Trends in The stone industry: From b.c to 2023

Written by Phylicia Foster

Since Ancient times stone has been a standard part of architecture. Cultures across the world have used stone in the most prolific buildings. Sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks such as Granite, Sandstone, Marble, and Limestone were the foundations for the Seven Wonders and many other ancient buildings around the world.

Stone has always been multipurpose. It can be used to construct a whole building and bring character to a rather mundane wall, countertops, flooring, and much more. Together we are going to explore stone through each period.

B.C.E. (B.C.)

**The Ancient City of Petra (source: Sand in My Suitcase)**

The oldest buildings in the world are made from stone, such as Limestone, Sandstone, Granodiorite, Granite, Travertine, Marble, and Slate.

The Great Wall of China is made of brick, marble, and granite.

The Chichen Itza is made of gray limestone.

The Ancient City of Petra is made of sandstone.

Machu Picchu is made of granite.

The Roman Colosseum is made of Roman Travertine.

The Taj Mahal of India is made of white marble and inlays of precious stones.

There are too many structures to reference. They’re all beautiful and majestic in pictures and person. India, Italy, Turkey, Spain, England, France, and many other countries have massive amounts of stone architecture.

C.E. (A.D.)

**The Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India (Discover Magazine)**

Starting with Mesoamerica, the Pueblo architecture located in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico includes limestone and adobe bricks (made from clay and water).

Casa Mila in Barcelona is the last house architect Antonio Gaudi designed. It’s made from local limestone and nicknamed “La Pedrera” The Stone Quarry.

1800s

The first successful export of stone was by steamboat in the 1800s. London’s Tower Bridge and Blackwall Tunnel were constructed from granite shipped on steamboats.

It was in the late 1800s that granite and other stones became popular among countertops. It was so expensive that only the wealthy could afford stone for their luxury estates.

1950s

In the 1950s countertops were usually Laminate, which consists of plastic and particleboard. Laminate was made to create a stone or wood-like look for less than half the cost of the real thing. The problem with Laminate is moisture can seep in causing delamination, and deep scratches cannot be fixed.

1960s

In the 1960s there was also the trend we loved to hate, Formica, a laminate material. This brand of laminate was considered a luxury item at the time.

1970s

When Disco was popular, granites’ popularity was also on the rise. Granite has been a popular option for kitchens and bathrooms since the 1970s.

Corian stepped on the scene in 1971 and it was a huge hit in the market. Designed by DuPont, Corian has more cons than pros, it can be easily damaged by heat, and scratches easily, and to some, it looks quite industrial instead of “homey”.

1980s

In the 1980s, we have seen the trend of tile countertops. In hindsight, what a horrific idea. It was cheap, it was easy to install, and durable, until the grout stained & harbored bacteria. It’s not a smooth surface which can be impractical.

1990s-2000s

Granite countertops were trending in the 1990s and 2000s. The market was booming with home renovations and custom home-building. Granite was the number one choice for custom countertops and backsplashes. Granite comes in colors such as white, black, beige, blue, and so many more colors. For this period, you’ll see more dark colors and grey countertops.

2010’s

It was predicted by Fine Home Building in 2009 that Granite countertops were “so last decade” but that isn’t the case. People were still purchasing Granite but there was a surge in Quartz.

HGTV promoted Quartz heavily that it became popular among homeowners and “house-hunters”.

Dekton hit the market in the 2010s and GI Stone has been an authorized Dekton Fabricator and Installer since 2014. Dekton is very popular due to it being scratch resistant, low maintenance, its protected against UV rays, no need to reseal the surface, and can withstand a great amount of force.

Both Dekton and Quartz are man-made materials and have similar characteristics.

In 2023, we see that Granite continues to thrive. Calacatta quartz and Carrara have risen in the luxury market and have been deemed trendy amongst stone contractors.

Porcelain and Dekton are gaining more popularity in private residences and commercial properties.

People are partial to quartz, porcelain, or engineered products such as Dekton that are more durable for families. Trends change often but style lasts forever.

Gone are the days of minimum options. There is an abundance of stone types, colors, and engineered materials to choose from. It all depends on your style aesthetic.

The natural stone market is projected to grow to $41.91 Billion in 2027.

Sources:

https://thewindowdepot.com/blog/a-look-back-at-countertop-trends-through-the-years

https://newsroom.longandfoster.com/2018/07/countertops-changed-last-50-years/\

https://stonecentralsc.com/history-of-granite-countertops/

https://caliastone.com/the-new-arrivals-spring-colors-and-shapes/

https://www.bhandarimarblegroup.com/history-of-marble-granite-and-natural-stone-in-construction/

https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2009/12/22/prediction-2010-granite-countertops-are-so-last-decade

https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/kitchen-remodel/laminate-countertops

https://www.rocktopskc.com/the-history-of-stone-countertops/