Archive for June, 2006

Marble Care & Cleaning

June 23, 2006

Marble is stone that is generally polished and used in fine building work, furniture, or decorative art. It may be white or colored. It is porous, and easily stained. Acids etch marble tile. Wipe off anything spilled on marble immediately, as you would on a wood surface. Avoid setting beverage glasses directly on marble as they leave rings.

Make a poultice from white absorbent material such as a napkin, blotter, paper towel or facial tissue, dampened with the chemical recommended below to dissolve that stain; or mix whiting with that chemical to make a soft paste to cover the stain. The poultice should be left on the stain from 1 hour up to 48 hours, depending on the age and depth of the stain. Oil stains may include butter, hand cream or lotion. As soon as possible, spread surface with an absorbent fine powder such as whiting or even corn starch. After short time brush to remove and reapply more powder. Let stand 24 hours. To remove: Scrub with hot, sudsy (detergent) solution and stiff brush. Or wipe with ammonia-dampened cloth. In either case, then rinse and wipe dry.

Using a commercial marble cleaner and marble polish tile, which has become dull. Buy from a company that sells marble. Companies generally carry imported polish-cleaners, which are used on softer imported marbles and hence safe for the harder U.S. marble. They work faster and easier than the old "marble care kits" which used to be distributed by marble companies.

Putty powder, (tin oxide) can be used to polish dulled or etched surfaces, rubbing on with a damp cloth, folding and refolding to clean damp areas, and preferably using an electric polisher for buffing. However it's very hard to find. A business making and selling tombstones or other marble products can polish severely damaged surfaces, scratched or etched.

Marble Tile

June 23, 2006

Marble tile is a natural material that is millions of years old. Marble is used to produce magnificent tile floors, kitchen Countertops, Marble Bathroom Vanities, Tile Floors, Marble Wall Tile and even columns. It is very important to use products specifically designed to clean marble such as: marble cleaners, marble sealers and marble polish. Stone Care has a complete line of products for marble floor tile, marble countertops and even marble vanities and shower walls.

So marble tiles might be considered leftovers. These "leftovers" will have been cleaved from a number of larger, more valuable pieces, and pronounced variations can be expected in color and veining from tile to tile. This variation is what makes a marble tile installation what it is. Do not expect the tiles to match one another.

Many varieties of marble stone tiles contain weaknesses we call "faults." Faults run through the stone in random directions and at times appear to be veining. Often, these imperfections are filled with tinted resins before the tiles receive their final polishing at the factory. Some marble tiles are so inherently weak that fiberglass mesh is attached to their backs to strengthen them.

Marble Information

June 23, 2006

A recrystallized limestone that formed when the limestone softened from heat and pressure and recrystallized into marble where mineral changes occurred. The main consistency of marble is calcium and dolomite. Marble tile ranges in many colors and is usually heavily veined. Usually very sensitive to the wrong cleaning products. Hardness rates from 2.5 to 5 on the MOH Scale. It is very important to begin taking care of marble from the beginning with proper stone care products. Restoration is often required on neglected or improperly treated marble.

Marble is very sensitive to both acid and alkali cleaners; therefore, it must be protected with Stone Spray-N-Seal and cleaned with Marbalex or Marbamist. For bathrooms, disinfect with Marbadan Plus. Glass rings, surface scratches, dull spots, and shower wall streaks can be repolished by hand with Marbacream polishing cream. More severe etches in marble will require the use of Honex before using the Marbacream. Provide additional protection to marble vanities, tables, countertops, and walls with an application of International Stone Polish and clean with Marbamist. Marble polish tile floors should be cleaned with Marbalex and polished using SCI-M. Marble can be polished, honed, or tumbled. For tumbled marble the color can be enhanced using Stone Color Enhancer.

Wrinkled thin layers that show in cross-section, as sinuous lines are common in marbles. These layers are termed satellites. Stylolites consist of silicates or other accessory minerals and are usually darker than the surrounding marble. They do not form as sedimentary layers in the original limestone, but result from the selective removal of limestone by water. Calcite is a highly soluble mineral; when infiltrating water dissolves part of the original limestone, the fine particles that are left are compacted into an irregular layer or stylolite. Comparison of accessory mineral concentrations in adjacent marble and in stylolites shows that 40% or more of a limestone bed may be dissolved in the process of forming stylolites.

