Granicrete, founded in April 2006, was approached in 2008 by David Rairick, founder of Aurastone to create a product for countertop resurfacing that was becoming a specialty niche for faux finishers. David was a well established and well recognized artist and trainer for faux finishes.
Granicrete created the Aurastone texture, epoxy, and base colorants which became the foundation for Aurastone ultra-designer finishes. The secret was in the simplicity which artists could create travertine and onyx finishes using this special texture blend and products with some modifications in application techniques.
In the winter of 2009, David Rairick and Marc Winkelman recognized their two separate companies that targeted two separate renovation and designer markets, were now seeing the beginning of a merging of these markets. Decorative concrete which had been the target market of Granicrete and the faux finishing as targeted by Aurastone were becoming more closely aligned. The struggling economy and the pursuit of the same consumers by both industries had become a major contributor to these markets merging.
In 2010 Granicrete and Aurastone announced a "Strategic Alliance" between these two separate companies. The basis of the alliance was the following:
- To make product lines available to both distribution networks.
- To improve Aurastone's installer trainings and curriculum by using Granicrete's proven success methodologies.
- To improve Aurastone's order fulfillment by centralizing all manufacturing and distribution at Granicrete's Phoenix headquarters.
- To advanced research and development through combining resources and testing rather than working independently.
- To provide all these benefits to both current and future the Aurastone and Granicrete wholesale distributors.
Throughout 2010, David continued working on speciality products and projects. David has now moved on pursuing opportunities in church and parachurch organizations using his passions and talents to minister to their needs.
The evolution of Aurastone continues. Granicrete as the original manufacturer, the refiner of those training and applications systems, the backbone of research and development, the origin of new products, and the go-to team for technical support, continues to serve with excellence.