Originally Posted by
Kent Potter
Isn't this the whole purpose of your crusade? You are a fabricator of Solid Surface and don't even fabricate granite counter tops.
Well, then Mr. Potter, you are either a liar or ignorant. Surface Fabrication magazine did a story on our shop in May of 2007 that documented the fact that we do fabricate granite, as well as another major wood magazine that did a "Point-Counter Point" article on bringing in hard surface fabrication into a cabinet shop operation. I was one of three interviewees on that one, Wood & Wood Products was the name of the magazine if I recall correctly. Fabnet has an article on our first granite job as well, providing info on tools and equipment needed to get into fabrication of stone.
Plus one can vist my website, thecarpentershop.net, and see past jobs we have fabricated in granite.
Now, this is one of the difficulties when discussing this subject on a forum, the stone only fabricators will do and say anything in crude attempts to discredit anyone that dares bring the subject up. The fact that they will lie about something so easily proven is beyond my comprehension, but thank god for retarded enemies.
I am continually amazed at the amount of time and effort you put forth to tear down an industry that you only sell "some" products from and only because customers demand granite. It is no secret that Natural and Engineered Stones have all but destroyed the Solid Suface market.
More ignorance or outright lies. According to the Freedonia Report last spring, Laminate had the most market share, followed by solid surface at around 33% market share, then quartz (around 17%) followed by granite (at 16% market share,for the first time it was behind quartz).
I imagine this to be quite a heavy hit to your Cabinet Shop's bottom line.
Actually, we sell more solid surface since we started fabrication of granite. We can show the consumers granite samples, show the radiation present in almost all colors in varying degrees, show the UV damage to the black stones, stain samples (even after sealing), and give them a chunk of mesh back stone that can be broken apart with the hands alone. Then our top polished seams, which are razor blade tight, the best in OKC hands down, but compared to 99% invisible solid surface seams, well, you get the picture.
Then show them quartz seams, that can have some lippage at times, cause you can't top polish quartz very well. Add our samples of various granite tops that are stained, and not that many people will buy granite once they have been educated.
This is why I advocate all solid surface shops to start fabrication of granite. It is very low skilll level work, far easier than solid surface, takes a few thousand dollars in tools to get started (heck, your first job will pay for the tools), and the quality expected is very, very, low compared to solid surface work. So sell everything, educate the consumer before the sale, and make some very, very, good money on those too blinded to avoid granite.
Through this entire thread, you have discounted and subsequently attacked the opinions of experts who have presented factual data contrary to yours. B.S., none of these guys are trained on Radon AND radiation, some are Radon guys and I would listen to them on the testing and mitigation of Radon, but none of them were aware of the granite Radon/radiation issues. I have seen little factual data if any, that opposed the position held by me, the EPA, AARST, and now the MIA and the CRCDP (did i get those initials in the right secquece!). And Mr. Potter, don't forget that the SFA has adopted my radiation stance. We both know that, so how can you possibly argue that I am wrong when your own leaders at the SFA had to drag you guys kicking and screaming into admitting that I was right? Remember the "granite so hot it needs boxing up and burying"?
These guy's have been in the feild for a hell of alot longer than you have been attacking granite, when are you going to get a clue? I agree that these guys are experts at inspecting homes, and you aren't going to find me argueing with them on any issue but the safety of some granite countertops.
In the Natural Stone Industry, you my freind are known as what is referred to as a "Hack"! Someone who professes to know the business but yet has no clue. I would say that the stone industry is full of hacks if they didn't know that granite was radioactive, emitted Radon, or had heavy metal content that could leach out with ordinary cleaning products, or even plain old water. Or maybe they did know, Mr. Potter, and prefered to lie about it?
The Natural Stone industry is in the process of setting standards for certifying granite as safe on numerous fronts. This will take some time as there is "Real Research" to be performed. This of course would rule you out Mr. Gerhart.
"process of setting standards for certifying granite as safe on numerous fronts."
See, there is the problem, Mr. Potter, you are telling us out loud that the standards will be set to prove that granite is safe. You guys don't have any intention of doing some actual science to find out if it is safe or not.
As to ruling me out, you are unaware that I run an email group with the leaders in this research field contributing to the discussion. Do you really think these guys will trust the MIA? One of the leaders of the CRCDP effort on granite radiation is Dr. Steck, who the MIA claimed was helping them back in June. Steck quit the MIA effort, but he is on our email group.
Face it, Mr. Potter, no one that is sane would trust any of the members of the MIA or the SFA to guide the setting of any standards. You guys lied about this issue for too many years.
BTW, I wouldn't make any trips to Brazil soon, you never can tell what that Portegese mafia has planned!:p