Glossary of terms
Natural Stone
Natural stones have captivated humanity for millennia, used for everything from building majestic structures to crafting exquisite jewelry. Each stone boasts unique characteristics, making them a versatile and beautiful choice for architects, designers, and homeowners alike. This glossary explores some of the most popular natural stones, highlighting their properties and applications.
Granite:
Type: Igneous rock
Properties: Highly durable, heat and scratch resistant, speckled appearance
Composition: Quartz, feldspar, mica
Colors: Wide variety, including white, black, gray, brown, and red
Applications: Countertops, flooring, monuments, paving stones, building facades
Benefits: Durable, low maintenance, heat resistant, wide variety of colors and patterns
Marble:
Type: Metamorphic rock
Properties: Elegant veining, smooth texture, susceptible to etching
Composition: Primarily calcium carbonate (calcite)
Colors: White, cream, black, various other colors with veining
Applications: Countertops, flooring, sculptures, wall cladding, decorative objects
Benefits: Beautiful aesthetic, heat resistant (except for light-colored varieties), wide variety of styles
Considerations: Requires proper care due to susceptibility to etching from acidic substances.
Quartzite:
Type: Metamorphic rock
Properties: Hard, scratch and etch resistant, resembles marble in appearance
Composition: Primarily quartz
Colors: White, gray, beige, and various other colors
Applications: Countertops, flooring, wall cladding, paving stones
Benefits: Extremely durable, low maintenance, scratch and etch resistant, resembles the beauty of marble
Considerations: Can be more expensive than some other natural stones.
Sandstone:
Type: Sedimentary rock
Properties: Varies in color and texture depending on mineral composition, porous
Composition: Compressed sand grains and minerals
Colors: Tan, brown, red, yellow, white, and various other colors
Applications: Building facades, paving stones, landscaping features, wall cladding
Benefits: Affordable, readily available, provides a natural and rustic aesthetic
Considerations: Requires periodic sealing to protect against weathering and staining.
Limestone:
Type: Sedimentary rock
Properties: Softer stone compared to others, susceptible to scratching, various textures
Composition: Primarily calcium carbonate (calcite)
Colors: White, cream, beige, gray, and various other colors
Applications: Building stone, sculptures, crushed stone for construction purposes, flooring, wall cladding
Benefits: Affordable, readily available, classic and elegant aesthetic
Considerations: Requires careful handling due to its softness, susceptible to etching from acidic substances.
Soapstone:
Type: Metamorphic rock
Properties: Smooth, soapy texture, heat resistant, naturally stain resistant
Composition: Primarily talc and magnesium silicate minerals
Colors: Dark gray, green, black
Applications: Countertops, sinks, cladding, fireplaces, cookware
Benefits: Heat resistant, easy to clean, naturally stain resistant, unique and soft aesthetic
Considerations: Requires periodic oiling to maintain its luster, may show scratches more easily.
Onyx:
Type: Variety of banded calcite (a mineral)
Properties: Translucent, soft, comes in various colors
Colors: White, cream, yellow, brown, green, and various banded combinations
Applications: Countertops, wall panels, decorative objects, lighting fixtures
Benefits: Beautiful and unique aesthetic with translucency, adds a luxurious touch
Considerations: Requires special care due to its softness, susceptible to scratching and etching.
Travertine:
Type: Limestone
Properties: Natural cavities and pitted texture, comes in earth tones
Composition: Primarily calcium carbonate (calcite)
Colors: Cream, beige, tan, and various other earth tones
Applications: Flooring, wall tiles, cladding, pavers
Benefits: Warm and inviting aesthetic, naturally slip-resistant, adds a touch of texture
Considerations: Requires sealing to protect against moisture and staining, may be more susceptible to wear and tear.
Slate:
Type: Metamorphic rock
Properties: Fine-grained, layered structure, naturally cleavable, varies in color depending on mineral composition
Composition: Primarily clay minerals and quartz
Colors: Gray, black, green, purple, and variations depending on mineral content
Applications: Roofing, flooring, wall tiles, pavers, landscaping features, billiards tables
Benefits: Durable, weather resistant, low water absorption, naturally cleft for easy installation in some applications, wide variety of colors
Considerations: Can be brittle and prone to chipping if not handled carefully, may require sealing depending on the application.
Basalt:
Type: Igneous rock
Properties: Dark-colored, fine-grained, volcanic origin, very hard and durable
Composition: Primarily plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene minerals
Colors: Black, dark gray, sometimes with greenish hues
Applications: Countertops, flooring tiles, pavers, building facades, landscaping features, statues
Benefits: Extremely strong and durable, low maintenance, weather resistant, slip-resistant (ideal for outdoor applications), unique and modern aesthetic
Considerations: Can be heavy and difficult to work with due to its hardness, may be more expensive than some other natural stones.