Marble History

June 23, 2006

Marble has a famous history. The ancient Greeks built their architecture, cities, and sculptures often from Pentelic and Parian Marbles, quarried in Greece. The romans later used marble in their buildings as well, quarrying in the Greek spots and finding roman marble quarries of their own. Marble is, in a lot of ways, what the classical and Hellenistic age was built from.

It is still used heavily today in construction, and can be quarried all over the world. The manufacturer marble tile uses are almost endless. It's used in flooring, counter tops, pillars, staircases, colonnades, paneling, and facing stone in architectural structures. It can't however be used outdoors, since water would corrode its crystalline structure. It is also very smooth and therefore tends to be slippery, which makes it unfavorable to use in high traffic areas.

Marble is one of the most beautiful stones, with a highly marble polish tile smooth face and a wide variety of colors. These various colors are due to impurities, such as iron or carbon, getting caught in the marbles structure during formation. They often appear in stripes, which make the marble, especially when cut, very beautiful. It's these properties that make marble suited to some of the more delicate arts. It can be crafted into beautiful home furnishings, and it has been the material used in many of the worlds most beautiful sculptures. It is one of the most beautiful, elegant, historically prevalent stones that can be used.

Marble Stone

June 23, 2006

To understand the suitability of marble as a building material in the home, we don’t necessarily need to delve into the various types and species of the stone, which are myriad. To keep things from getting cluttered, I’ll lump all the varieties together and simply call them marble stone. To say that marble is stone is not enough. It is actually stone that has been transformed from other stone, limestone specifically. Along the way, some marble picks up fossils (corals, for example) and incorporates them into its final makeup. From this we can judge marble to be very old, millions if not billions of years.

Marble is not, then, a renewable resource for our purposes, but it is plentiful. There are marble supplier tile throughout the world. The many colors of marble are induced when impurities get caught in the structure of the marble during formation. Impurities such as carbon, iron, and various oxides cause streaks and shapes to appear in the surface of the stone. There are an enormous variety of impurities that can become trapped in the marble. The result is that marble comes in a very wide range of colors. Further, the way the impurities become trapped form randomized shapes in the marble, which ensure that any piece of the stone is one of a kind. It is this feature that inspired many artists to work with marble as a medium.

Today marble is used in stone home furnishings, floors, countertops, clocks, hot plates, tables, pillars, structural resurfacing, and even bathroom applications. It can be found in almost every country in the world. Its style and versatility make it one of the ideal choices for building materials and structural supply.

Marble Stone

June 23, 2006

To understand the suitability of marble as a building material in the home, we don’t necessarily need to delve into the various types and species of the stone, which are myriad. To keep things from getting cluttered, I’ll lump all the varieties together and simply call them marble stone. To say that marble is stone is not enough. It is actually stone that has been transformed from other stone, limestone specifically. Along the way, some marble picks up fossils (corals, for example) and incorporates them into its final makeup. From this we can judge marble to be very old, millions if not billions of years.

Marble is not, then, a renewable resource for our purposes, but it is plentiful. There are marble supplier tile throughout the world. The many colors of marble are induced when impurities get caught in the structure of the marble during formation. Impurities such as carbon, iron, and various oxides cause streaks and shapes to appear in the surface of the stone. There are an enormous variety of impurities that can become trapped in the marble. The result is that marble comes in a very wide range of colors. Further, the way the impurities become trapped form randomized shapes in the marble, which ensure that any piece of the stone is one of a kind. It is this feature that inspired many artists to work with marble as a medium.

Today marble is used in stone home furnishings, floors, countertops, clocks, hot plates, tables, pillars, structural resurfacing, and even bathroom applications. It can be found in almost every country in the world. Its style and versatility make it one of the ideal choices for building materials and structural supply.

