FAQ: What are the types of stone finishes
The most common types of stone finishes include:
Polished:
Grinding, sanding and buffing produces a high gloss, mirror-like surface.
Honed:
Grinding and sanding produces a smooth, yet not flossy finish. This is the best for low maintenance, high traffic applications.
Flamed:
A flamed surface is achieved by subjecting the stone to the high temperature flame of a torch and burning most of the carbon content, leaving texturized quartzite with gentle coloration.
Tumbled:
Tumbling stones in a solution of sand, water and mild acid creates an old world, weathered look.
Split Face:
Mainly used for cladding, this is achieved by splitting stone either by hand or by machine so that the surface exhibits a natural quarry texture. It has a flat back and uneven front surface, and creates the uneven look of protruding bricks.
Cross Cut:
The cross cut method involves end-cutting blocks of travertine to display a less linear, more rounded wavy pattern.
Vein Cut:
Opposite of cross cutting, the veining of the stone is shown as a linear pattern.
FAQ: Why are Slate and raw Travertine preferred for patios or atriums?
Slate is a great combination of earth tone colors and the rustic look. This creates a very comfortable and natural atmosphere that goes with exterior landscaping, plants, gardens etc. Another reason for using slate in patios or atriums is that these are usually open, so dust can settle. Dust tends to show up easily on polished granite or marble. The slip resistance of slates makes them the best suited for use in patios and atriums, even when they are wet. Slates offer a very vivid collage of colors at an extremely low price. The beauty of slates lies in the bold and earthly impressions.
FAQ: Why is marble preferred for bathrooms and fireplaces?
Marble is suitable for bathroom vanity tops, Jacuzzi surrounds, fireplaces and low traffic areas. With its bold wide spectrum of available colors and smooth flowing patterns it makes it the perfect choice for these applications. It also lends itself well to carved patterns and details, creating both traditional and artistic designs. Its elegant colors beautify the home. Bathrooms and fireplaces are susceptible to lesser wear and tear, so marbles can be freely used in these areas. While kitchen countertops are often exposed to acidic substances, bathroom countertops are more likely to be exposed to alkaline products, which do not react with marble.
FAQ: Why is granite preferred for kitchen/bar countertops?
Granite is the first preference for kitchen or bar counters. It is the hardest and densest of all Natural Stones. It is made up of silicates, feldspar and quartz. Countertops in kitchens and bar areas are often exposed to acidic substances and silicates do not react much to the acidic substances. Quartz and feldspar are the two of the hardest minerals found on earth and what makes granite highly durable and scratch resistant. This means that the kitchen countertop will not get easily scratched with the heavy traffic of knives, pots, pans and vessels on it, and retain its fine luster over a long period of time. Feldspar in granite makes it the least water absorbent. This prevents liquids from seeping into the counter tops and staining the material.
Although marble is commonly requested for countertops in bars and kitchens it is more likely to absorb or scratch because it is softer than granite and marbles high carbonate content makes it vulnerable to acidic substances.
Q: Why should I use natural stone in my home?
Natural stone is nature’s timeless art. It creates distinctive beauty and a sense of peaceful tranquility. It lends strength to its surrounding by evoking a classic and unique feeling. It invites luxury into your home and yet is extremely affordable. They are more durable than many artificial products, often lasting for decades with very little maintenance.
Q: Do I need an appointment before I come to your place?
No appointment is necessary. Paramount Quality Stone is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. And Saturdays from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. We are closed on Sundays.
Q: What is the difference between granite and marble?
Both marble and granite solidify into a stone after millions of years but the mineral composition is different on these 2 stones and those to similar looking products are used in different places depending on their durability and color.
Granite is an excellent choice for kitchen countertops, floors and other heavily used surfaces since it’s more durable. Granite has higher density and is a hard stone. The highest quality granite can be found in the mountains of Italy, the U.S., India, Brazil, China and other countries.
Marble is ideal for bathrooms, floors and foyers. Marble is found in the high regions of Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain and other places all over the world.