Quartz:
Type: Engineered stone (not truly natural, but a popular choice)
Properties: Non-porous, highly durable, scratch resistant, wide variety of colors and patterns
Composition: Primarily quartz crystals with resin binders
Colors: Virtually limitless, can mimic the look of natural stone or offer unique solid colors
Applications: Countertops, backsplashes, flooring, wall cladding
Benefits: Extremely durable, low maintenance, non-porous (stain resistant), wide variety of aesthetic options
Considerations: Can be more expensive than some natural stones, not a truly natural material.
Natural Stone Finishes
Natural stone offers timeless beauty and unmatched durability. However, the final aesthetic depends not only on the type of stone but also on the chosen finish. This glossary explores some of the most common natural stone finishes, highlighting their characteristics and applications.
Polished:
Description: Achieved by grinding and buffing the stone surface with progressively finer abrasives.
Appearance: Smooth, reflective, enhances inherent color and veining of the stone.
Applications: Countertops, flooring, wall cladding, decorative objects.
Benefits: Easy to clean, showcases the natural beauty of the stone, creates a luxurious feel.
Considerations: Can be slippery when wet, may show scratches more easily.
Honed:
Description: Achieved by grinding the stone to a matte finish with minimal polishing.
Appearance: Soft, velvety texture, subtle reflection, reduces the prominence of color variations.
Applications: Flooring, countertops (especially in kitchens for improved slip resistance), wall cladding.
Benefits: Offers a more subtle and sophisticated look, provides good slip resistance, hides minor imperfections.
Considerations: Requires regular sealing to maintain stain resistance, may show water marks more readily than polished finishes.
Sandblasted:
Description: Achieved by blasting the stone surface with compressed air mixed with sand or other abrasive media.
Appearance: Rough, textured surface with a matte finish, exposes underlying minerals and creates a natural, antiqued look.
Applications: Exterior cladding, landscaping features, fireplaces, accent walls.
Benefits: Provides good slip resistance, suitable for high-traffic areas, offers a unique and rustic aesthetic.
Considerations: More susceptible to dirt and staining, requires regular cleaning, may not be suitable for all types of stone.
Brushed:
Description: Achieved by using wire brushes or other mechanical tools to create a textured, linear pattern on the stone surface.
Appearance: Softly textured with a matte finish, adds a subtle variation in sheen, showcases the natural grain of the stone.
Applications: Flooring, countertops, wall cladding, fireplaces.
Benefits: Offers some slip resistance, hides minor imperfections, provides a more natural and organic look.
Considerations: May require more frequent cleaning to maintain its appearance, may not be suitable for all types of stone.
Tumbled:
Description: Achieved by placing stones in a rotating tumbler with abrasive media, which chips away at the edges and creates a smooth, weathered appearance.
Appearance: Rounded edges, worn and aged look, reduces color variations, creates a more uniform texture.
Applications: Flooring, outdoor paving, landscaping features, wall accents.
Benefits: Adds a rustic and casual aesthetic, provides good slip resistance, suitable for high-traffic areas.
Considerations: May be more susceptible to staining, requires regular cleaning, may not be ideal for all types of stone.
Leathered:
Description: Achieved by using a brushing or texturing technique that creates a slightly textured surface with a subtle sheen.
Appearance: Softly textured with a matte finish, hides fingerprints and minor imperfections, offers a more organic and lived-in look.
Applications: Countertops, flooring, wall cladding, furniture tops.
Benefits: Offers some slip resistance, provides a more forgiving finish that hides wear and tear, adds a touch of texture.
Considerations: May require more frequent cleaning to maintain its appearance, may not be suitable for all types of stone.
Flamed:
Description: Achieved by applying a high-heat torch to the stone surface, which causes the outer layer to flake off, revealing a rough and textured finish.
Appearance: Rough, textured surface with a matte finish, exposes underlying minerals, creates a natural and antiqued look.
Applications: Exterior cladding, paving stones, fireplaces, landscaping features.
Benefits: Provides good slip resistance, suitable for outdoor applications, offers a unique and rustic aesthetic.
Considerations: More susceptible to dirt and staining, requires regular cleaning, may not be suitable for all types of stone.
Diamond:
Description: Achieved by using specialized diamond tooling to create a very smooth, high-gloss finish that surpasses even a traditional polish.
Appearance: Exceptionally smooth, reflective, maximizes the brilliance and clarity of the stone’s color and veining.
Applications: High-end countertops, specialty flooring, decorative elements.
Benefits: Creates a luxurious and sophisticated look, enhances the natural beauty of the stone to the highest degree, very easy to clean.