History of Stone

Natural stone has its own unique qualitites that not only distinguish it from man made materials but also should be considered in selecting it for a particular project. Stone is not manufactured; it is a product of nature. Stone is a natural solid formation of one or many minerals.
Like so many natural formations, every piece is unique and matchless. Within each piece of stone also lies the history of one particular place on our planet. Today's limestone floor for instance, was once a mass of tiny sea creatures, then an ancient seabed, and after millions of years of uplift, a mountainside where the limestone was discovered in our day.
Natural stone was cut out from a mountainside originally in huge 50,000 pound blocks of stone (removed from quarries). There are thousands of types of stone that have been quarried through the centuries. Quarries are located all around the world. A majority of natural stone comes from Italy, Spain, Turkey, United States, Mexico, China, Taiwan, India, Greece, Canada, France, and Brazil.
Natural stone was cut out from a mountainside originally in huge 50,000 pound blocks of stone (removed from quarries). The blocks were then sliced into slabs which were then refined to give its natural colors a mirror like depth, smooth soft surface or left slightly rough to enhance its rich natural texture.
Slabs are further fabricated into the final stone to be installed. Each block is different. Each slab is different and unique. In contrast to the repetitive sameness of material produced by machine or assembly line, dimension stone's naturally varied appearance has wonderful character. It is the uniqueness and difference that makes granite so popular today.

The luster, hardness, colors and variation are all indications of the stone's mineral composition and origin. This unique blend of characteristics is what makes your natural stone a one-of-a-kind, beautiful yet practical surface for your home.

The minerals in stone came from the same liquid and gas minerals that formed the earth. The Earth developed as a massive body of gas and liquid minerals that slowly cooled and condensed to a solid core. Through pressure, the Earth's crust began to form and heavy minerals were forced down to the core of the Earth where they were trapped. As the crust got thicker, it squeezed around the inner core which created. intense pressure and heat from within the Earth.
Crystals and other solid forms began to grow from the mineral vapors that were being released. As the Earth's crust began to expand and erode, heat and pressure pushed the solid minerals up to the Earth's surface which formed colossal rock beds. It took up to one-hundred million years to form some of these beds. Many of the beds are now used as quarries where the stone is mined.
Most of these minerals can be identified by their color, hardness, and crystal formation. Crystals come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The wide array of these minerals are often difficult to identify. Many stones look very similar to each other; however, they are all very different.

Durabilty

Next to diamond, granite is the hardest natural stone available. Because of its low absorbtion rate, granite is less prone to staining and is also heat resistant making it ideal for surface tops. The grain of one stone is never equal to another which means the texture of granite is like a fingerprint. Granite surface tops have a smooth high gloss finish that exacts the elegance and beauty of the material while maintaining its duribility.

Stone is Absorbent

Although we usually think of stone as "hard," it is a porous material. Natural stone has varying degrees of porosity depending on the type of stone. If left unsealed, spills and everyday messes can easily penetrate the surface. The liquid eventually evaporates but the stain is left behind. Highly acidic substances such as orange juice, coffee and wine will also etch acid sensitive stones and leave a dull mark. Acid resistant stones such as most granite, slate and sandstone will not etch. Protected Stone with protective sealers make stains bead up for easy removal. Oil and water-based stains can penetrate and damage unprotected stone.

Protected Stone Protective sealers make stains bead up for easy removal.

Unprotected Stone Oil and water-based stains can penetrate and damage unprotected stone.

It is imperative to know the exact type of stone that is to be maintained. Stone is natural and may have adverse reactions to certain cleaning chemicals and procedures. Most stones are also natural alkalis and so are dirt and soil; therefore, stone and dirt are attracted to each other which often makes cleaning very difficult. This makes the proper selection of cleaning procedures and chemicals for stone very complex.
Always consult with a Professional to establish a precise stone Maintenance system.

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