From The Earth
Sometimes, the only glimpse of Stone Source you see is our "pretty face" that appears in our showrooms, samples, web site and on some of our sales reps. Our business is not like the movies, which has a long list of credits at the end. This article is meant to give you an inside look at the process that takes place behind the scenes at Stone Source.
It's nice to enjoy the beautiful stone floors, walls and counters you specified that became a reality. After all, you worked hard in making all the parts of your design come together. Your stone selection probably started with a sample chip, but that's not where it started for us. It all goes back to the earth.
 A limestone quarry in Egypt |
 Extracting the limestone blocks |
Stone Source partners with stone experts throughout the world, whose mission is to search and find the best natural stone available. Since the appearance and physical characteristics of natural stone constantly change, it is important for our contacts to be at the source, inspecting material for both stock and custom orders, as well as seeking out beautiful new stones.
 Our man, Dimitri, at the quarry |
 Our selected blocks go to the factory |
Our message to the world's stone markets is that Stone Source is always looking for new and unusual stone, as well as beautiful selections of the classics. When we are presented with stone that our people know will make great tiles and/or slabs, we often buy the blocks and store them overseas for future use. Recently, we have been purchasing back up inventory of popular materials so that we can ship quickly for your fast track projects, drastically reducing lead time.
 Blocks of limestone at the factory |
 This limestone is coming to America |
While the finished product may be glamorous, the task of finding and selecting the right blocks of stone usually is not. Once selected, blocks are loaded on trucks and shipped to a factory to be cut to our specifications. Our excellent factories, from all over the world, understand the demands of our marketplace and are carefully chosen to meet our standards. This is one of the most critical steps in the process, which will ultimately lead to customer satisfaction.
 Slicing the block into slabs |
 Cutting the stone into tiles |
After processing, selecting and inspecting the final order, the material is packaged, loaded into containers and delivered to the closest dock. It is then placed onto a steamship: destination USA. After arrival, usually at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, the container is unloaded from the steamship and goes through US Customs inspection. Upon clearance, the container is delivered by truck to one of our warehouses, or sent directly to the customer or jobsite for unloading.
 The tile polishing machine in action |
 Loading the container |
The process can be long and arduous at times and it involves the best efforts of a lot of people to make it turn out successfully. We wouldn't have it any other way. It's what we do and we love the challenge. There is a lot of excitement for us in finding wonderful stones for you, helping you select the right materials for your projects, and then coming through for you by getting your stone to the job site looking great and on time. That's why you can rely on Stone Source.