, but I can't prove it. :p

:unamused:

I think I'm being sent up, but I can't prove it. :p

sent up? to where?

Nighthawk
I run a granite countertop business and had a guy go through the Shirestone training with me. Unfortunately, he moved to North Carolina and I'm in NH. I still have the bulk of my order from Shirestone and with my current crew am unable to use it. The cost was $25k and I'm looking for someone who would like to buy the stock at a deep discount. If I could get $10k plus freight I'd do it. Are you interested and/or do you know any other Shirestone people I could contact? The company is not interested in helping out.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

he called him nighthawk lulz.

So what exactly is this stuff? you say its not concrete, but it sure sounds like its just a special portland cement based mix. maybe you use acrylic additives/sealer to make it non-porus? looks pretty interesting.

I've made a couple concrete countertops for my house, and liked how they turned out. I think I'd consider doing it for a living, but I don't think there's much market for it where I live. granite is pretty cheap down here if you find a place that has illegals do all the labor...

anyways, looks pretty cool, kudos to you for finding a job that gives true fulfillment, thats a feat in itself.

So what exactly is this stuff? you say its not concrete, but it sure sounds like its just a special portland cement based mix. maybe you use acrylic additives/sealer to make it non-porus? looks pretty interesting.

I've made a couple concrete countertops for my house, and liked how they turned out. I think I'd consider doing it for a living, but I don't think there's much market for it where I live. granite is pretty cheap down here if you find a place that has illegals do all the labor...

anyways, looks pretty cool, kudos to you for finding a job that gives true fulfillment, thats a feat in itself.

It's forged in the fires of Mt. Doom -- only there can it be undone!

(i.e. it's very durable).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/JoelLindow/Shirestone/beforeandaftertimandcandy1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/JoelLindow/Shirestone/beforeandafterjanstencil2.jpg

looks like ass

people paid you to make their kitchen look like they have worn out assy-colored countertops? :lol: