Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: Well, good day, everyone, and welcome to the Cutting Edge Install Podcast brought to you by Omni Cubed, where innovation meets installation. And to be quite honest, there's everything in between. Who knows? We've had singing, we haven't had any dancing on this yet, but who knows, Maybe today's the day.
But we meet installers, we meet professionals, we meet the pros.
Who am I? I'm Merv Campbell. I'm your host and it's an absolute pleasure to, to have you on here. If it's your first time, welcome. If you're a regular viewer, thank you for coming back.
Please continue to watch. What's the podcast all about, you may ask? Well, it's celebrating.
We're in a day when we want to celebrate and man, we want to celebrate pros, we want to celebrate installers, experts, game changers and everyone. So we're going to dive into stories, we're going to share insights, we're going to have fun.
And if any man would know how to have fun, it's myself. Being Irish, that's kind of just born and bred into us. So we're going to hold onto your hat. We're going to have fun. So whether you're on the job, whether you're on the road, whether you're looking to stay sharp, you have come to the right place.
So I have a wonderful guest on today.
I'm going to let him introduce him himself, tell us a little bit about his company and kind of how he got started into the stone industry.
[00:01:25] Speaker B: Absolutely. Thank you so much. My name is Olis Grinshack. I appreciate your invitation to the podcast and being on, it's a privilege and an honor. And our company is called Absence Kitchen and Bath and we are countertop fabricators and we do the whole process from templating to fabricating to installation of countertops.
[00:01:50] Speaker A: Awesome. So you've said there that you do templating, fabrication installs, that's basically everything that if anyone's listening, will know start to finish.
How did you build that all in sort of into sort of one workflow
[00:02:09] Speaker B: really. It was just because we started off as a family owned business. So my dad started the company on his own and with my brother. They were the only two employees at the time. And so pretty much they did everything. They went out and templated the job, they brought it back and cut it themselves and polish it themselves and then installed it themselves. And so as we grew to include more team members, you know, that family touch and that personal touch has, has never left.
[00:02:42] Speaker A: That's awesome. That's really cool.
So family run business.
Wonderful. If you haven't seen some of their Instagram posts and videos, some of them are absolutely hilarious, I have to say.
And then some of them are like basic common sense. It's like use the tools to help. But you're kind of a family run business.
What's the advantages of that, would you say? Because we always.
Everyone wants to be this huge business. They want to have a ton of employees, all the rest. But what are the advantages of being sort of on the smaller side shop that controls like you control the entire process. So why is that a help?
[00:03:27] Speaker B: I think it's really good because we're a local company. You know, we're in the greater Charlotte area. Yeah, we can go to the mountains and to the beach. But being local, people sometimes don't say you get your countertops from absence. They say get your countertops from Olus or from Dimitri. It's like not, not really the company name. It's the personal connection that you get to have with, with people and they know who they're dealing with. Not just kind of an industry that's cutting up countertops for them, but you know, real people that live in the, in the neighborhood and that are also doing the countertops. Yeah, yeah.
[00:04:04] Speaker A: And you may see them at the grocery store.
If you've installed their kitchen not right, they'll be sure to tell you as you're checking out your groceries.
[00:04:14] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:04:14] Speaker A: Oh man, you definitely don't want that one.
So we're going to start at the beginning. Obviously templating is that first process. You've already got the bid, it's in, you've won it, they want you to do it. Okay, you're going out to template.
What does a typical templating appointment look like for your team?
What are the mistakes that you see that you know, obviously they lead to issues later on?
[00:04:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Typically the appointment looks like we bring in our tools. We use template strips. So we're not at digital templating yet, but the templating strips are a fantastic tool for us. And we use a hot glue gun. And so we kind of go over a couple of details depending on what might be clear or unclear. So like island overhangs where the overhang is going to be on the front of the cabinets if it's a standard overhang or we're doing something special and pretty much any other detail specific to the job. Some jobs are quite cut and dry, very simple and easy to understand. Other ones require a little bit More detail and then we get to templating, setting off our front line of the cabinets, setting up our back line and then putting in our support strips and then comes in labeling and label everything correctly and then creating the paperwork for it is as well matching our templates to what everyone's going to see on the paperwork from the fabricators to the installers. And then that also includes notes, maybe there's a couple of details on how it should be installed for the installers or access notes. All those details go on the paperwork for the project and then that gets brought back to our shop and then goes on from the process from there. So I think the, the biggest issue with templating is if you forget something.
