Archive for the ‘Latest at Cantera Especial’ Category
Cantera Especial at 2010 Verona Fiere Italy
Our company just got back from visiting Italy and the Verona Fiere – the world’s largest stone trade show. Italy was incredible; of course the food and wine were wonderful, but what we really love was the architecture. From Rome to Tuscany and from Venice to Verona, we saw incredible public and private buildings; such as the Pantheon, Coliseum, Forum, Vatican City and the Trevi Fountain; then Five Hundred year old Tuscan Farm Houses and finally the works from Andrea Palladio in Vicenza. It was truly amazing that Italy offers so much to the visitor, especially someone who is in the Natural Stone Industry. You are able to see architectural elements such as Columns, Balustrade, Fountains and Building Facades that date back more than 2,000 years ago in some places. We were also surprised to see Cantera Stone was used as bases for sculpture and furniture in the Vatican.
When we arrived at the show, we were surprised to see the enormous sizes of raw stone blocks placed around the outside areas of the fiere. Exhibitors took their time and money to display their best products in innovative ways. Vendors from all over the world including Spain, Germany, Dominican Republic, Italy, Israel, and China were exhibiting at the show. Some of our favorite exhibitors displayed themselves in such a way as if they were a “fashion show or a store boutique” with beautiful products not only just set up in the raw, but infused into elaborate designs many times created by architects hired just for this fiere. Probably the most famous exhibit of all was the Antolini Luigi Company known for their exotic stone slabs with many of them made from semiprecious stone in which they featured a beautiful reflection pool made out of a pink colored stone with models in bikinis swinging over the pool.
Stop by our showroom in Los Angeles, California to learn and see all types of Natural Stone Tiles, Decorative pieces, and Architectural Elements. We can help you with your all of your stone ant tile needs. Cantera Especial specializes in custom manufacturing stone products. Just call to make an appointment and we will be happy to review with you all of your design and stone needs.
Tags: cantera stones, Verona Fiere
Installing Stone Veneer
Most people make the mistake of thinking that installing stone veneer is something they could never do. Don’t dismiss the possibility, because it can dramatically transform the look of your residence both inside and out.
While it’s true that the installation may take a few special tools, you probably already have the ability to do it yourself. Once you have your surface prepared and ready, installing the veneer can actually be a lot of fun. Some jobs could be completed within a day or a weekend. Read on to find out more.
Installing stone veneer can turn the ordinary into something extraordinary. A plain block wall might look stark and cold, but it transforms it into a naturally beautiful, warm landscape feature. With modern versions of manufactured stone, installation is easy and totally possible for the average home do-it-yourselfer.
And if you’re concerned that the manufactured stuff might not look as good as real stone, think again. manufactures are going to great lengths to make their product look authentic, even up close.
You may require some special tools. Most do-it-yourselfers have a pretty good selection of basic tools on hand. But you’ll needs a few not-so-common tools for your stone veneer installation.
Specifically, you will need a masonry blade for your saw. Most saws are capable of cutting manufactured stone veneer as long as you attach a masonry blade. Depending on where you are installing, you may have to cut the panels into different sizes or shapes.
You will also need a trowel to spread the mortar onto the back of the stone veneer. The third most likely tool purchase is a grout bag, which is used to apply grout between the sections.
About the only part of the project that might seem like work is surface preparation. How well the veneer adheres to your surface and how realistic it looks when you’re done depends in large part on the quality of the surface. You’ll want to remove any existing paint.
The surface should be level, but not necessarily “smooth.” Before you start putting up the veneer, you may need to add a thin “scratch” coat of mortar. Or in some areas, you may need to put up a moisture barrier. Your cantera stone veneer supplier should be able to help you make this decision.
This is very satisfying work that instantly adds beauty and value to your home. It takes a plain looking surface and makes it beautiful. It’s easy to do yourself as long as you pick up the right tools and take the time to get the surface ready. So there’s no need to wait any longer. Start choosing your stone veneer and get ready to have a fun, productive weekend.
