FAQ

1. What are natural stones and where can it be used?

Natural Stone refers to a number of products quarried from the earth, used over many thousands of years as building materials and decorative enhancements. These products include marble, granite, slate, quartz, limestone, travertine, shell stone and onyx.

Natural stone is hand selected from the best, most consistent sources for durability and beauty. Natural stone products differ in composition, colour, and texture even among pieces from the same source. This is a vast benefit, lending itself to one of a kind designs and distinctive, dramatic applications.

Natural stone can be used on nearly every surface both inside and outside the home, including floors, walkways, wall cladding, kitchen countertops, vanity tops, bathrooms, patios, fireplaces, facades and garden landscaping.

2.What is marble?

Marble is a metamorphic limestone. Limestone is sedimentary rock consisting mostly of organic material such as skeletons and shells of marine creatures and sediments. It is formed by material that settles to the bottom of bodies of water, and over millions of years, solidifies into solid rock. Calcium in the bones and shells combines with the carbon dioxide in the water to form calcium carbonate which is the basic mineral structure of marble. Given enough heat and pressure limestone crystallizes resulting in marble. The crystallised structure will help marble to take polish and bring out colours of other trace elements.

It is available in solids and dramatic veined varities, and is prized for its timeless style, texture and high-gloss polish along with a rich palette of beautiful colours. Often seen as a symbol of luxury, modern technology brings beautiful marble products even to budget-conscious home-owners.

3.How durable is marble?

Marble has been used for thousands of years. Many marble statues and buildings have outlasted the cultures that built them. A simple, regular maintenance program will keep marble looking beautiful for the life of your home or commercial project.

Marble is available in a multitude of finishes, the most common of which are polished or honed, although more rustic or antique finishes are also available. The reflective gleam of light off of a polished marble floor creates a refined look and a classical elegance that is always in style. In contract, honed marbles offer a slightly more relaxed feel with a matte finish that softens their impact while still retaining their sophisticated style. Meanwhile, tumbled or brushed marbles provide a rustic look reminiscent of ancient architecture.

4. What are the small cracks and pits in natural stone?

Fissures occur naturally in many stone types. The term fissure is used commercially in the stone industry to describe a visible separation along inter crystalline boundaries. This separation may start and stop within the field of the stone or extend through an edge. A fissure differs from a crack in that it is a naturally occurring feature of the stone.

All natural stones contain some degree of fissure. Some contain more than others. Fissures occur naturally in natural stone and are not a flaw. Pitting of the countertop surface, particularly in granite, is a commonly seen characteristic of natural stone. The pits do not make the stone less durable or otherwise inferior, and do not in themselves qualify the slab for replacement. Pits are common and should be expected when dealing with a natural polished stone.

5. What is the difference between marble and granite?

Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble’s relatives - limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different from each other. The greatest difference lies in the porosity, softness and durability of marble when compared to granite.

Granite is formed deep in the earth’s mantle at extremely high temperatures. It is a very hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals.

The marble family – limestone, travertine, marble, onyx – start out as sediment – animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt – at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years this solidifies (lithifies) into stone. Because its main component is calcium, it can be affected by acids such as vinegar and citrus.

6. What is more preferred and suitable for my house- marble or granite?

Marble is more suitable for residential flooring and wall cladding, due to its lighter shades and dramatic characters. Another advantage of using marble is that unlike granite it can be re-polished after a few years and the flooring will be as good as new. Also Marble is Polished after installation which enables you to have seamless joints and gives the impression of a single big slab laid on the floor. Granite on the other hand can be used for external stairs or bathroom flooring in short areas which are prone to water and wear and tear.

7. Can marble be used for kitchen countertops?

Yes, but be aware marble (and limestone and travertine) are calcium carbonate, and their polished surface is more vulnerable to household acids including vinegar, mustard, catsup, citrus and a host of other food-related products. These acidic substances cause a chemical reaction, which will remove the polish.

Since marble is more porous than granite, it is more prone to staining and scratching, so we recommend that a penetrating sealer be applied to marble twice a year to protect it against damage. Any spills that occur should be wiped up immediately. Additionally, marble and limestone can be scratched more easily than harder stones such as granite. Marble does make a perfect pastry slab; its perfectly smooth, cool surface is ideal for rolling out dough and pie crusts.

OR

SHOULD I USE MARBLE OR GRANITE FOR MY KITCHEN COUNTERTOP?

