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Natural Stone - Defects

Defects

Defects of nature stone tiles

• Nature stone is naturally porous and as such can stain easily usually in bathroom areas, shampoo or color chemical product may cause stain on it.
• Water stain maybe formed if white marble is used in moist area(bathroom)
• Cracks or chip
• chip off of tiles
• Stains seen in tiles

Prevention

These limitations can be prevent by having regular maintenance and cleaning up regularly by hiring a certified repair person to re-buff the surface with a special mixed gel-coat compound. Water stain can be prevent by using a squeegee after each shower to quickly remove water drops from walls Make sure that extra same batch of marble tiles are kept for in case of there is needed for later replacement as marble is a nature stone, as cracks and broken pieces are virtually impossible to repair. It is not possible to apply a complete new clear finish to a cultured marble product once it has left the factory because different batches of marble, their veins and color may differ.



Choosing of grout of nature stone
Types Of Grout
There are basically two types of grout used that are widely used today. They are referred to as Sanded and Unsanded.
Sanded grout consists of: 1 part portland cement, 2 parts fine sand, cellulose (to hold the water in the mix), defoamers (to prevent air entrapment during mixing), and polymers (for strength and flexibility).
Unsanded grout consists of: 1 part portland cement, 2 parts calcium carbonate (used as a filler powder), cellulose, defoamers, and polymers.
Grout Types For Different Materials
Granites, marbles, and other natural stones will require unsanded grout for all practical purposes. Granite tiles with chamfered edges are usually set at very close tolerances to produce a very elegant look. This requires the smooth unsanded grout to fill the void because the sand particles in sanded grout will not penetrate through.
Marble tile share some of the same characteristics of granite tiles but are much softer. For this reason alone it is much safer to use unsanded grout so you don't scratch the marble with the sand particles present in the sanded grout.

Natural Stone - What is it?

Natural Stone

What is the material?

There are a variety of nature stones tiles being used in the industry. The most commonly seen being used is Marble and Granite.

Marble

Marble is any limestone that is highly polished with smooth surface 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 makes the marble, especially when cut. It is generally formed from limestone undergoing metamorphism. The primary materials in marble are formed when limestone are exposed to extremes of pressure or heat which later turns into calcite or dolomite crystals.

Different grains, pattern and color of the marble

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Commonly seen marble are used as a whole big piece with the size of 12x12x3/8 but it can also be form into different kind of flooring like mosaic.

Mosaic

Mosaic tiles in natural stone(marble) offer a versatile floor and wall covering material it can be used in shower floors, countertops, decorative walls, columns and steps.

Example of exterior use of horned marble: it gives the wall finishes to have a unique and rustic texture. This kind of marble mosaic is normally not polished to give it a rough and uneven surface. It is more durable.

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Properties of marble

Distinctive features:
Fine to coarse-grained that effervesces in dilute hydrochloric acid. Often banded with various colors and sometimes veined.

Color:
Variable: white: cream, grey, red, green and often streaky with light and dark patches.

Texture and granularity:
Fine to coarse-grained, granoblastic.

Composition:
Calcium carbonate.

Field associations:
In zones of regionally metamorphosed limestone.

Varieties:
Many, depending on the color and banding, e.g. Connemara marble, which is pale green.

Where is marble normally used?

Marble is used in flooring, counter tops, pillars, stair cases, colonnades, paneling and indoor wall finishes. It can be used for interiors or exterior.

There is a wide categorization of marble stone types including different type of tiles, chips, blocks etc. Most home-owners use marble to not only increase the value of their home, but to also reflect a refined and cultured taste. It is famous for dramatically changing a bland space into a luxurious one.

Most of the marble tiles are rectangular in shape but they come in various sizes. For example marble tiles, marble slabs and marble blocks are rectangular and flat in shape.

Marble tiles are made in an array of size and thickness. It can be used in the houses or in the balcony (outdoors) because of their long term strength. Marbles are normally flat in shape and have small thickness. Marble blocks came in large sizes and are very durable. Marble blocks are mostly used for various exterior purposes.

Interior usage of marble wall finishes

Merits

• Adds value to your home
• Looks elegance
• Heat Resistant
• Scratch Resistant
• Functional & Durable which can last for a very long period of time with proper maintenance.
• Perfect for radiant heat application

Limitation

· Needs regular maintenance like polishing

· The gloss of marble will reduced over time

· Expensive

Granite

Granite refers to a common coarse-grained, light-colored, hard igneous rock comprising chiefly of quartz, orthoclase or microcline, and mica, used widely in buildings. It is a common and widely-occurring type of intrusive, igneous rock that forms at great depths and pressures under continents. Ordinary granite always carries a small amount of plagioclase, but when this is absent the rock is referred to as alkali granite. Granite consists of orthoclase and plagioclase feldspars, quartz, hornblende, biotite, muscovite and minor accessory minerals such as magnetite, garnet, zircon and apatite.