So the mistakes that happen number I think the worst one that we get is forgetting a sink center line. I've done that a couple of times myself, templated a kitchen and then there's no, no sink location. And the biggest, the biggest loss for that really is time. You know, you travel there and back again only to get the sink center line once more.
But besides that, we've had some trouble. We've used cardboard pieces in the past, cardboard sheets, and cut them to size and we've had trouble with the cardbo expanding and contracting with heat and cold. And also since we're using water in the shop to fabricate with it, changing shape.
So that, that was a, was a process to grow through to get to our, our strips.
[00:07:09] Speaker A: Yeah, so you mentioned there you guys are still doing it, as some people call it, the old fashioned way. And obviously there's the new up and coming digital templating with, you know, laser, there's the pro liner, there's various ones.
This is not on our questions, so we're going off topic here, but what, what, what would stop you from going to that next level? Is it the fact of you're comfortable where you are, it works really well so you've no interest or is there what like, is there anything that like kind of holds you back?
[00:07:44] Speaker B: It's just machinery really. That's it. Our, our saw that we have is a brake saw and we just haven't upgraded yet to a CNC machine. You know, when we do, then we will do digital templates. You know, we have people on our team that have worked with digital templates, you know, and they'll say that it's, you know, amazing and quick and then also say that it's a little bit difficult sometimes. There's some nuances to getting the digital template correct so that you actually have A piece that comes out that fits to a banana wall, for example, instead of just having to cut out the, all the drywall. So, you know, there's, there's pros and cons. I think the biggest pro is going to be speed and efficiency with it.
[00:08:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:28] Speaker B: We go into a digital one. So I'm excited for that part of our company. When we get to a cnc. Yeah. Oh, yeah.
[00:08:34] Speaker A: Oh, you'll get there, my friend. You will. You kind of, you kind of talked about the old banana wall, but how do you account for, like, cabinets that are always, they're never level? It's like, seriously, guys, who the heck fitted this? Like, was your spirit level? Was the bubble missing or were you waiting on a replacement bubble? Like, how do you guys account for that whenever you're doing the templating, so to speak?
[00:08:57] Speaker B: Yeah. So for templating, if, if a cabinet is out of level really bad, we will ask cabinet installers to redo that cabinet, especially if it's on a long run with a seam that's going to ruin your seam for the rest of the life of your countertops.
[00:09:14] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:15] Speaker B: So if we can get cabinet guys to come back and reinstall, that's perfect.
If not, I, I always feel like countertop guys. Or maybe it's just our company gets left with all the extra detail work we're always doing. Yeah. Cabinet touch ups.
Leveling touch ups.
You know, we've got paint supplies for ourselves to paint things.
[00:09:40] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:09:41] Speaker B: And then electrical comes in and maybe leaves all the dust on our silicone and that yellows our silicone. And we're constantly, you know, I feel like we're touching up for, for a lot of other people to, to get just a countertop portion. Because in the end, when a client sees a countertop that they maybe don't like a hundred percent, you can't always convince them that, you know, the cabinetry was off, it was the electrician or the painter or whatever. It's our job to do a little bit of a touch up.
[00:10:11] Speaker A: So you guys, not only are you installing, but your handyman at the end of the day?
[00:10:16] Speaker B: Yeah, at the end of the day,
[00:10:17] Speaker A: somebody has to do it. Oh, good stuff.
Okay, so you've templated, everything's good. You've remembered your sink line. Remember the center of the sink line. It's all good. You're back in the shop.
What are some of the most important steps, say, in fabrication to ensure that you get, at the end of it, a good clean install?
[00:10:41] Speaker B: I think number one is accuracy to the template all the time.
If you've created the template in the most ideal way with the best way to install it, and the goal then is to have it match as perfect to the template as you possibly can. And then when you're at the shop, there are a couple of, you know, trade tips and tricks you could do. Like for instance, on a full height backsplash where everything is covered by upper cabinetry and side cabinetries, you can polish some of the edges that are not going to be seen and you can round off the backside of the backsplash as well so that when you're lifting that backsplash into space, into place, it slides into the cabinets easier because the template is thin, but the countertops are typically 3cm and that doesn't always fit the same way as a, as a thin template. So having that plan ahead of time and then just matching the template to the actual stone, you know, that's going to give a really easy install for installers.
[00:11:51] Speaker A: Good. Awesome.
In fabrication, obviously, there's a wide range of blades, there's a wide range of polishing pads, There's a, you know, the world is your oyster when that, you know, comes to play. But what are some common mistakes that are, that are end up, that gives you problems later on when you are fabricating? You know, is it, you know, when you're doing a seam, if your blade isn't perfectly straight and you go to put the seam together, it doesn't fit quite right.
There's things like that. Is there, is there any, is there anything that you've kind of run across that gives you, you know, difficulties?
[00:12:37] Speaker B: Yeah, I would say seams have their, their list of difficulties from doing them. We call it a little bit like a European seam. I don't know if you're aware of. Yeah, so that European seam, sometimes it kicks out that L shape too far and then you gotta decide how you're gonna fix it on a job site or recut, depending on how bad it is. Waterfall edges, also very difficult to get exact of those. We always try to remeasure and fit to size at the shop before we go into install. But even if you have a perfectly square island, top end and legs, and you've checked for the level of cabinetry and the floors on install, something might be just off a little bit and there's always a little adjustment that needs to be made. To be made.
[00:13:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:28] Speaker B: So from fabrication, I think those greater details are probably what are going to cause you the most problem in the future. Like if you're doing a mitered edge, those details are going to be a little bit more difficult. But besides that, avoiding mistakes is probably going to be the easiest to solve and the easiest to install later on in the future. Making sure your sync center lines are on point, making sure you've got your edge profiles correct and where your walls are set and how you should be cutting that template out. You know, all of that being as precise as you possibly can is going to save you a lot of time in the long run.
[00:14:11] Speaker A: Yeah, it's the old proverbial saying, slow is fast and fast is slow.
A lot of times we want to rush through, get it done, and then we realize when we get to the install, it's like, oh, what an idiot. I should have just slowed down and took my time. Whoops.
It's crazy how often we actually not even installers, just in life that we just like rush through stuff and then realize, oh, darn it, I've messed up here. Just take it easy, take it slow. But just a plug. I will say this. When it comes to seams, there is a tool out there called the Seam Phantom. It's phenomenal for helping with seams. And then pair that with Omni Cube's Pro Stealth Seamer. You have what we call the dream seam. So they have a game where they'll put a seam up and it's find the seam because it's very difficult to find.
When you start using the right tools, it's like, oh, where the heck did this go? But it takes time. And a lot of times companies aren't willing to take the time to do that to end up making installers jobs a lot easier. But not only installers, owners, because you don't get the phone call from Sally down the street who's saying, oh, this seem. I can see it. It's got a lip on it. I'm not happy. And then you gotta go back and you gotta repair it and it's like, oh, man.
So use the proper tools. Anyway, moving on, things change. And we're now 2026, thinking back even to 2020 and the changes that there's been in life and everything.
But in fabrication, what have you changed in the way and how your shops run, even in your processes, how you do things?
[00:16:03] Speaker B: I think a massive change was probably getting in that save. A Save O Matic Sync Saver Omni Cube.
[00:16:12] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:16:13] Speaker B: When, when we. We got two different sizes of that and we started implementing that, we reuse it all the time now, always. And so that's. That's Allowed us to have pieces come in one piece to the job site instead of in two pieces.
But. Yep.
But also it's. It's allowed us to cut, what I would say more dangerous pieces, things that are a little bit more risky, that I would. Would tell a customer, you know, we're going to put a seam in this 100%, because this material is crumbly. Yeah. Where now we use those sink savers and the piece comes in perfect. And I think we. We've been able to accept more difficult projects and also have much more happier clients instead of them being, you know, okay with the seam. Now they have a piece that they wanted, ideally, and we managed to install it ideally. So that was.
