Collins Stone and Tile

     

     Collin’s Tile and Stone was the next stop for my materials class. During this field trip we were introduced into different styles of tile and stone and their uses. We were able to look at the newest styles of tiles that are just now coming out. We were able to see stone from the raw material straight from the truck to it being cut and polished for the actual application in a room. During this visit, we were actually out in their showroom where they store all the slabs of stone and we were able to go around and feel the difference between each type of stone. It was amazing to see the same type of stone in many different colors, textures, and sizes. Each type of stone varies from one another. Mr. Collin’s told us about how the demand for certain types of stones are very high, but because of the popularity of it and it being very hard to find, it is usually hard to have enough for his customers. We were informed about the most expensive stones, to the most durable, and the most common stones used for certain applications. I believed granite to be the most common application for a kitchen area. The durability of granite, availability of it, and the color choices really appeal to the customers in today’s market.

    

     The owner and starter of the company himself showed us around the showroom, so we were able to get some insider details on how the company started and how successful it is. Mr. Collin’s allowed us to go into the workspace where all the tiles are cut. It was amazing to see the machinery the employees have to work with everyday. The machines were huge and very expensive product. Mr. Collin’s informed us about how the pieces of tile were cut and what each machine did exactly at each stage of the process. The tile is only allowed to be cut at a certain angle and direction. It was amazing to see how many different designs and cuts they could do to make each customers one of a kind countertop or flooring. The broad spectrum of design Collin’s Stone and Tile offers is a reason it is so popular to residential and commercial customers.