Interview with a Stone Inspector
Posted by Maurizio Ghiotto on Wednesday September 1, 2010
Raoul Luciani is one of the foremost stone inspectors in our industry today. It literally takes decades of experience to become truly knowledgeable in the stone inspection field. Raoul now has more than 30 years under his belt and has worked on many well-known projects throughout the world.
I would like to share with you what a valuable asset he is to any project that requires skilled quality control for what can be (and often is) the most important aesthetic element of any architectural structure.
What exactly does a stone inspector do?
A stone inspector's responsibility is to ensure that the specifications of a project are met. Specifications generally include the dimensions, quality, color range, finishes, scheduling and delivery of the project materials. I mediate and document all conversations and layouts with my clients.
Who typically hires you?
The majority of my clients are architects. Depending on the size and scale of the project I can be hired by the owner/ developer, the contractor and occasionally the stone supplier/ installer. Typically though, criteria and acceptance are assumed by the architect.
How long does a typical job take?
The duration of any project is generally regulated by the complexity of the design. The architect's often stringent sample range, rather than the size of the project guide the timing. I have had projects that have spanned as short as 3 months and as long as 3 years.
Since stone can be found all over the world, which geographical areas do you primarily work in?
As you pointed out, I have worked on projects around the world. Given this, I tend to work mostly within Europe for the stone selection and approval process. Lately, I have been spending more time in China and India than ever before.
Can you explain each stage of a project that you complete?
I am usually hired after preliminary decisions have been made, some of which include: the country of origin of the materials, the specified contractor and subcontractor, and lastly, the stone factory.
The initial inspection entails a review of the quarry, factory, stone range and variations. Individual relationships become necessary at this point, as I begin to understand the aesthetic goals the architect has for a specific project. Samples are submitted and approved, thereby specifying an acceptable range of color, texture and finish.
I will also have established an understanding of acceptable blending variations. Depending on the size of the project, a mock up is often made. This mockup consists of a section of the wall cladding and/or flooring. The architect will then accept or decline areas which are within the range of the approved original samples.
Once fabrication begins, my responsibility consists of spending time at the factory, overseeing blending, and designating the exact layout of specific walls and/or floors. I will number each panel or piece and specifically order them based on detailed drawings. Of course, each job is dependent on having full cooperation with the contractor and subcontractor so the installation is done exactly as lain out.
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