That tool is fantastic for us.
[00:17:19] Speaker A: That's awesome. That's really good to hear.
It's good for us to hear those things because we don't always get to talk to end users. We do at trade shows and obviously through podcasts. But it's been really interesting to watch, even over social media.
Some of the craftsmanship that you guys do, the shapes that you guys are cutting, you're kind of like, oh, my Lanta. That's like, unreal. But you can't do it without proper tooling. But you also have to be a visionary to be like, I can offer that because I now have the tools.
And so it all.
Some people go, oh, tools are expensive, whatever. But really, when you're able to bring in, you know, two or three more jobs that you had to turn away before, to me, that's making you money, not losing money, so to speak.
[00:18:17] Speaker B: Yeah, but, yeah, and also, if someone received a quote from another fabricator and they said, we can't do this because we don't have the tools for it, you know, you're able to get that project because you. You're equipped for it. Yeah, that's a big plus.
[00:18:31] Speaker A: That's a huge plus. And that's like, word of mouth is one of the best marketing tools ever. And so when I keep using Sally, if Sally's listening, I don't know who you are, but I'm really sorry. It's the first thing came to my mind. But if Sally tells her friend at a barbecue, you know, who did your kitchens? And you're like, oh, it's this wonderful company up the street. I had four other bids. They weren't able to do it because they didn't have the tooling, but Olaus and his team, boom, they were able to do it. And here you are. And then Monday morning, your phone rings. I Want what she has.
So, you know, it all works.
You talked there about crumbly material.
Material is like some of them, you go.
And it breaks, and you're like, really? But in your opinion, what materials are harder to work with and fabricate than others? So to say.
[00:19:26] Speaker B: I think probably the top worst one to work with is marble. Depending on what type of marble you can, you can have a range in all the categories and all the materials, but marble oftentimes is the most crumbly, like I said.
[00:19:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:42] Speaker B: And then this probably goes to quartzites, where they could be less crumbly, but they may have fissures in them. And then those fissures can open up on you or crack on you completely through the slab or just, you know, where you can feel it with your hand. And then granite is above that. And so granite can also be crumbly, depending on what type of granite. Like, if you're looking at a Patagonia granite, you know, that's got a lot of detail in it, a lot of different materials in it that could also end up being crumbly and chipping as well.
And then probably on top of that is, of course, which is almost like a magic to work with. It's. It's the easiest to cut, to polish, and to move around because it's so sturdy.
[00:20:31] Speaker A: Yeah, it's good stuff.
So we've templated, we fabricated.
It's on the back of the truck. We arrive at the job site, what are some of the first things that, like, you or the crew do before you even begin to bring in any material?
[00:20:49] Speaker B: Yeah, clean job site is going to be the easiest because we're walking around with extremely heavy pieces.
So sometimes we do have to ask some of the other trades to move out, but we try to mitigate that by scheduling ahead of time with builders and trying to let them know this. This is the day we're coming.
You know, depending on the size, we're going to need a few hours. And so getting inside of the house, then too, if we need to clean up some of the cabinetry to make sure we've got a nice work area and a clean pathway. That's probably the number thing that we're number one thing that we're doing.
Then after we've got clean paths, then. Then the pieces can come on in. Yeah.
[00:21:31] Speaker A: Awesome.
Obviously, you've said it there. Moving large material, it's heavy.
Obviously, safety as an owner is like, top of mind. You know, you want your crew to go home kind of how they arrived.
What are some of the safety habits that you guys have when moving around large slabs and large material.
[00:21:54] Speaker B: Yeah, it's, again, pretty much coming down to tooling.
We've got dollies to help us move. We've got ramps to help us move as well. We've got the clamps to help us move the pieces in and out.
And then we've also got teamwork.
A lot of times, you know, when we're on a.
How do you say, not a high pressure, but maybe on a. On a extremely valuable slab. On an expensive slab.
