1515 Monetary Lane
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 247-1621
info@hollandmarble.com

Advice on the Selection of Stone for Residential Use

Learn about some of the various types of surfaces

GRANITE | MARBLE, ONYX & SERPENTINE | SLATE & SOAPSTONE | SANDSTONE & QUARTZITE | TRAVERTINE & LIMESTONE

Introduction

Historically, it has been commercial practice to group stones within performance and behavioral groups as opposed to true scientific definition. While scientifically there are hundreds of rock type identifications, only nine groups are commonly acknowledged commercially: Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Quartzite, Sandstone, Serpentine, Slate, Soapstone and Travertine.

At Holland Marble we supply and fabricate stone in all of these categories. The most important consideration in selecting stone is matching the physical properties of the stone with the intended application. The following information is partly extracted from our professional accreditation body, the Marble Institute of America. It should be used as a guide only and consultation with our Sales Team is recommended so that you, our valuable customer, can make an informed choice on stone selection!

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GRANITE

An excellent choice for kitchen countertops, floors, and other heavily used areas.

The material of choice for high traffic areas in both residential and commercial applications.

Granite is quarried throughout the world and is available in a wide variety of colors with varying mineral compositions. The minerals in granite will typically appear as small flecks distributed uniformly in the stone. This is what makes each stone unique as it varies in color, texture and markings. Granite works equally well both indoors and outdoors.

The most common finish for granite counter tops is a polished finish, which is a highly reflective finish and highlights the natural beauty of the stone. This is achieved in manufacture by polishing the ‘raw’ stone using diamond polishing tools. Other finishes like honed, chiseled, flamed and leather are available and the selection of finish is determined by the proposed use of the stone surfaces. Our experienced and knowledgeable Sales Team will assist on these technical aspects.

Granite is an extremely durable surface; it is impervious to heat and highly scratch resistant. However, it is not scratch proof and care should be taken in use and cleaning. As with all other natural stone finishes granite is sealed at installation but we recommend resealing every 2 – 3 years.

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MARBLE, ONYX & SERPENTINE

Ideal for foyers, bathrooms, floors and hearths

For centuries Marble has been valued for its high aesthetic properties. Because of its beauty and elegance, marble is a popular choice for countertops, floors, foyers, fireplace facings and hearths, walls and windowsills. Many Marbles are well suited to wet area application, which extends the versatility of this material to include tub decks and showers.

The calcite crystal is the basic building block of true marbles. The calcite crystal is vulnerable to attack by mild acids, including those most commonly found in kitchen and bar settings. The user selecting Marble for these applications should be aware of and accepting of the maintenance and patina that is to be anticipated with this combination. Acid rain and other weathering elements can also affect exterior Marble installations, and exterior applications are generally limited to white Marbles, with some exceptions.

Often mistaken for Marble is Serpentine, which is actually magnesium-silicate based as opposed to calcite based. Serpentine exhibits greater acid resistance and abrasion than does a true marble. These properties make Serpentine a common choice for both kitchen counter and exterior applications.

Onyx is a sedimentary rock, and it is in the cryptocrystalline construction of the rock and the size and uniformity of the crystals that contribute to the classic translucent property of most Onyx varieties. While vulnerable to chemical and abrasive attack, the decorative appeal of Onyx is perhaps unsurpassed by any other material and is currently a popular choice with Architects and Designers.

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SLATE & SOAPSTONE

Versatile, Chemically Resistant Materials

A traditional use for both these materials was the laboratory table top in chemistry labs, which alone stands as a great testimonial to the chemical resistance of these materials.

Neither Slate or Soapstone is high abrasion or scratch resistant, yet they are both used as flooring and countertop products.

Soapstone is highly heat resistant, and has been used in fireplace surrounds frequently to take advantage of this property.

Slate, being of laminar construction, has the ability to be processed into thin sheets and still maintain serviceable strength and rigidity, being used traditionally in construction for flooring and roofing shingles.

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SANDSTONE & QUARTZITE

Exploring the ‘quartz-based’ stones

Sandstone typically includes all stones that are formed by sand sized (0.06-2.0mm) clasts that are cemented together by other materials. Therefore Sandstone could be formed of any mineralogy, but the overwhelming majority of sandstones on the market are quartz based.

The durability of Sandstone is not as greatly influenced by the sand sized particles as it is by the cementing agent. Many types of Sandstone are used in cubic sections as sills, coping, watertables and other exterior features. Exterior cladding is also a common application, although this stone variety is typically used in thicker sections than other stone types due to lower bending strengths. While Sandstone has been used in both countertop and shower lining applications, the varieties that are suitable for these installations are limited.

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that is formed from Sandstone. Quartzite can be of exceptional strength, density and hardness. The strength, abrasion resistance and weathering durability of this material expand its application possibilities to include most any of the common uses for natural dimension stone.

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TRAVERTINE & LIMESTONE

An earthy appeal, indoors and out

Limestone and Travertine, like Marble are of a calcium carbonate base, and are acid sensitive depending on the absorption rate of the specific stone. This limits their use in countertops and other working surfaces.

Limestone, being of the variety of softer stone has long been a popular choice for intricately carved features like fireplaces and mouldings, as well as statuary.

At Holland's Architectural Stone and Carving Division we stock 6 varieties of Limestone which we use extensively in the production of fireplaces, window and door mouldings, entablature, balustrades, railings, stair treads and risers etc.

The soft earth tone of Travertine stone makes this material a popular choice in contemporary and traditional home designs. At Holland Marble we stock a wide variety of Travertine wall and floor tile and matching borders, mouldings and trims.

Residential Portfolio of Work