Limestone Pavement

June 17, 2006

Limestone pavements are flat platforms composed of carboniferous limestone rock, deposited about 350 million years ago. It is believed that, until the last ice age, this rock was covered with soil and vegetation. Water, percolating through these layers, became mildly acidic and gradually dissolved parts of the rock, imparting a typical water-worn appearance. A limestone pavement is a landform consisting of a horizontal surface of exposed limestone showing the effects of weathering. Since weathering action is always more pronounced along cracks and crevices it appears to break up the surface into segments which, if they are roughly rectangular, can give the appearance of an artificial pavement. More usually, however, resulting stone block are less regular. In geographical studies, the weathered fissures are sometimes called "grikes" or "grykes" while the resulting blocks are known as "clints". These terms are derived from the North of England dialect.They were formed during the ice age when the ice scraped away the top soil, leaving behind a bare, rocky surface. This left the limestone exposed to the elements and it was weathered away by the processes of frost shattering and carbonation . 

Limestone Tile

June 17, 2006

Limestone tiles provide very descent solution for the homeowner and commercials on a budget, allowing the home chef to enjoy all the benefits of limestone counter top. In Residential and Commercial projects limestone uses in flooring Applications. Twenty-four or thirty-six inch tiles can be inlaid or set into any other material, such as laminated countertops or solid wood. Strategically placed twenty-four inch limestone tiles inlaid near the range or oven will protect ordinary countertops from searing hot pans. A thirty-six inch limestone tile set into the counter at a work area serves as an excellent surface for rolling dough and working with confectionery. The practical and aesthetic choice of limestone tile countertops has proven to be a wise investment for homeowners. Clever design plans allow homeowners to enjoy the benefits of limestone without great expense. Limestone tile countertops offer matchless appeal. Limestone tile countertops can withstand a hot pot without a trivet, and serve as an excellent surface for handling dough and confectionery. The natural beauty of limestone tile countertops complement most any type of wood or style of cabinetry. The versatility of limestone tiles creates a wide range of options for installations. Entire sections of kitchen countertops and backsplashes can be crafted from limestone tiles, just as ceramic tiles would be used. To lessen the labor of installing tiles in a large kitchen, only add limestone tiles to the island for a focal point, setting it apart from ordinary material choices on the other countertops.

Limestone Flooring

June 17, 2006

Limestone tile, being a very versatile material, can be installed in a great many locations in a residential or commercial project. Limestone uses in residential flooring on large and small projects. Some of the more popular uses of limestone are halls and foyers. Because of their decorative appearance, the popularity of limestone tile in these areas is far from surprising. Limestone tile helps to create an ambience of professionalism, strength, and permanence when placed in the foyers and halls of an office building. In the home, a limestone tile floor can make all the difference in creating a space that is characterized by a singular, refined beauty that complements the surrounding decor. Considerations such as moisture levels, slip resistance, foot traffic, and even hardness of the surface of your Limestone floor tile are more easily judged once you’ve decided where the installation will take place. When starting your search for the most suitable flooring surface, first consider how much traffic the space will get. Generally, the higher the traffic the harder the surface likely should be. Next, add to your considerations how the hardness will affect the use you make of your floor. For instance, if your floor is for a kitchen or dining room, it is important to note that fragile items such as glassware or china are more likely to break if dropped, for example, on marble or limestone, as opposed to bamboo wood flooring. Also, remember to consider moisture, and how much your stone tile floor is likely to sustain. Some types of stone tile flooring are more porous than others, proportionately less resistant to moisture and more likely to crack over time.

Limestone Importer

June 17, 2006

Limestone importer import Stone from different parts of the world. Catalina Research announces the release of our 214-page Catalina Report on Stone Products. This fact-filled report provides the action-oriented executive with up-to-date information on granite, marble, limestone, travertine, and other rough and fabricated stone products. Each page will assist the stone industry executive exploit growing product lines, improve plant efficiency, strengthen distribution, penetrate end-use markets, and plan for 2006 and beyond.

Catalina Reports contain the timely data that allows users to evaluate market size, growth potential, end-use markets, factors driving demand, profitability, market share, and the competitive environment. So turn to a Catalina Report when developing strategies to take advantage of the growth potential in new residential construction and residential remodeling markets, penetrate kitchen countertop and flooring markets, and improved operating efficiency.