Tags: cantera stone, stone Veneer
Earn Creative CEUs with Cantera Especial
We’re very happy to announce that Cantera Especial now offers CEUs MIA (Marble Institute of America). Attendees to our workshops will receive CEU credit toward their certifications.
Credits are accepted by AIA, ASID, IIDA, IDCEC, and IDC. Two seminars are currently offered which are MIA/CEU ” Introduction to Stone I” and “Introduction to Stone II” with a third to come soon on “Sustainability”.
Please contact Andi Salata to schedule a “Lunch & Learn” seminar at your firm or our showroom in Sherman Oaks.
Tags: cantera especial, cantera stone credits, ceu
Cantera Especial–Your Luxury Flooring Supplier
When you want the very best for your stone floors, you want to choose Cantera Especial as your stone supplier. This California based company specializes in providing the finest quality stone flooring options available. Whether you’re looking for a granite supplier or you have some other stone in mind, Cantera Especial are the best stone fabricators in the business.
Nothing matches the look of a stone floor for luxury and quality. Stone floors also help keep your home cool and help you to keep your home clean, since they don’t trap bacteria and they make it easy to wipe up spills. Talk to the flooring suppliers at Cantera Especial and let them show you how installing natural stone floors can change your home from a house to a showplace.
The stone suppliers at Cantera Especial work hard to bring you a wide range of stone choices, all of the highest quality. They are popular granite suppliers, but they also supply other popular stones for flooring, such as marble, sandstone, slate, travertine and limestone. The stone fabricators at Cantera can even create mosaic floors for you, for a look of amazing luxury.
Cantera Especial granite suppliers offer a wide range of options within the category of this most popular flooring stone. From rich black granite to smooth brown, from deep blue stones to crisp white, you’re sure to find a stone that suits your taste. The stone suppliers in other categories have wide ranges of options as well, and if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for in our catalogue, our stone fabricators will work with you to create the stone floor of your dreams.
The process of using Cantera Especial as your flooring supplier is all about you from beginning to end. They want to ensure customer satisfaction. You’ll begin by working with designers to choose or design exactly the floor you have in mind. Then Cantera’s stone fabricators will create your stone tiles as you’ve specified.
When you work with Cantera Especial flooring supplier, you know you’ll end up with the rich, luxurious floor you’ve dreamed of. Stop dreaming and discover how easy it is to create the beautiful floors you want with Cantera Especial–stone suppliers to the very best.
Stone fabricators
To possess all of the qualities involved in stone fabrication, companies normally have extensive background in masonry, carpentry, and have worked as a flooring supplier, or at least had varied experience working on construction sites. In addition, granite suppliers and stone fabricators must have a strong attention to detail, an eye for accurate cuts, and lastly the ability to communicate effectively. By working as an elite team in the industry, our professionals know how to meet deadlines and still give the highest quality service and products for their customers.
From an array of customer designs and specifications, we are custom stone fabricators that can fashion your creative ideas and draw from our own ideas. All of our basic sizes available in the CAD catalog can be altered as requested by the customer. Once all of the correct designs of the product have been discussed, i.e., the best colors have been picked, etc., we can provide an accurate quote based on a number of those details. The carved elements, based on examples from photos of blue prints, catalogs, and designs, are then approved by the purchaser in order for manufacturing to commence.
Many of our products contain all natural stone, namely granite, slate, and marble. Any reputable granite supplier should stand by their work completely. By offering solid guarantees to customers, we continue to expand each and everyday. Some services included in our design package include work on bathroom tiles, kitchen backsplashes, shower stalls, patios, siding, flooring, walls, fireplaces, and so much more.
By allowing customers the ability to hand select materials to be used for each project, this means customers experience overall satisfaction when it comes to the finished product. Our friendly and well-informed staff of granite suppliers is always ready to provide appointments to go over various details of the project at-hand. By making sure that the customer is thrilled with the project before the process is undertaken ensures success each and every time. Our intense desire to provide elegance and the highest standards of craftsmanship shows up in our work. We invite you to come visit the showroom today in order to get ideas for your upcoming project. If you need advice, or if you already have the plan in mind, we can help to facilitate the process easily.