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Post by fernwood on Jan 26, 2018 21:48:38 GMT -5
Question, has anyone ever contacted a local counter top/tile company and asked them what they do with their scraps? I am fortunate to live very close to one of the most advanced rock processing facilities/retail outlets in the upper Midwest. They claim the most advanced equipment in the USA. Receive chunks of material that are the size of a standard container. Material comes from all of North America. Had been driving past it on my way to work with both of my positions for a couple years. The 5 acre outside display area of finished slabs is amazing. Drove through a few times, and was very impressed. Yes, There are roads running through the display areas. Hidden gem in the tiny town of Plover, WI. Their inventory does include some local granite's, but also jasper's, marble's and agate's. Photos from their web site are a little blurry and do not do justice I am thinking about talking with them to see what happens to their scraps and broken pieces. What do you think? Potential for lots of polished material with would be great for cabs/slabs and many roughs. Uncharted territory here, so appreciate comments. Below are some photos “stolen” from their web site.  1  2  More rough  4  5  Processing Plant in Plover, WI  7 |
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Post by Pat on Jan 26, 2018 22:11:42 GMT -5
Ask!!
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gemcrusty
starting to shine!
Member since January 2018
Posts: 38 
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Post by gemcrusty on Jan 27, 2018 0:04:16 GMT -5
What's the worst they can say?
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Post by 1dave on Jan 27, 2018 2:27:17 GMT -5
The best they can say is "Please take all you want."
The worst is "Its all over there."
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 27, 2018 2:56:34 GMT -5
We have a counter top maker in Waterloo Iowa that pays thru the nose to have large commercial dumpsters full hauled away. Last time I stopped to get some drop off / end cuts / the owner offered to send out the driver with the fork truck ! Watch your paws when diggin thru the scraps, the pieces ARE heavy and can REALLY flatten your fingers if you tip one over on yourself.
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Post by 1dave on Jan 27, 2018 4:03:48 GMT -5
Don't forget Tombstone companies.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 27, 2018 10:17:14 GMT -5
Hopefully you get the material for free..Use to out here,but everyone got so greedy,now they charge you for it!
A buddy of mine found an area that was a dumping ground for scraps,we got a good amount from there,now its all picked out..
I picked up all the red I could find...Found out that material is from Spain (I think)I gave some to Ed....LOL
Some counter top Companies will give it away too,after business hours in a bin,outside their shops..Good luck...
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Win
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2017
Posts: 337
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Post by Win on Jan 27, 2018 10:28:29 GMT -5
I've found it never hurts to ask. Good luck!!
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Post by fernwood on Jan 27, 2018 10:30:39 GMT -5
Thinking there could be lots of great materials there. The photo of the huge rough pieces is from their staging yard. So, not just scrap from counters/tiles, but maybe some rough scrap as well.
Plan on stopping by someday soon, weather permitting.
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,978
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Post by Tommy on Jan 27, 2018 11:17:22 GMT -5
Awesome post on it's own - those pictures of the work in progress are seriously eye-opening.
I know @shotgunner used to be interested in this topic - sold counter tops or something like that.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 11:28:23 GMT -5
I have 1000 pound of scraps. A granite fabrication shop has hundreds of pounds of scrap a day. They love giving it away.
The gem is the Larvikite they call "Blue Pearl". Others exist. Including a version of K2 with more blue.
Have to be selective. They do not have jaspers and agates.they do have tons of cool marbles. The greatest selection will be at the various fabricators not the quarries.
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Post by fernwood on Jan 27, 2018 13:58:08 GMT -5
Awesome post on it's own - those pictures of the work in progress are seriously eye-opening. I know @shotgunner used to be interested in this topic - sold counter tops or something like that. Posted the process photos from their web site, as I thought others would appreciate them. I was amazed at the in the field photos of harvesting huge blocks of rocks. No mention of where they were located. Did find out that some of the huge blocks are transported via train and semi to the processing plant, which is next door to the retail/design store. Have to admit, in my thousands of times driving past there, I was so mesmerized by the slabs, that I went over the centerline of the road often, lol. As of yesterday, there were many beautiful slabs of marble, jaspers, agates and others I could not identify. Awesome colors in all. Some were more subdued, to meet customers wants. Typical granites, marbles, quartz, etc. But, about half of present inventory is very colorful and full of patterns. When I go there again, will take photos. Not your typical counter material, for sure. Huge slabs what looks like Crazy Lace! Take your typical lapidary Crazy Lace and multiply it in size a lot. Also saw some pieces that might have fossils. Beautiful Jasper's, with lots of color and patterns. Some slabs with sealed/filled Druzy and other crystals. The artistry and selection of rough is amazing. Lotsa huge patterns, very bold. Seriously wondering what it would cost to have them do my counters in kitchen after my kitchen expansion. Going from a tiny kitchen, to a moderate one. Currently have counters in tiled Onyx. Length of about 5' total, between small one next to stove and the one next to sink. Expanding to 12' of counters, installing a window overlooking my rock hunting fields, rearranging kitchen layout of appliances and sink, going to find some vintage cabinets, which fit my early 1900's farm house. Sorry, but the top of the line 1950's cabinets do not belong here. I have no windows in kitchen now. Also, the only light is the one over the range. |
