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1. What is Natural Stone?
Natural Stone is a highly selective product with individual feel, touch and color, sensitivity, subjected to desire for uniqueness and ego satisfaction. A classic look developed by nature over millions of years, that is not affected by fashions, nor perishable over a period of time.
Natural Stone was produced as a result of millions of years of different geological changes that took place in the earth's crust. This has resulted in creation of wide variety of vibrant colors and characteristics. Depending on the process, composition and characteristics the Natural Stone have been categorized into Granite, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, Quartzite, Sandstone, Adoquin and Onyx.
2. Who needs a Natural Stone in America?
Natural stone has been a poplar housing and building material, all over the world for centuries. However in America, wood has been the primary used for housing. In America Natural stones were mostly used for tombstones and monuments. However this trend is now changing. People in America are now moving towards usage of Natural stones in their Kitchens, Atriums, Bathrooms, Fireplace, Floors, Facades and almost every part of their homes and offices.
3. Why should I use Natural Stone in my home?
With the flooding of our environment with all artificial equipments and materials, one looks for relief at home and Natural Stone gives a classic and realistic feeling; and a proximity to nature. When we compare to all the visible items like wallpaper, paints, curtains, appliances, furniture etc. only Natural Stone gives the classic look and a unique feeling.
Natural Stone also gives a hint of luxury, while still being affordable. Natural Stone is the REAL thing in today's artificially decorated homes.
4. What are the different kinds of Natural Stone?
There are various different Natural Stone: Granite, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, Quartzite, Sandstone, Adoquin and Onyx.
Granite
Granite is an important structural and ornamental stone, due to its high compressive strength and durability. It is the hardest of structural stones. Its mineral-rich colors, the hardness and density, make it and ideal choice for flooring, counter tops, vanities as well as exterior applications. A broad range of elegant patterns and colors makes granite the most versatile and durable of all stones. It is also the most"maintenance-free"of all stones. Granites get their wonderful variety of colors and patterns from minerals that are melted into the liquid mass as it is formed.
Marble
Marble has been valued for thousands of years for its rich palette of beautiful colors and appearance and is perfect for pretty much any part of the house. Generally calcite and dolomite marbles are of pure white color. Variations of whiteness of pure marbles are due to the mixture of foreign substances. Such impurities form bands, streaks and clouds. Black and grayish shades are due to graphite; reds are mainly due to the presence of manganese oxides or hematite.
The Taj Mahal in India is the best illustration of marble architecture.
Slate
A great combination of earth tone colors and finish makes this stone one of its kinds. The vibrant colors and unique textures make slates appropriate for interior as well as exterior applications. Because it is formed in layers, it can easily be split to expose beautifully textured surfaces. The usual colors of slates are earthy (various shades and mixes of browns, beiges, yellows), black, dark-grays, and greenish-gray but shades of pinks, purples and copper are also found. They usually exhibit lot of variations amongst the pieces quarried from the same pit. Slates, depending on their individual hardness, are used for flooring, cladding and landscaping.
Quartzite
Quartzite are very similar to slates, but with a higher content of Quartz in them, which gives them, a sparkling texture. They are so close to slate that usually they are referred to as quartzitic-slates. Just like slates, they are used for various applications depending on their hardness.
Sandstone
As the name suggests, Sandstone is made of sand cemented by silica, iron, lime etc. The color of sandstone depends on the cementing material; ferruginous (iron) sandstones are reddish, brownish, carbonaceous, black; siliceous, white and argillaceous, earthy to buff. Other than the hardness, porosity of sandstones is also decisive in deciding suitability for applications for Sandstone.
Limestone
The muted tones of limestone are perfect for today's more casual and comfortable lifestyles. Generally these soft beiges and tans, either polished or honed, is appropriate for bathrooms, fireplaces, counters and less-traveled flooring where a more informal decor is desired. Limestones are sedimentary rocks that are formed at the bottom of lakes and seas, as silt and organic matter settle to the bottom. As more and more layers build up over thousands and millions of years, adding more and more weight, the heat and pressure cause chemical reactions to take place to harden the sediments into solid stone.
Travertine
The cozy tones of Travertine range from the sandy beiges to Shimmering Golds giving a feeling of warmth and comfort. The Coliseum in Rome, having stood for over 2000 years, is perhaps the most famous travertine structure in the world. Travertine is commonly used outside as cladding and pavement, as well as inside for floors, walls and countertops. Travertine is generally filled with cement before it is honed or polished, which produces a uniform surface more like other marbles. Unfilled travertine is quite beautiful, and is often seen as exterior cladding on buildings.
Travertines result from hot spring water percolating up through underground limestone. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind layers of dissolved limestone and other minerals, giving it its banded appearance. The characteristic holes in travertine are the result of trapped gas bubbles; as the gas escapes, crystals form in the cavities. Travertines are generally light-colored beiges and tans, though there are some beautiful, colored travertines that have resulted from other minerals dissolved by hot water underground.
5. How Natural Stone tiles differ from Ceramic tiles?
The very first and basic difference in Natural Stone and Ceramic Tile is, Natural Stone is product of Mother Nature where as Ceramic tile is man-made and hence artificial. And as is the case with most of the manmade material it is not as unique or as durable as most of the natural stones are. Ceramic tiles that get defaced due to staining or scratching need to be replaced, while natural stone can always be restored.
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