On our latest field trip, we as a thriving fabric and materials class visited Lubbock's own local stone showroom, known as, Collin's tile and stone. While there we saw all aspects of the tile business, from the multiple types of raw stone to the actual finished product, ready to be placed into a space. It really allowed us as students, to see behind the scenes of our average everyday counters and floors. There is so much possibility and options in stone application on both residential and commercial spaces, and all of this was revealed as we stepped inside.
Our host for the trip was Mr. Collins himself. He welcomed us into his showroom where we were greeted with displays boasting an array of tiles and stones in every category, made in every shape, size, and color. We spent the first half of the visit discussing the composition and styles of the featured stone pieces. The walls were lined with shelves. The top shelf held large slabs of your standard most typical granite, with the majority being neutrally colored. from there it went on with more smaller sized tiles in even more outstanding variety. We discussed the elements and components of each, talking about their individual durability, resistance, and best usage. From there we discussed specific and specialized stone, which led us outside.
To the side of their actual showroom, Collin's keeps slab upon slab of raw rock. The majority was granite coming from different extracting companies. We discussed the pricing of the granite, touching on how the originality and uniqueness of a slab determined its cost. One slab that was pulled out from the rest was a blue hued granite, with almost metallic looking veins. Its individuality made it absolutely breath taking and also made it cost a small fortune. Along with the granite there was, travertine, and stone whose texture was provide through small shell fossils that remained in the rock. The large amount of stock that was hidden outside only went to prove again stone's limitless possibilities.
Possibilities not only in make-up but in manufactured design. From the outside lot we returned inside, only this time coming into the actual workroom. There several men were working to make finished countertops and tiles. Some were cutting out rough estimates of size, others operated a large extensive piece of machinery that took a coded plan previously designed and actually carved the stone into its desired shape. From there the pieces were manually touched up. And then the edge was adjusted, usually curved or scalloped. From there they were cleaned up and ready for installation.
Collin's Tile and Stone really allowed for us to see the full and complete range of all that is involved with stone. The knowledge required and vase amount of material one must be comfortable with. It was a lot to take in, the types, styles, and colors to the process of preparing the stone. But all of it inspired the artist within to explore and challenge everyday concepts and materials to make a home more than just a typical house.
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