How to Photograph Your Floor for a Quote: A Proper Preliminary Assessment
A few well-taken phone photos speed up the preliminary assessment of your floor. We explain overall, close-up and side-light shots, how to show problems, how to add measurements and how to submit them through the form.
Read More: How to Photograph Your Floor for a Quote: A Proper Preliminary AssessmentGrout Joint Width and Grout Color Selection in Marble Flooring
Even a marble floor that looks jointless is actually laid with a fine joint. We explain the factors that determine joint width, movement joints, filler types, color selection and grout staining.
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Does Marble Come into Contact with Food? Countertops, Pastry Boards and Serving Plates
Marble does not harm food, but some foods harm marble. We cover hygiene, acidic foods, whether sealers are food-safe, and proper cleaning for countertops, pastry boards and serving plates.
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Natural Stone and Radon: Is a Granite Countertop Harmful to Health?
News that granite countertops emit radon can cause concern. Drawing on scientific sources, we explain natural radioactivity, the main source of radon in the home, the real contribution of a countertop, measurement, and ventilation.
Read More: Natural Stone and Radon: Is a Granite Countertop Harmful to Health?The Mohs Hardness Scale and Natural Stone: How Hardness Determines Care
Why does sand scratch marble but not granite? We explain the logic of the Mohs scale, the hardness of calcite, quartz and feldspar, and how hardness affects honing time, product choice and daily care.
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Natural Stone and Sustainability: Longevity, Restoration and the Environment
The greatest environmental strength of natural stone is its long life and the fact that it can be renewed. We cover the waste advantage of honing instead of removing, local stone, honing with water recovery, and green building assessments.
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Underfloor Heating and Natural Stone: Expansion and Installation Rules
Natural stone conducts heat well and is compatible with underfloor heating, but the heating cycle makes the screed, adhesive and stone move. We explain the initial heating schedule, movement joints and cracking risks.
Read More: Underfloor Heating and Natural Stone: Expansion and Installation RulesScreed Moisture in Stone Flooring: The Value to Measure Before Installation
Marble laid on damp screed responds with stains that last for months, salt marks and swollen slabs. We explain how screed dries, how moisture is measured and when installation can begin.
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Marble Installation Methods: Mortar Bed, Adhesive and Raised Pedestal Installation
Whether marble is laid in mortar, with adhesive or on pedestals directly determines hollow spots, stains and moisture problems. We compare the three methods, large-format slabs and the effect of installation quality on polishing.
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Technical Values of Natural Stone: Water Absorption, Compressive Strength and Abrasion Resistance
What do the water absorption, density, compressive and flexural strength, abrasion and frost values in a technical datasheet tell you? We explain which line to check for which use, and the mistakes people make when reading a datasheet.
Read More: Technical Values of Natural Stone: Water Absorption, Compressive Strength and Abrasion ResistanceQuality Control When Buying Natural Stone: Choosing Slabs and Recognizing Defects
The quality of natural stone is revealed not after it is installed, but when you look at the slab in the warehouse. We have prepared an inspection checklist covering thickness, flatness, cracks and resin filling, color lot, and edge finishing.
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The Formation and Geological Structure of Travertine: Stone Born from Thermal Waters
Travertine forms from calcium carbonate that precipitates when carbonate-rich thermal waters reach the surface and release their carbon dioxide. We explain the origin of its layers and voids, the example of Denizli, and the effect on filling and maintenance.
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Formation and Geological Structure of Granite: From Magma to Slab
Granite is a crystalline rock born from magma that cools slowly deep within the earth. We explain how quartz, feldspar and mica, the commercial use of the name granite, and grain structure affect shine and staining behavior.
Read More: Formation and Geological Structure of Granite: From Magma to SlabThe Formation and Geological Structure of Marble: From Calcite to Crystalline Texture
Marble forms when limestone or dolomite recrystallizes under heat and pressure. We explain the types of metamorphism, the calcitic-dolomitic distinction, grain size, and the origin of veins in terms of honing and maintenance.
Read More: The Formation and Geological Structure of Marble: From Calcite to Crystalline Texture