Although typical application of marble is for the bathroom vanity tops, Jacuzzi tops and fireplaces, it is possible to use it in the kitchen. However, due to the fact that it is easy to scratch and is affected by acidic substances, such as vinegars, ketchups etc, we don’t usually recommend it. Moreover the high-gloss of the marble countertop can be partially lost as many chemicals etch its surface. Granite in turn is considered the second hardest stone, its polish is not subject to etching by household acids, or scratching by knives and pots and pans under normal use. It is also not affected by typical kitchen heat such as hot pans.

8.Why are some stones expensive than the others?

Availability, locations of quarries in the world (due to transportation expenses), the rarity of the colour, and the amount of labour required to extract the stones all affect the price of natural stone. Higher price doesn't mean higher quality. All natural stones that Pratibha Marbles carries, regardless of price, are of the same high quality.

9.What can be done if a marble gets scratched or stained?

You can avoid these by wiping the surface, just immediately after it gets a spill, or you can guard the marble upfront, using a layer of marble sealant. You should reapply the sealer every 6-12 months, to keep the spillage above the marble pores. You should never allow the sealant to get worn out, as it would leave the marble vulnerable. It important especially on light and highly porous kinds of marble.

10. Is there a way to completely protect marble from staining?

Unfortunately there is no way to completely protect from staining. The sealing has limited protection; it helps to prevent from liquids to absorb into the stone and doesn’t help (or very little) from etches, dull spots and scratches as well. Only proper care can help to avoid such etches.

11.What is the best way to clean marble and other soft stones?

The old rule of thumb is never to use anything you wouldn’t use on your hands. Never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. Even "soft scrub" type cleaners contain pumice, which is powdered volcanic stone, and might damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone.

12.What care and maintenance is required for the natural stone?

Daily Maintenance- Do clean dust, dirt from floor once or twice daily with a dust mop or vacuum. Damp mop or spot clean as necessary, using a pH neutral marble cleaner. Damp mop all areas with clean, warm water at least daily to remove fine dust. Frequency of dry mop depends on traffic e.g. home users – 1 to 2 times in a day and commercial place – 2 to 3 times. Allow to dry before putting surface back into use. Periodic Maintenance- Do buffing with premium liquid wax polish once in 6 months for home users and once in a month for commercial users. Do polishing, using marble polishing powder with scrubbing machine once in 1-2 years for home users and once in 6-12 months for commercial users. Frequency may be increased or decreased depending upon traffic pattern.

13. “Will my stone match the sample I saw in the showroom?”

The sample used to make your colour selection may not exactly match the slabs. Some natural stone colours, due to the different types of minerals in them, are more consistent than others. Stones are natural and unique products, therefore the samples will slightly vary in colour, pattern and grain structure. The samples are used to obtain a general look and feel of the variety of stone. We try our best to provide representative samples, but variation will always occur in natural stone.

14. What are book matched slabs?

Book-matched slabs are ones that are next to each other after cut from the block of stone, but are polished on opposite sides. When these slabs are laid next to each other, they create a mirror image pattern. The veins of the stone can be matched by your fabricator to create a continuous pattern in large open spaces of the building.

15. What is the importance of thickness?

The thickness of the marble slab is directly proportional to the strength and durability of the product. The required standard in the industry globally is 2 cm with a minimum of 1.8 cm for the processed slab. Thicker slabs cost slightly more, but are easier to handle, easier to transport and easier to install thus resulting in minimum wastage of the product and a longer life.

16. Is marble appropriate for high traffic areas?

Yes. Marble since ancient times has been used in all areas of homes from furnishings to floors. Marble has proven as durable as materials traditionally considered to be sturdier with the added benefit of creating a warm welcoming atmosphere.

17. Is it necessary to seal the stone?

Sealer provides a great benefit at little cost. In 99% of the cases if a you clean up after meals you will never have a stain. Mineral surfaces like granite are generally not porous, but some stones can absorb minor amounts of liquids, which rarely result in minor discoloring and staining. Although there are many good sealers on the market, taking simple precautions and performing regular cleaning can save trouble and cost. All marble and granite tops are processed for chemical and polishing finish before they are installed. After the laying procedure one can get it sealed from the various and best options available in the market.

18. Do I have to buy the whole slab?

Generally on a stock color you are only paying for the square footage actually used. Slabs are always sold intact. Thus it is necessary to pay for the entire slab. In the price it includes the cost of transporting the material, making field measurements and templates, cutting, polishing, bringing the pieces to your job site and fitting them into place. How much material you need is determined by the layout and the amount of waste. The fabricator will lay out your job in a way that will minimize the amount of waste material while maximizing the natural beauty of veining and pattern.