[00:22:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:25] Speaker B: Then. Then we're bringing as much people as we can, and I think it's worth the cost if we have, you know, everyone in the shop is gone and we're not fabricating a new piece.
But this. This $10,000 slab didn't break on us. That. That's a win for us. And it's worth way more than, you know, maybe two or three other jobs being cut. So, yeah, having that teamwork and lifting together, that's really valuable for us.
[00:22:49] Speaker A: That's good.
Yeah. It's the proverbial statement we say around here. Roll when you can.
You know, Pro dolly one, pro dolly two. You've got the. At carts.
You know, the Egyptians were smart whenever they would roll pyramids on round things and large stones on round things. And yet we've kind of gone back even further than them and went, no, we're going to muscle it. Yeah, we got this. And then, boom, someone's back goes out, he's off. Workers come claiming he might never come back. Who knows when it's like, dude, buy a cart. Buy a dolly and be done. Set of aqua jaws. You know, you're landed with the sinkhole savers on there. It's bulletproof. It's like you look after your team. And it's longevity, because a lot of these podcasts have revolved around some of the issues with, like, getting people to be employed in regards to, like, longevity of people staying. And it is a. It's hard work, it's hard graft, but it's very rewarding. But it is difficult, it's heavy. And so having the right equipment is so important. So, yeah, check out omnicube for dollies and carts.
[00:24:01] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:24:03] Speaker A: You guys obviously have done a lot of magnificent work.
It's been, you know, fantastic.
But what's one of the most difficult installs that you've had to work with and do.
[00:24:19] Speaker B: I think one of the most difficult ones that sticks out is going to be a mitered edge Quartzite Taj Mahal Island.
So this one was almost full slab plus the miter. So it's like a 120 by 6364.
And so one of the problems that you run into is once you've got four miters on an island, you can't transport it on that miter. And then, for instance, glue on the job site that binder. Sometimes that's easier to do, but you can't move it. So you've got to glue those miters at the shop and then once you glue those miters, you got to fit it onto a dolly and you. And then you've got to somehow transport it to your truck without any of those miters breaking. So we, for our project, we had actually set it onto a dolly at the shop. And then after we had set it on the dolly, we used some straps to help lift it with our forklift to our truck. And so it's on our truck on the dolly and we clamp it down to the truck that way. So all we have to do when we get to the job site is roll it off.
So it sounds easy, but we get to the job site and they're scaffolding up for some bricklayers. And this is one of those things that I said. We're coming this day because this is a big island.
So.
[00:25:45] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:25:46] Speaker B: And we're, we're there with all 11 of our people as well. And we've got our ramp set up to the door. And it was a duplex house in Charlotte. And this entrance into the house starts off with an L entrance. So you're not going directly into the house. You've got an angle angle this slab into the house and fit people all around it. And then you get to the door and inside the door it's another L entrance as well.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:26:17] Speaker B: So.
So once we've managed to roll it in. That was the easy part.
[00:26:22] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:26:22] Speaker B: And then rolling it in, leaning on the cabinets and leaning it down. You know, we've survived that far and now we have to all, all around the edge, pick it up and set it into its position. Because it's got these mitered edges. So it's got to clamp over those, those cabinets. And so then you're worried about your, your fingertips, the weight of it. And so we managed to put it in. No, no cracks, no. No scratches, no anything.
[00:26:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:26:52] Speaker B: With it. But still it went.
It was a like a four hour ordeal just to transport everything.
[00:26:59] Speaker A: Yep. And you load, you lose a bucket load of sweat as you're doing it because it's like oh, please.
[00:27:05] Speaker B: No, no.
[00:27:07] Speaker A: Oh, that's, that's hectic. Wow. That's, that's. But hey, you got it in. Good job. Well done.
[00:27:12] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. So we'll remember that one.
[00:27:15] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a memorable one for sure.
What would you say in your market where you're at is sort of the most popular material that's being used? Do you see any changes in that?
Is it still. The old quartz is still ranking number one where it kind of is most places. But is there a close runner up or even, even like large format tile is taking a. Is starting to really get more popular and a lot of guys are using it more. But what, what are you seeing in your market?
