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GRANITE
Granite is beautiful, functional and the most durable stone. It is a very uniform and speckled stone that ranges in color from black and gray tones to pinks, browns, reds, greens and whites. Granite is ideal for kitchen countertops, accent islands, bar tops, everyday dining tables and many other uses, including exteriors.
Granite is an igneous rock, which means that as it developed it was melted like volcanic lava. Unlike lava, however, the molten material never reached the earth’s surface. Instead, it slowly cooled and crystallized, trapped inside the earth. Granite is mined in Italy, India, the U.S. and many other countries.
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MARBLE
Marble is the most elegant and luxurious stone with beauty that will last for generations. It is versatile enough for use throughout a home, such as on fireplace facings, ornamental furnishings, walls and windowsills. Marble can be used on almost every surface of a bathroom, including vanities, shower walls, tub decks and flooring.
Marble is a metamorphic rock. It was once limestone, but over time, the combination of intense heat and pressure caused the limestone to re-crystallize. Foreign substances often entered the stone during this process, creating an infinite variety of colors, textures and veining. Marble is a lot like people: no two are exactly alike. Marble is found in the mountainous regions of Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain, the U.S. and other countries worldwide.
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SOAPSTONE
Soapstone is an excellent choice for luxury kitchens and bathrooms. It is a metamorphic stone with a soft and warm feel. Soapstone is resistant to chemicals, acid, water and heat. In the kitchen it is very resistant to stains. You may take hot pans off the stove and sit them right on the stone without burning it. Light sanding will remove most scratches. The stone has a blue, green or grey cast when mined. Once it is treated with mineral oil the color deepens to its more typical rich and veined charcoal grey.
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SLATE
Slate is a popular flooring material that is also used for exterior paving stones or pavers. Other slate applications include kitchen countertops, fireplace facings, tabletops and roofing.
Slate is a fine-grained, metamorphic stone derived from sedimentary rock shale. It has a very uniform color and is available in shades such as dark to light green, mottled purple, black, gray or dark red. Veined patterns from overseas have recently been introduced. Unless its surface has been honed smooth, slate can be recognized by its distinct cleft pattern.
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LIMESTONE
Limestone is widely used as a building stone because it is readily available and easy to work with. It is a sedimentary stone, layered and formed from the skeletons and shells of sea creatures that lived in vast, warm seas millions of years ago.
Most domestic limestone is gray to buff in color, while some pastel shades of yellow to pink are available. Imported limestone is available in colors ranging from light beige to dark brown, red and black. When the mineral dolomite is present, the limestone is harder and capable of being polished in the same manner as metamorphic marble.
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