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MARBLE TILES & SLABS -
While
Ceramic Tile is a man-made product, Marble, Granite, Slate,
Limestone and Quartzite are natural products made by Mother Nature.
Marble has been used for centuries to grace the most lavish
buildings in the world. Today, in world, Marble is gaining
popularity as a residential as well as a commercial finish material.
EU
Window sills & Door Thresholds
Marmor - Fensterbänke
click pic
for larger view and dimensions
What is Marble?
There
are 3 types of rock on the Earth's surface:
1)
Layered Rock which is Sedimentary in character
2)
Changed Rock which is Metamorphic in character, and
3)
Volcanic Rock which is Igneous in character
Marble is of the first two types.
Dolomitic Marble
Dolomitic Marble is layered (or sedimentary) in character and
contains a mineral called "Dolomite." This type of marble is created
from Limestone through the actions of pressure, heat and various
minerals that pass or percolate through the rock during formation.
There are 3 major groups of Dolomitic Marble:
1)
Travertines (from salt-water Limestone)
2)
Serpentines (from fresh-water Limestone), and
3)
Onyxs
Dolomitic marble comes from the quarrier in the following sizes and
shapes:
 Slab:
(2-3 cm thick - standard) 3'x6' to 7'x10' (Avg: 4'x8')
Tile:
(3/8" to 3/4" thick) 6"x6" to 24"x24" (Standard: 12"x12")
WARNING:
All Dolomitic marbles are highly porous and very susceptible to
weathering, thus, they should not be used for exterior applications
which expose the stone to extreme weather conditions.
Dolomitic marble is available from the quarrier in two basic
finishes:
 Polished
(Voids filled or unfilled), and
Honed
(Satin Finish)
Calcinate
Marble
Calcinate Marble is changed (or metamorphic) in character and is
created from Limestone through pressure and extreme heat. It is
composed primarily of the mineral "Calcite." Calcinate Marble is
harder and more durable than Dolomitic Marble.
Calcinate Marble:
Ranges
in color from pure white to white or grey
Has
veins of differing colors caused by mineral impurities
Sparkles
like diamonds because of the light bouncing off of the large Calcite
crystals
Calcinate marble comes in the following sizes and shapes:
Slab:
(3/4" to 1" thick) 3'x6' to 7'x10' (Avg 4'x8')
Tile:
(3/8" to 3/4" thick) 6"x6" to 24"x24" (Avg 12"x12")
Like
Dolomitic Marbles, all Calcinate Marbles are available in two basic
finishes:
Polished,
and
Honed
(Satin Finish)
Special
Expertise
click pic
for larger view
Calcinate marble is excellent for exterior applications or as an
interior finish material. Specific uses are:
Exterior
wall claddings
Interior
walls
Interior
floors
Bathroom
vanities
Counter tops (except Kitchens)
Window sills & Door Thresholds
Tables
Furniture
USA & CND
Window sills & Door Thresholds
click pic
for larger view and dimensions
Maintenance
Guide
Marble is a natural material,
which time has made strong and man has made beautiful. Because of
these qualities you may use marble in your home for tables,
countertops, windowsills, floors, walls and fireplaces. If marble is
given the proper care, the stone will sustain its beauty and
durability virtually forever. And the way to keep your marble lovely
is to keep it clean! Most commonly, unless regular cleaning is done,
ordinary dust particles in the air will obscure the natural
appearance of marble. It may lose a little of its brightness and
luster, but this situation can easily be remedied. Marble should be
washed with a clean, soft cloth and fresh warm water. Then, as an
additional safeguard, wash your marble twice a year with warm water
and a mild detergent, for this should remove any residue that may
have become ingrained. For further protection, a non-yellowing wax
may be used. Generally, this type of attention will save a great
deal of time spent on other cures.
Care and
Consideration
Fine marble should receive the
same attention given fine wood. Coasters should be placed under all
glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices.
Many common foods and drink contain acid. Marble is an alkaline
material and acid will eat in or etch the stone. Spills of any type
should be immediately wiped up. Hot plates should be used under
heated dishes. And, placemats or felt bottoms should be placed under
china, ceramics, silver and bric-a-brac to prevent scratching of the
marble. With normal care stains and scratches will not happen; but
if they do, the purpose of this information is to recommend
precautions and corrective measures in the event of an unfortunate
accident. The cleaning methods described in this text are perfectly
safe for genuine marble but may damage other materials. If you are
not sure the item you want to clean is genuine marble, and not a
substitute, check with a marble dealer.