Granites can be pink to dark gray or even black, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy. Granite can also be termed as a rock consisting essentially of crystals of feldspar and mica in a mass of quartz. There is a wide categorization of granite stone types including different type of tiles, chips, blocks etc. This stone works perfectly for decorating home, office and other places very elegantly.

Granite tiles come in many different sizes, but the most common size is 12 inches square

Properties of granite tiles

• Shade variance is low, color are usually available in white, black and buff colors.
• Combined occasionally with some individual crystals.
• They can be pink to dark gray or even black, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy
• Best suited for walls, backsplashes, floors, countertops
• Suitable for exterior walls in non-freezing climates when proper installation methods are followed.
• Available in a spectacular variety of colors, styles, and textures
• Usually have dotted patterns on the tiles
• high load bearing capacity
• crushing and abrasive strength
• amenability to cutting and shaping without secondary flaws
• ability to yield thin and large slabs
• Durability

Where is granite normally used?

There is a wide categorization of granite application, this granite stone is used in the preparation of different types of flooring, counter tops, wall finishes, handicrafts, furniture and roofing. It can be used for interior and exterior applications due to its hardness, resistance to weathering, capability to take mirror polish, textural patterns and also dense grain, granite is impervious to stain.

Places of granite wall finishes can be seen are housing estate bathroom, kitchen, Mass rapid transport (MRT) stations, shopping centers and high class hotels.Used in kitchen or toilet walls

Granite wall panel in prestige hotel

Merits

· Durable scratch-resistant surface

· A vast varieties of patterns and colors

· Uniqueness with each and every piece

· lasting value because granite tiles can last for a long period of time

· Heat resistant

· Stains resistant

· harbors no bacteria or radon

· and can be repaired easily if it is ever scratched.

Limitation

· must they be sealed properly in order to prevent their porous surface from absorbing liquids and therefore staining, as with all granite

· During installation processes l the grout that is used to join the tiles must be properly sealed to prevent spills and leaks from getting underneath of the tiles. A lot of extra work maybe needed, if it’s not done properly the first time, the granite tiles will all have to be removed and reinstalled.

· Relatively expensive

· Granite is very heavy which will add on addition weight to the building structure

There are also a few Dos and Don’ts points for granite wall finishes

Do:

· Consider the area where you intend to install granite tile. Make sure that factors such as moisture levels carefully considered. Consider what type of surface is the best – polished, honed, or brushed, each better suited to certain areas than others.

· Polished granite is great for bathroom, kitchen or hotel ground level which gives a posh and classy look.

· Honed flooring is more all-purpose, but may be considered less decorative by some can be placed in gardens or balcony wall.

· Brushed or flamed granite tile is most commonly used outdoors.

· Look into hiring flooring tile professional to help you as working with granite can be very strenuous, due to its weight particularly and if it is not done properly in the starting stage, it will be tedious later on.

· Inspect the whole batch before beginning an installation for possible breakage and any other issues, and consult your terms and conditions as to how to see about compensation, see if there is any color variations in your batch of granite tile as granite is a natural material. Therefore there will be no uniform tone in other batch.

· Lay out all of your granite tiles in a dry run before applying mortar or other chosen adhesive agent is to prevent water seepage which may cause damage.

· Initiate a cleaning and maintenance regimen; get a professional cleaning personnel to polishes it as and when it needed.

Don’t:

· Install granite tile on an uneven, dirty or wet subfloor

· Leave spills to sit on your granite tile flooring or countertops. It is important to avoid excessive moisture as this is what contributes to the wear of any building material. Also, liquids with an acid base are often culprits of stubborn stains.

· Allow dirt to remain on the surface of the finishes These elements can affect the finish over time and take away from the natural beauty of granite

· Use acid-based cleaners or other agents for cleaning. This can be a major source of wear on the tile, cause stains to become permanent, and dull the finish as well.

If these Dos and Don’ts points are take note of, granite wall will last for a very long time with its nature beauty and gloss.

Caring for granite tile
Given the hardness of granite, and the harsh origins that make it extremely resistant to certain types of wear.However, despite how durable granite tile is, it does require your attention in terms of care. One of the first things to consider is the application of an appropriate sealant. The choice of sealant may be determined by the variety of granite tile you’ve chosen to install, and where you’ve chosen to install it. Generally, a sealant is required to protect your granite tile from moisture, which is the most insidious enemy of any building material. As to the specific brands and varieties, talk to your local retailer or flooring expert about which one is the most effective choice with regard to your specific choice in granite tile.

Many of the other approaches to caring for your granite tile come down to common sense; clean up spills right away, keep your granite tile free of dirt and grit that can scratch the polish, and see about which types of cleaners and polishes are most appropriate to granite tile. Also, consider what you are prepared to do to maintain your granite tile surface. A level of commitment is needed in order to keep the sheen of the polished granite tile the same as it is when you first lay it down.