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... Marble is the stone of kings and gods. More ancient monuments were constructed of it than any other stone. Marble festoons the hallways of cathedralsandpalaces. It drapes the floors of the richest millionaires, yet graces the baths of the most modest homeowners.
There is no doubt that marbles most popular place in the modern home is in the bathrooalhas retained its place as the supreme material for vanities. A natural marble vanity or sink is really the one and only choice for the ... |
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... The sequence of events which brings natural stone from the quarry to the home has not changed much since stone entered the homes of the ancient Grsae blocks of stone are cut from the quarry. From those blocks, thin pieces of stone are cut called slabs. The slabs are then shaped and polished and shippdinstallation.
What has changed dramatically over the years is the type of machinery used in this age-old sequence. Three basic types of machines are involved in the fabrication pr ... |
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... Using stone outside the home should also be a high priority. The façade, driveway, staircases, walkways, patio, retaining walls and landscape all feature here. The pstone and finish that is chosen plays a significant role in setting the tone of the home.
If the budget does not allow for entire stone-faced exteris are other outdoor areas, where stone features can be used to dress up a property. Stone pavers for a driveway or walkway are just one way to enhance the look ... |
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... 5,000 years is a long time. Its so long that we have trouble comprehending it. But monuments built of natural stone more than 5,000 years ago are still standing today. Whicisastament to natural stones enduring beauty and strength.
The ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to extensively quarry and build with natural sn. They built most of their monuments of granite and limestone. The Great Pyramid of Cheops, the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, was built of massi ... |
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... Hewn from the earth, cut with diamond saws, polished like glass, and shipped around the world, stone makes the most cosmopolitan of counters. It exists everywhere in the wldnowhere is it the same. Even from the same quarry, no two pieces are identical.
Stone is extremely dense yet also porous; to prevent stains it must be sealed. Its very permanence makes it difficultand shape, but technological advances have made it possible to cut and polish stone near quarries around the w ... |
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... Currently, there are many companies around the world that use generic names to identify different types of stone. This has created a problem for the stonaintenance industry. The original names were in Italian.
Usually the name consists of two parts. The first part describes the color and the second part describes the name from where the sne was quarried.
Italian Name
English Name
Azzuro
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... Probably the biggest fear people have of natural stone is its maintenance. Truthfully, natural stone requires about the same level of care and mainnancas any countertop or floor, and certainly no more than natural wood products like tables and chairs.
The best care you can give your natural stone is preventative care. Prninstains or scratching before they happen is far easier than getting rid of them after the fact.
Granite countertops are surprisingly resilient to stains, and ... |
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... Everyone knows about the wonderful monuments, sculptures and artifacts that creative architects, artists and artisans fashioned from natural stone for Kings and Noblemen olast 5000 years. But the latest technological advances have not only brought the beauty, richness and grace of natural stone right to the doorstep of more people across a broad spcf society, but also brought them closer to newer, more innovative yet practical applications.
The value of natural stone lies in it ... |
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... overhangs provide a built-in, casual eating space. But they must be adequately reinforced. Natural stone is naturally brittle, and must have adequate support to keep fromain Your contractor or stone dealer will advise you regarding extra support if your countertops are to overhang your cabinets by more than 6 inches.
Your cabinets must be able tllspport the weight of your natural stone countertops. If you are unsure about this, have your contractor or stone dealer evaluate your c ... |
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... icator before you order cabinets. Though granite slabs are typically the most expensive countertop, stone tile cuts the cost. Medium range pricing in granite can get you aslai a simple backsplash and sink cut out. On the pricey end, you can get curved corners, intricate edge details, and extra cuts and joints in the stone. ... |
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... Granite is another durable but expensive countertop option thats also pretty much beyond the realm of do-it-yourselfers.
Like solid surface materials, granite stone iscandpolished off-site, including cut outs for sink openings. That demands a lot of accuracy and coordination to make sure measurements and templates are correct. Granite is secured to the cabinets with silicncalk, but one major difference is how its seamed. With granite, the joints dont totally disappear, but in a sens ... |
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... The choices can be confusing theres so much available in kitchen counters. From natural stone like granite and marble to synthetics such as Formica, Ceramic tiles, Corian nnironmentally damaging products like wood. So what should you choose, and why?
Ideally, most people naturally want to coordinate their kitchen counter top to the decor and color theme in their kitcnnaddition to that, theyre probably looking at aesthetic appeal and cost. And would normally like to get a durab ... |
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... still desire a complex profile, you may be able to choose a 20+20 edge option, which is a strip of stone molding glued to the underside of the countertop edge, therefore pidinthe illusion of a 2 ¼ 40mm slab. However, this often costs enough extra that a 1 ¼ 30mm countertop with a premium edge could be purchased for the same amount.
The popular edges are, fst part, practical for any use in the kitchen or bathroom. So the primary factor to consider when you make you ... |
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... o a host of other applications for the home and office. Granite began its modern life as a building stone: a durable, sturdy surfacing material. Granite buildings were erecds often public buildings like libraries and courts, composed of both polished and unpolished granite.
As mining techniques improved and granite became cheaper, it moved into the home. Because of isadnss and imperviousness to moisture and acid, granite was a perfect countertop material. And, today, granite cou ... |
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... Natural stone comes in such an endless variety of colors that choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Homeowners often want to match their new flooring and countertpsims they already own, or to their existing paint scheme. While this may sound like a logical approach, its best to keep in mind that items can be always be moved, and paint is the quickest and least expnsiay to completely change the look of a room.
Its best, when choosing something as significant as flooring ... |
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... an generally rely upon the fact that you get what you pay for. This type also darkens many types of stone surfaces.
Siliconates: Water based silicone derivative usefulli colored, porous stone. Inexpensive. This type should not be used on dark colored stone or important surfaces. Any residues not absorbed will disfigursacwith a salt-like precipitate. May be useful for some limestone and concrete surfaces. Only water beads. Re-coating is not possible due to the fact that it repe ... |