The Fall Renovation Timeline: When to Start Selecting Stone for Your Kitchen or Bath
Fall is when Epic sees the most inquiries for kitchen and bath renovations — and the timeline surprises people, though maybe not in the direction they expect. Most projects move faster than the internet’s worst-case stories suggest. The exception is material sourced from overseas, which is worth understanding before you assume your project […]
What to Look for in a Stone Installer in Orange County
A stone installation is one of the more expensive, hardest-to-undo decisions in a renovation, and the installer matters as much as the material. Yet most homeowners choose based on a quote and a portfolio photo, without asking the questions that actually predict whether a project stays on schedule and looks right five years […]
Inside the Fabrication Shop: What Actually Happens Before a Slab Becomes a Countertop
A finished countertop looks simple — a clean slab, a clean edge, an exact fit. What’s invisible is everything that happens before that slab ever reaches a kitchen: the measuring, the mapping, the cutting decisions that determine whether a piece of natural stone reads as one continuous surface or a patchwork of […]
Stone for Pool Decks: Why Late Summer and Fall Are the Smartest Time to Resurface
Most homeowners think about their pool deck in June, when it’s already too late to redo it without losing a season of use. The smarter window is right now. As the pool sees less daily traffic heading into fall, a resurfacing project can move forward without disrupting the months when the backyard […]
The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Kitchen Stone: Planning Now for Pool Decks, BBQs & Fall Installs
There’s a reason outdoor kitchen inquiries don’t slow down at the end of summer — they shift. Homeowners who spent the season actually using their backyard now know exactly what they wish they’d built differently, and late summer through fall is when the smartest projects get specified. Material lead times mean a project […]
Summer Recap & What’s Ahead This Fall: Building at Epic Ceramic & Stone
Summer keeps a fabrication shop honest. Between pool decks, outdoor kitchens, and the kind of last-minute “can we get this done before the family reunion” calls that come with the season, it’s the busiest stretch of the year at Epic Ceramic & Stone — and a good moment to pause and take […]
Summer 2026: Material Trends for Outdoor Living
The same material attention that used to be reserved for kitchens and primary baths has moved outside. In 2026, pool decks, outdoor kitchens, and covered patios are being specified with the same rigor — and the same budget — as the rooms inside the house. The material decisions driving that shift are consistent enough, […]
Behind the Collaboration: Designer Shopping Experiences at Epic
The best stone and tile projects are never a solo act. They are the product of a real working relationship between the contractor and the designer — one that starts long before a single slab is cut and continues through the final walkthrough. At Epic Ceramic & Stone, that relationship has a shape. […]
The Epic Difference: 20 Years, 3 Brands, One Vision
Most entrepreneurs build one company. Josiah Lilly has built three — each one solving a different problem he kept running into in the stone and tile industry, while Epic Ceramic & Stone itself has stayed focused on doing one thing exceptionally well: installation. Thirty-five years ago, that problem was installation quality. 20 years ago, […]
How to Hire a Stone and Tile Contractor in Orange County: The Homeowner’s Complete Guide
The decision most homeowners make too quickly — and regret too slowly. It is not the material. Most homeowners spend considerable time and care choosing their stone and tile — visiting showrooms, reviewing samples, comparing options. By the time they have selected their material, they are invested. They love what they have […]
