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The Beauty, Security and Durability made from Houston Cantera Products
Your home is your personal sanctuary and financial investment, and as such, it should reflect strength, security and enduring quality, it is also an investment. We work with builders who choose the finest workmanship to enhance the value of their work and homeowners that wish to improve the aesthetic beauty of their home.
Houston Cantera is made up of experienced professionals who have the expertise to ensure that your home is built with exceptional products and has enduring beauty. Our staff has over 25 years of combined experience in fields such as sourcing/design of handcrafted materials, construction, exportation, transportation/logistics, quality assurance, material handling and installation.
Our company has artisans with skills that have been developed and passed down through many family generations and which are quickly disappearing in many parts of the world.
The Houston Cantera advantage means that your product is always custom-made by our artisans. Our objective is to provide customers with unique quality and service whether they are a designer, builder, or the homeowner. Our partnership means that we respect your established relationships and will work seamlessly with the other service providers involved with your project. Houston Cantera believes in absolute integrity, respect and fulfilling commitments.
Our Team
A Quick History of Cantera Stone
Cantera stone is one of the best kept secrets in the stone industry. Made from volcanic ash that has been compressed into stone over millions of years, Cantera is an unusually lightweight and porous rock, especially when you consider its strength and durability. It’s often compared to sandstone in texture and porosity, then paradoxically thrown in with marble and granite when the conversation shifts to appearance and classical looks.
The fact is that Cantera is one of the most versatile stone products on the market. It can be used across the board, from trim moldings, flooring tile, decorative carved stone accents, and just about everywhere in between. If you’re looking for a beautiful natural stone product, Cantera is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Thanks to its versatility, light weight, and malleable nature, Cantera has been used as a building material in both the new and the old world for thousands of years already. Transforming stone into pieces of art, however, didn’t catch on in the Americas until the Spaniards brought the practice over from Europe hundreds of years ago. The art form caught on in the Spanish colonies, and today most Cantera bought in the United States is quarried in Mexico and hand carved by Mexican artisans. Once the stone is finished, it’s then shipped to the U.S. for use.
Where to Use Cantera Stone
The amazing thing about Cantera is that it is suited for use just about anywhere in your home. The most popular use, however, is as accent stone. Because it can easily be carved into any shape or design, it makes for stunning trim moldings, balustrades, fireplaces, accents around doorways, windows, and entryways.
If artistic flair is your thing, Cantera fountains, statues, and architectural accents take the art of carving Cantera Stone to its highest level, and add class and tradition to any space. Because it comes in a large range of natural earth tones, a color can be found to match just about pre-existing home design.
Cantera is also used as flooring tile, especially in areas where high moisture can wreak havoc with other flooring materials. It’s porous in nature, which creates a non-slip surface wherever it’s installed, making it well-suited for bathrooms and pool decking.
The one caution here: it’s probably wise to seal your Cantera flooring tile, especially in the kitchen or other areas where it may experience spills and stains. Because it’s porous stone, it will absorb a spill more easily than granite or marble. Periodically treating Cantera with a good sealer is the best way to ensure it will keep its natural, classical look, for years to come.
Don’t Trust Just Anybody with Your Cantera Stone
Stone work with Cantera is steeped in tradition and because so much of it borders on art, so you’re well advised to seek out a contractor, who specializes in working with Cantera to get the most out of your new home addition. They’ll have the connections south of the border to get you the best stone, from the best artisans possible. For a mix of classical looks and old world feel, you can’t beat the good looks and appearance of Cantera stone.