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Post by 1dave on Jan 27, 2018 15:07:25 GMT -5
fernwood consider skylights! I put one in our dark main bathroom. 5 years later we still keep trying to turn off the light switch as we walk past.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 15:41:56 GMT -5
Seriously wondering what it would cost to have them do my counters in kitchen after my kitchen expansion. Going from a tiny kitchen, to a moderate one. Currently have counters in tiled Onyx. Length of about 5' total, between small one next to stove and the one next to sink. Expanding to 12' of counters, installing a window overlooking my rock hunting fields, rearranging kitchen layout of appliances and sink, going to find some vintage cabinets, which fit my early 1900's farm house. Sorry, but the top of the line 1950's cabinets do not belong here. I have no windows in kitchen now. Also, the only light is the one over the range. Bring a sketch of your kitchen layout and ask for a quote when you go in to ask for scraps. That'll motivate them to let you browse through their scrap piles. Some won't let you do it due to insurance concerns, but there are always things laying around even outside the piles. Sink cutouts can make nice small tabletops, and sometimes they toss something just because of surface scratches that can be polished out. If looking for tumbling material, you'll have even more from which to choose. They tend to use longer, narrow pieces for backsplashes, so not everything that looks like a scrap is. When I built this place several years back, I found stone countertops which were much cheaper than hi-tech manufactured surfaces like Corian. Some shops were double the cost of others, so shop around. Options like edge configuration, drainboards, carving and similar all add to the basic cost, but it can still be competitive. I'd also recommend avoiding travertine "onyx," marbles, alabaster and limestones (they stain easily, and though you seal it, the sealer eventually wears off). Travertine, marble and limestone also can scratch fairly easily and be etched from acids (vinegar, juices, etc.) in a kitchen environment. Yeah, you can grind and repolish out most of such damage, then re-seal, but will that be as easy as it sounds in a room that's in constant use? Plenty of other stone choices, though. |
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Post by fernwood on Jan 27, 2018 16:10:30 GMT -5
Skylights are not an option, as there is an attic crawl space above the kitchen. Kitchen is very small now. Galley style. Have about 3' by 9' of floor space there. Needless to say, I cannot open range or dish washing machine all the way, as the doors hit the cabinets across from them.
Yes, was planning on using their online tool to determine counter space and print out of what I want my new kitchen to have.
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 27, 2018 16:39:27 GMT -5
Skylights are not an option, as there is an attic crawl space above the kitchen. Kitchen is very small now. Galley style. Have about 3' by 9' of floor space there. Needless to say, I cannot open range or dish washing machine all the way, as the doors hit the cabinets across from them. Yes, was planning on using their online tool to determine counter space and print out of what I want my new kitchen to have. Look in to light tubes. Take up very little space and will bring some daylight in to the kitchen. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 16:53:21 GMT -5
I personally like galley kitchens - much easier to work in - and after years of putting up with island kitchens in houses I didn't design, I finally have one: Yours sounds too narrow. Are you planning on reducing the depth of the cabinets on one side so you can open that dishwasher? Another option would be to go with European-style drawer dishwashers instead of the drop-down door type (spendier, though). Look in to light tubes. Take up very little space and will bring some daylight in to the kitchen. I put solar light tubes in all my otherwise windowless bathrooms - love them! Only have to switch on the lights at night or when seriously overcast, and are much more energy efficient than skylights or windows. Depending on the brand, the tubes can be offset, so they don't have to go straight up thru the roof. DIY job if you are OK with working on the roof and understand things like flashing. Work best when the roofline doesn't slope north, though (dimmer sunlight from that direction for folks in the northern hemisphere). |
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Post by 1dave on Jan 27, 2018 18:55:46 GMT -5
Skylights are not an option, as there is an attic crawl space above the kitchen. Kitchen is very small now. Galley style. Have about 3' by 9' of floor space there. Needless to say, I cannot open range or dish washing machine all the way, as the doors hit the cabinets across from them. Yes, was planning on using their online tool to determine counter space and print out of what I want my new kitchen to have. My house has an attic. I just ran the provided mirrored tube down through it. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 20:23:50 GMT -5
Skylights are not an option, as there is an attic crawl space above the kitchen. Kitchen is very small now. Galley style. Have about 3' by 9' of floor space there. Needless to say, I cannot open range or dish washing machine all the way, as the doors hit the cabinets across from them. Yes, was planning on using their online tool to determine counter space and print out of what I want my new kitchen to have. Research "solatube". Perfect for that situation. |
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Win
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2017
Posts: 337
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Post by Win on Jan 28, 2018 10:23:00 GMT -5
Skylights are not an option, as there is an attic crawl space above the kitchen. Kitchen is very small now. Galley style. Have about 3' by 9' of floor space there. Needless to say, I cannot open range or dish washing machine all the way, as the doors hit the cabinets across from them. Yes, was planning on using their online tool to determine counter space and print out of what I want my new kitchen to have. Research "solatube". Perfect for that situation. Another vote for these we have 6 in our home, let in a lot light. The crawl space will not be a problem. |
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