Granite

An excellent choice for kitchen countertops, floors, and other heavily used surfaces. Granite is an igneous rock, which means it was once molten and formed as it cooled deep within the earth. Minerals within granite typically appear as small flecks throughout the stone, once creating a "salt and pepper" look. Other types have veining similar to marble. Granite is a dense-grained, hard stone. It can be highly polished or finished in a variety of other ways. A broad spectrum of color is available. Granite, quarried from the mountains of Italy, the U.S., India, Brazil, China and dozens of other countries around the world, is one of the most popular natural stones in the market.

Most common uses:

Granite received the highest overall performance rating, according to a leading consumer magazine, as a kitchen countertop material. While some synthetic surfaces scratch easily and melt under hot cookware, granite resists heat. Granite is also one of the most bacteria-resistant kitchen surfaces, and it is not affected by citric acid, coffee, tea, alcohol, or wine. It is also nearly impossible to scratch, and with proper cleaning, will not stain under normal use (ask your professional contractor about sealants available to further improve resistance to staining). Available in a striking array of colors, granite's exceptional strength makes it ideal for kitchen countertops and other heavily used surfaces, including table tops and floors, exterior applications such as cladding, paving, and curbing.

Care & Precautions:

Most stones should be sealed with a high quality stone sealer. Stone, unlike ceramic tile, is slightly porous. Kitchen counters, floors, vanities, tub and shower surrounds should be resealed whenever water will not bead up on the surface. Sealing a stone surface is not difficult, or expensive. To seal a stone surface, clean the stone with a mild detergent that does not contain ammonia and allow it to dry for several hours. Next apply the sealer according to the directions and wipe off the excess as directed. There are several types of stone sealer. When cleaning stone, there are a couple of do's and don’ts. Don’t use Windex or other products with ammonia, strong caustics, or solvents. Ammonia will remove the sealer. Strong caustic cleaners will do the same.

Marble

Ideal for foyers, bathrooms, floors, and hearths.Marble has both a scientific and commercial definition. Scientific marble was once limestone that achieved metamorphosis from intense pressures and high temperatures within the earth. This altered its crystalline structure and introduced other minerals that produced the valuable colors and veining. Commercially, any stone capable of taking a polish (with the exception of granite) is known as marble. This includes travertine, onyx, serpentine and limestone. Marble is found in the mountainous regions of Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain, the U.S., Greece and other countries worldwide.

Most common uses:

Marble adds a sophisticated element to your home, and its wonderful appearance, superior engineering characteristics, and ease of maintenance makes it a natural choice for floors, wall coverings, fireplace facing and hearth, table tops, and bathroom walls, floors, vanity tops, tub decks, and showers. Marble should be cared for as you would a fine wood finish. Using coasters on tabletops and cleaning up spills immediately will preserve marble's natural beauty. Serpentine - another option for marble-loving homeowners is using another natural stone - for kitchen counters. Sometimes called the "green" marble, serpentine is not a true marble but offers a marble-like look. And, because it is magnesium-silicate based, it is not sensitive to citric acid and other kitchen spills.

Care & Precautions:

Polished marbles will serve well as flooring in areas where little sand is tracked onto these floors. Honed (flat finished) marble, limestone, or travertine will do very well in high traffic areas. Polished marble on a bathroom countertop requires you not to leave any thing that will cause rust, chemical, or food stains on the countertop and the counter top will need to be sealed occasionally. Lemon juice or other food acids can etch polished marble, and cause flat spots and marble is more easily stained by oils, juices and metals. Stains on marble are more complicated to remove. A honed marble on a kitchen countertop is a better choice than polished. Never use bleach, Comet or acidic cleaners on polished marble. These will etch the surface and remove the shine.

Travertine, Limestone, Onyx& Slate

Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out
Travertine Travertine marble is a variety of limestone formed in pools by the slow precipitation of hot, mineral-rich spring water. The "holes" characteristic of the travertine were created when carbon dioxide bubbles were trapped as the stone was being formed. Although the classic travertines are recognizable by their homogenous ecru to dark colors, dark reds are available to dark brown veining.

Most common uses:

Travertine is a type of limestone and one of the most popular natural stones for interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving, statuary, and curbing. Limited counter top use.

Limestone Limestone is widely used as a building stone because it is readily available and easy to work with. It is a sedimentary stone, layered and formed from the skeletons and shells of sea creatures that lived in vast, warm seas millions of years ago. Much domestic limestone is gray to buff in color, while some pastel shades of yellow to pink are available. Imported limestones are available in colors ranging from light beige to dark brown, red and black. When the mineral dolomite is present, it makes the limestone harder and capable of being polished in the same manner as metamorphic marble.

Most common uses:

Limestone is widely used as a building stone because it is readily available and easy to handle. Popular applications include vanity tops, flooring, interior and exterior wall cladding, and exterior paving.

Onyx marble is a translucent, layered calcite stone in pastel shades. It is typically formed in caves as stalactites and stalagmites by the slow precipitation of cold, mineral-rich water.

Most common uses:

Interior wall covering. Can be used exterior in warm environments, table tops, very light duty residential flooring.

Slate Slate is a fine-grained, metamorphic stone derived from sedimentary rock shale. It is uniform in color, available in shades such as dark to light green, mottled purple, black, gray or dark red. Veined patterns from overseas have also recently been introduced. Unless its surface has been honed smooth, slate can be recognized by its distinct cleft pattern.

Most common uses:

Slate is a popular flooring material. Slate is often used for exterior paving stones, or pavers. Additional slate applications include kitchen countertops, fireplace facings, tabletops, and roofing.

Soapstone

Soapstone is a metamorphosed, easily worked igneous stone characterized by a "soapy" feeling when touched. Colors range from dark gray to bluish or greenish gray. Its heat retention qualities make it an ideal cladding for freestanding coal or wood-fired room heaters. Soapstone is also chemical, stain and weather-resistant, and is useful for sinks and laboratory tops.

Most common uses:

Soapstone used for kitchen countertops, for sinks and laboratory tops, fireplace facings & inner hearths, as well as general building purposes.

Color Options: Soapstone is primarily comprised of talc, giving it it's soft look and feel. The Architectural grade of Soapstone (non-porous and ideal for kitchen countertop use) is generally darker and has a talc content of 30%-50%. Artistic Soapstone is classified by its softness, with a talc content of greater than 60%, making it perfect for carving and sculpture.

Architectural Soapstone does vary somewhat in the shade of the material, and you have some flexibility in determining the final look of your kitchen countertop.

To achieve the darker look (deep charcoal-black), all that is needed is mineral oil, which you can purchase at your local drugstore or supermarket. Just rub it into the stone and remove any excess that sits on the surface, repeating this process several times until you reach the level of darkness desired. The darker color will help to hide minor scratches that typically occur with normal use.

The other option is to not do a thing! You can keep the natural look of the soapstone by simply washing your countertops with water. If left untreated, Soapstone will naturally achieve a slightly darkened patina after years of use.

Stone is an excellent value for several reasons.

1. It is beautiful.
2. It is economical.
3. It is extremely durable.
4. It is fire proof.
5. It is easy to maintain.
6. It adds to the resale value of your home.
7. It never goes out of style.