Stone is increasingly recognized as a green building material with its longevity, promotion of rural economies, low energy manufacturing inputs, low VOCs, zero waste, thermal mass and use as a porous paver

SANTA FE, NM, May 01, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Stone as a building material has changed more in the past three years than in the entire last 3000 years. Investments in advanced fabrication and cutting technology by emerging stone producing regions, combined with the growing ease and sophistication of international shipping, have dramatically transformed the choices now available to contemporary architects, designers and developers.

Dozens of new types of stone that have never previously been available in the US are now being imported by companies such as Santa Fe, NM based, Groundfloor, which takes advantage of new cutting techniques to offer their products in fully customized dimensions and formats.

Stone today is now a completely flexible building material. We can cut to any size or shape for almost unlimited design possibilities. Architects can now use the same stone in any format, whether countertop slab, tile or pavers, mosaic tile or even cobble to create spatial continuity that runs from indoors to exposed exterior areas , says Groundfloor co-owner Matt Kreitman.

AFFORDABLE AND UNIQUE
Groundfloor also focuses on providing unique surface textures to give finishes an additional dimension. The wide range of options includes multiple etched and brushed finishes as well as acid-washes, flaming and sandblasting. For example, gray basalt is available in as many as 40 different surface finishes

Now, stone is becoming more affordable than ever before. By working directly with architects and developers (retail customers are welcome by appointment only), Groundfloor avoids high retail overhead. And by shipping directly from overseas suppliers, several levels of middlemen are taken out of the chain. Stone is no longer a premium priced material, but is now easily affordable on most residential projects and even on budget-sensitive commercial projects.

DIRECT SHIPPING FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
Shipping directly from Egypt, China or Brazil is quick, cheap and problem free. Our prices are far lower than traditional stone retailers for equivalent products. And we compete on price against ceramic, porcelain or even stained concrete, even on projects such as office buildings or supermarkets, adds Groundfloor's co-owner, Robbie Lipworth. We can supply driveway paving materials, such as porphyry, that will last for centuries, installed at roughly the same price as concrete pavers. Our granite countertop slab is roughly half the price of standard granite or synthetic alternatives.

GREEN BUILDING MATERIAL
Although focused on global imports, concerns about green building and LEED standards have led Groundfloor to look at stone from sources closer to home. By identifying well-managed local stone quarries and working closely with the owners, Groundfloor is now the first New Mexico stone business to offer a variety of locally sourced flagstone gauged for indoor or outdoor use, real-stone thin veneer in multiple colors, and even gauged local sandstone floor tile and dimensional pavers.

About Ground floor

Groundfloor supplies New Mexico sandstone tile, dimensional, paver, thin veneer, slab and random flagstone.