Granite slabs being thrown in the dumpster
Today I visited a granite (natural stone) fabricator. They take whole slabs and fabricate them into kitchen counter tops, bathroom vanity tops, etc.
What they explained to me is that they typically have a small number of whole slabs in stock that they use for jobs. Many times whole slabs have to be cut down to do a job.
If they are left with a half of a slab, it will go back into their stock. Sometimes (maybe 5-7 times per month) a customer will come in and buy a half slab to be used to make a vanity top or a coffee table top or something like that. Most just sit in inventory.
However, when they get up to around 400 half-slabs, then they start pitching the half slabs into the dumpster.
I don't know about you, but this surprised me. I never knew that there was this much waste.
Comments (6)
Dawn, Perhaps its time for a little dumpster diving ;-) Your properties could be like the streets in Portsmouth, NH and have granite curbs and walkway edges ... not to mention the kitchen counters.
Roy N., over 10 years ago
Well Roy these are "remnants", not enough for a kitchen counter. And it would cost for fabrication as well, so still more expensive than a $100 vanity at the local big box store.
Dawn Anastasi, over 10 years ago
But they may still make for a different walkway or driveway edging :) Definitely not as thrifty as a big-box vanity counter, but probably more durable ... maybe for home and not a rental ...
Roy N., over 10 years ago
I'm a contractor and the stone fabricators around me do offer remnants for steep discounts. Though I have found it helps to be a 'regular' with the stone guys. It's the whole cycle of trust. You gain their trust, they'll help you out.
Liam Goble, over 10 years ago
I have heard the tip of going there and asking about "remnants" for small jobs before. Never done it myself but it is this basic idea that if you are only looking for something small like 1-2 bathroom vanities you can get a big discount since they can't use this stuff for very much. Seems like you should chat them up about something like that.
Shaun Reilly, over 10 years ago
Seems to me that they should drastically discount them and advertise a sale. Or, give the slabs away but charge for fabricating. Of course maybe then people wouldn't buy slabs thinking they could get them on sale. Who knows. Seems very wasteful and sad.
Jennifer A., over 10 years ago