Thin Stone: Think Thin(ner)

   However, those pieces – with nothing other than a sawn back – appear positively gargantuan next to what’s being adhered to a fiberglass-reinforced panel.
   North Ridgeville, Ohio-based Gripco Products Inc. is working with a few overseas manufacturers to bring ultra-thin sheets of natural stone, particularly suitable for tub and shower surrounds, to the market. That company’s president, Tom Lawrence, talks of products as thin as 3mm, backed by a 3mm panel, available in granite or marble.
   Gripco specializes in products for use in the kitchen and bath, and Lawrence says until now thin panel options have been limited to either ¾” slabs or 3/8” tile.
   “Slabs can be very tricky installations that take time and – in many cases – mechanical fasteners,” he says. “Tile requires grouting and sealing and that’s time staking and not inexpensive, either. That’s why we started looking for an alternative that was strong, lightweight and easy to apply.”
   The product, which Gripco markets under the Dura-Thin™ name, is so lightweight that two people can easily lift a 4’ X 8’ panel, which can be shipped and carried horizontally. However, because of the potential for chipping, Lawrence says it’s still not a suitable material for horizontal bathroom surfaces, such as vanities.
   “Right now, we’re still developing this product,” Lawrence says. “We have not perfected it yet, so we’re moving very cautiously toward recommending it and bringing it to use as one of our everyday products.”
   Partly because of limitations on manufacturing technology, he adds that the product is not as developed as Gripco hoped it would be a year or two ago.
   “Right now it has limitations, so we’re focused on developing areas that have the least physical impact, such as shower surrounds,” Lawrence concludes. “That’s where we’re really aiming this product; it has a natural fit.”