What stone is right for you?
Learn about different products below and vendors we use.
Don't forget to see our "Inventory Slabs" tab.
There are a variety of stone products that can be used throughout your home to improve its elegance and beauty. Please select a stone type below in order to learn more about the type of stone, and its most useful applications.
Click here to play with the MSI Visualizer
Granite
Granite slabs are the result of nature's artistic expression and each piece is unique. Just like no two snowflakes are the same, so is the variation in granite. These variations are what cause people to fall in love with the beauty of natural stone and manufactures of man-made (quartz) stone imitate the flow and movement in granite.
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Myths Dispelled about Granite
Here are the facts about Natural Stone
- Granite is ranked #1 in cleanability when compared to six other surfaces including stainless steel.
- Granite has the same cleanability as quartz or man-made stone.
- Granite has never been known to emit dangerous levels of radon gas.
- Sealing is needed once every 15 years when you use Elegant Stone Products and Protegere Warrantied Sealer.
Soapstone
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A material that has been used for many years and now just recently is becoming a more popular choice in kitchens. Be sure when deciding on soapstone that your fabricator is using architectural and not artistic soapstone in fabrication. Architectural contains the properties needed for countertop surfacing.
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Wisconsin Showrooms
Showroom |
Address |
Phone |
Website |
Stone Design Showroom & Warehouse WI |
2025 E Birchwood, Cudahy,WI 53110 |
800-669-4963 |
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Terrazzo & Marble WI |
N59W14339 Bobolink Ave, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 |
262-251-7300 |
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Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc. WI |
W227N722 Westmound Dr, Waukesha, WI 53186 |
262-547-8400 |
Iowa Showrooms
Showroom |
Address |
Phone |
Website |
Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc. IA |
2700 100th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322 |
515-334-0139 |
Minnesota Showrooms
Showroom |
Address |
Phone |
Website |
Stone Holding Company |
7768 West 78th St. Edina, MN 55439 |
952-697-3405 |
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Terrazzo & Marble MN |
7145 Sandburg Rd Golden Valley, MN 55427 |
763-544-3333 |
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Cold Spring Granite Maple Grove Showroom |
9775 85th Ave N. Maple Grove, MN 55369 |
763-425-2876 |
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Cosentino Center Minneapolis |
14105 13th Ave N. Minneapolis, MN 55441 |
763-546-8456 |
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Dorado Soapstone |
732 Harding St NE. Minneapolis, MN 55413 |
651-571-4051 |
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Daltile Showroom & Slab Yard |
1005 Berkshire Lane North Plymouth, MN 55441 |
763-694-9700 |
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Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc.MN |
3181 Dodd Rd. Saint Paul, MN 55121 |
651-405-0707 |
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Midwest Specialty Products LLC |
1301 West Third Ave. Shakopee, MN 55379 |
952-470-0403 |
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Amsum & Ash |
30 52nd Way NE |
763-571-8400 |
Illinois Showrooms
Showroom |
Address |
Phone |
Website |
Levantina USA Chicago |
850 Devon Ave Bensenville, IL 60106 |
630-361-6600 |
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Terrazzo & Marble IL |
1220 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL 60607 |
317-421-4949 |
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UGM -Universal Granite & Marble |
3555 South Normal Ave. Chicago, IL 60609 |
773-268-4500 |
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Daltile Showroom & Slab Yard |
1601 Pratt Blvd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 |
847-593-9008 |
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MS International Illinois Showroom & Distribution Center |
1441 Jarvis Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 |
847-725-6500 |
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Stone Design Showroom & Warehouse IL |
551 Mitchell Rd. Glendale Heights, IL 60139 |
800-424-1332 |
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Terrazzo & Marble IL |
77 South Wheeling Rd. Wheeling, IL 60090 |
877-867-5227 |
Quartz
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Quartz or man-made stone increasingly grows as a countertop surfacing material. Quartz is a durable and attractive surface with a uniform color consistency. Quartz slab manufactures have developed colors to mimic the movement of granite and other stone.
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The Evolution of Quartz Material
The manufacture of quartz has evolved from basic patterns to patterns with the movement of natural stone. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and the manufactures of quartz are continually developing colors that have the look of granite. If granite is something you are not interested in using, quartz would be a surface material to consider.
Suppliers of Quartz
Type |
Website |
Aggranite |
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Caesarstone |
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Trends |
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Hanstone (preferred vendor) |
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Linnstone (preferred vendor) |
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One Quartz |
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Q by MSI |
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Silestone Quartz |
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Viatera (preferred vendor) |
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Vicostone (preferred vendor) |
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Wilsonart |
Recycled Material
Recycled material transforms waste glass into an exquisite work of art, which will be the center piece of your living room or workspace. The waste glass, made from traffic lights, windows, beverage containers and many other unique sources, is set in a matrix or base. For a classic or contemporary style, consider recycled material.
- High recycled content.
- Unique color patterns.
Type |
Website |
IceStone Recycled Concrete |
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Vetrazzo Recycled Concrete |
Countertop Comparison:
Many countertop surfaces are out there and finding the right one for your everyday use and budget can be confusing and difficult. Below you will find the key features on the surfaces advertised for your consideration when selecting your countertop(s).
Remember that we are always here to help you through the process. We stock many of these materials in full slabs and you are welcome to view and select your very own material for your countertop. Natural stone can vary and all fabricate different.
Quarries and vendors will label many colors or products with different names for the same material.
Example Labrador Green granite is also called Uba Tuba or Verde Labrador depending on the vendor who sells it. This can also be true for some man-made quartz that use the same manufacturer.
**We have also found that some classifications may also be incorrect from a vendor. We buy a quartzite but it acts like a Dolomite or sometimes a Marble. Some quartzites have been labeled as a Granite. Sealing natural stone is very important. We supply a 15 yr sealer on our Granite. We also apply it to Dolomite, Marble, and Quartzite but it's not warrantied and may require a regular clean and seal product to reinforce the sealer.
We will do our best to help you navigate the process but even fabricators like us can be caught off guard on some materials.
Remember that we are always here to help you through the process. We stock many of these materials in full slabs and you are welcome to view and select your very own material for your countertop. Natural stone can vary and all fabricate different.
Quarries and vendors will label many colors or products with different names for the same material.
Example Labrador Green granite is also called Uba Tuba or Verde Labrador depending on the vendor who sells it. This can also be true for some man-made quartz that use the same manufacturer.
**We have also found that some classifications may also be incorrect from a vendor. We buy a quartzite but it acts like a Dolomite or sometimes a Marble. Some quartzites have been labeled as a Granite. Sealing natural stone is very important. We supply a 15 yr sealer on our Granite. We also apply it to Dolomite, Marble, and Quartzite but it's not warrantied and may require a regular clean and seal product to reinforce the sealer.
We will do our best to help you navigate the process but even fabricators like us can be caught off guard on some materials.
