A creative mosaic is one way to use marble and granite remnants. 

Q: Am I expected to keep what’s leftover after my granite kitchen countertop is fabricated? What usually happens to remaining pieces of stone?

A: There are a couple of important things to think about when it comes to dealing with remnants, or the pieces of leftover stone that’s left after stone slabs are cut for countertops, tiling, and other jobs. First of all, do you want to keep them? Do you have a plan for using them? And finally, do you have a place to store them in the meantime? If the answer to these questions is no, then you’re better off letting your fabricator deal with what remains—which most expect to do with each job. But if you have an idea, you may want to inquire about holding onto what’s left.

So, what would you do with remnants, you may be wondering? Well, larger stone remnants can be used to top smaller pieces of furniture such as side tables or even smaller bathroom vanities. Medium sized pieces can be turned into accessories like trivets, serving platters, or cutting boards. We’ve seen catering companies use marble remnants as trays for cheeses and fruits since it helps keep them cool. Another idea is to create stunning mosaics such as this scrap granite sidewalk found outside of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida.

Colorful scrap granite sidewalk at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. 

Scrap stone sidewalks can add tons of personality to exterior landscaping. We’ve also seen scrap stone set in cement used for flooring in lobbies, garages, mudrooms, and more, from budget-friendly to very high end. Want to see some cool ideas for creating scrap stone walkways, just do a quick search on Pinterest. You’ll see some really creative applications and read about how others went about procuring the remnants used in their projects.

It can be very expensive for stone workers to dispose of scrap granite and marble. You can take advantage of this by letting stone shops know that you’ll take the next batch of available scraps. Sometimes they’ll just give it to you for free or charge you a nominal fee to take it. You never know unless you ask!

Sidewalk made of natural stone remnants outside of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. 

If your only reason for holding onto your extra marble or granite is “just in case you need it,” you may want to reconsider. Storing the extra stone can be a real pain. Stone remnants are heavy, making them awkward and difficult to move. If you make the decision to keep your scraps, just be sure you have a suitable place to keep it.

Another really important thing to remember if you’re planning to keep your remnants is that the leftover material won’t be suitable to use until it’s finished. You’ll still need a professional with the proper tools to cut, polish, and detail your stone. And if you’re not into a DIY project, you’ll need an installer who is willing to think outside the box.

If you’re looking to cover a smaller surface, marble or granite remnants can be a very cost-effective way to add a luxurious material to your home improvement project. We don’t hold onto remnants here at Marble and Granite, Inc. but talk to your local stone shop if you’re looking to obtain some. Need help finding a fabricator? Check out our list of the top nationwide fabricators online. And, as always, feel free to call us with any of your stone-related questions: 877-39-STONE.