[00:27:46] Speaker B: Yeah, we see about 75% of what we cut as quartz and what competitors cut is quartz. And that's probably been consistent for like six years now, mostly quartz, and hasn't really been shifting. I mean, porcelain came onto the market with porcelain slabs and that would be, you know, really great to work with, but we do very little work with porcelain slabs. But I think it's, it's very difficult to, to have something new get saturated into the market of every common homeowner.
[00:28:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:20] Speaker B: So I think quartz wins because it's still highly functional, highly very easy to clean and, you know, super safe in your home with chips, cracks, with anything. It's just, you know, it looks great too.
So I think that's why Quartz Quartz wins. But some, some things, some projects, I think are more into using the natural stones, and I think that often requires, you know, maybe a designer eye.
They're really happy to use a natural stone that really fits with a space in the design. But know for kind of your, your everyday consumer, quartz is the, the easy go to color.
[00:29:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
Yeah. So from the homeowner standpoint, why do you think they, they're choosing quartz over say, like natural stone today or any other materials?
[00:29:19] Speaker B: Oh, man. I think maybe that white trend really, really soaked into the market where everyone was white cabinets, white countertops.
Yeah. I mean, even quartz colors now they're, they're shifting to be much more warmer, to have more veining on it.
[00:29:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:35] Speaker B: But still, everyone says, I'm looking for white quartz with something. You know, I think that that was whoever did the marketing on the white courts won, won that competition for sure. Yeah.
[00:29:50] Speaker A: It's everywhere. It literally is everywhere. You're dead right.
[00:29:54] Speaker B: Even if you show like a printed quartz that's got marble, like veining, or a printed quartz that's Taj Mahal, people look at it and like, do you have something white. I'm like, okay, totally.
[00:30:06] Speaker A: Yeah, I know what market you're looking for.
Oh, that's cool. Yeah, for sure. Well, kind of last question to wrap this all up, then. If you could give, say, homeowners, contractors, even new installers things to learn from, what would be at the very top of that list? Something that you made a mistake, you've learned from it, and you will never do it again.
[00:30:33] Speaker B: I think the benefit is for homeowners to know their slab sizes as early in the process as you can.
Because, like, for me, my ideal kitchen is three or four rectangle pieces and a big island. And. And that'll fit almost any slab that you want without any seams and without any problems. Sometimes homeowners will go in and design a massive L piece all across the kitchen and then go and pick out their slabs without thinking how that seam is going to match up. And so it also depends on, you know, how picky a homeowner is. Are they okay with this type of seam, or they want an exact seam. And so I feel like you can avoid your own grief if you're ahead of time knowing what your slab sizes are so that, you know, what's the maximum single length that I can do on top of my cabinets? And then build, you know, work with cabinetry to have that be your maximum length. Then you save yourself on seams, on any color issues, on any matching issues, and then you're able to know with any, you know, if you do anything out of the ordinary or a little bit more decorative with your edging, you already know that you've got the space to do that. Instead of building a massive house with an island that's just shy of a full slab size. And now you need a seam down the middle, and you're like, I don't want to seem down the middle. Yeah, yeah, you got to plan ahead. We got to figure out that slab size.
[00:32:11] Speaker A: Totally. That's funny. Yeah, that's good. Good advice. So you hear to hear first, hands and boots and feet on the ground.
Get to know the size of the stone. It's so important.
Well, thank you so much, sir. I really appreciate you coming on.
You heard it here from his mouth. Get the proper tools.
And so if you want to learn more, go on omnicube.com find our tools there, Buy them, use them. You won't regret it. But for this episode of the Cutting Edge install, that's a wrap. If you've enjoyed it, please be sure to follow, subscribe, leave a quick review. Perhaps if you're listening and going, I'd like to be a guest on there. Let us know. We're always looking for new people to come on. Share it with your friends, share it with your crew. Keep an eye out every second Thursday. So Thursday at 8am Pacific State time. These get launched two a month, so please be on the lookout for them. Like I said, go on our website. Check everything out omnicube. Com and until the next time I see you all, cheerio, Stay safe and goodbye.