Marble Finishes
There are two basic types of
marble finishes; polished and honed. Polished marble has a glossy
surface that reflects light and emphasizes the color and marking of
the stone. Traditionally, in the home, this type of marble surface
is used on walls, furniture tops, and other items of designer
quality, as well as floor tiles. A honed finish marble has a satin
surface with relatively little light reflection. Generally, a honed
finish is preferred for floors, stair treads, thresholds, and other
locations where the presence of water might make a polished finish
slippery, or where severe traffic would wear off the finish.
Occasionally, honed finish marble may be used on furniture tops and
in other places where its muted sheen enhances the decor.
- Oak
Hardwood Floor -
Autumn(3/4"x21/4"xRL)
Unfinished(3/4"x21/4"xRL)
Natural(5/8"x21/4"xRL)
Wheat(5/8"x21/4"xRL) |
- TRAVERTINE TILES & SLABS -
click for travertine varieties
Travertine marble tiles are
a very dense form of Calcium Carbonate and although a
Limestone,Travertine is more usually considered as a Marble.Colours
vary from pale to dark cream with attractive surface varigation.Due
to it's formation voids occur in the surface,these are either filled
at the Quarry or during fixing.
EU
Window sills & Door Thresholds
Marmor & Travertine - Fensterbänke
click pic
for larger view and dimensions
Used since Roman times as a building material Travertine with its
unique qualities as a flooring material lend itself to many domestic
and commercial applications. Harder than Limestone tiles and thus
usually available in 12mm thickness,an important consideration when
floor levels are an issue.
Travertine tiles are a hardwearing, practical yet timless floor
covering that has to be seen to be appreciated.All the materials
shown here are on display in our Showrooms together with other
examples of this stunning material.
There are several size permutations available by random length.The
surface appearance of the tile depends on the cutting technique at
the quarry.Tiles are either cut with the natural grain of the stone
or contra cut against the natural grain.The former giving a linear
movement in the surface markings,the latter giving more varigated
markings in a non linear format.
Filled or Unfilled?
We
are regularly asked what does this mean.As we explained earlier one
of the characteristics of this material is the voids on the
surface.These can vary from literally pinholes to quite large
irregular holes.Many prefer these voids to be filled during
installation when the tiles are grouted however some tiles are
available filled at the factory with Resin.These voids are the
characteristic feature of this material and add character and
variety to the tiles
You can obtain a wide variety of sizes and several random patterns
Water
Worn and Brushed finishes
Becoming increasingly popular they add a softness and character to
the surface with a contoured edge.Water worn enhances and highlights
the depth of colour.
Stairs
Colon / Treppen Gelaender Stab
click pic
for larger view
Polishing
Once the stain has been
removed, wet the surface with clear water and sprinkle on
marble-polishing powder, available from a hardware or lapidary
store, or your local marble dealer. Rub the powder onto the marble
with a damp cloth or by using a buffing pad with a low-speed power
drill. Continue buffing until the etch mark disappears and the
marble surface shines. (When you apply a poultice to a marble with a
polished finish, there is a possibility that you will lose some of
its gloss. If this happens, follow the polishing instructions
above.)
DO's and DON'Ts
-
DO wear rubber gloves
and eve protection when using any of these cleaning methods
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DO make sure the area
you are working in is properly ventilated
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DO use wooden or
plastic spatulas to apply and remove poultice to prevent scratches
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DO apply poultice to
1/2 inch thickness and leave on the areas for 48 hours
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DO have patience.
These methods take time and persistence for best results
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DO contact your local
marble dealer for advice and help
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DON'T combine liquids
containing ammonia and bleach, for toxic fumes will be produced
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DON'T use sand paper
or cleaners containing grit or abrasives on polished marble
surfaces except where otherwise noted
- SENSITIVE PACKAGING -
Crates for Siils &
Threshold
click pic for larger view
- OTHER
NATURAL STONE PRODUCTS
THAT WE CURRENTLY EXPORT -
Paving and Cobble
Stones: Slate, Andesite, Basalt, Granite, Marbles, Diabase
Pebbelstones, Conglomerates , Decorative Natural Stones for Garden &
Pool & Exterior Futures
- Iron-cast
Fireplaces -
Fireplace marble
surrounds
Iron-cast Fireplace
click pic for tecnical specifications
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