natural stone products

Right Colouring For a Luxurious Marble Bathroom

2010-10-04T22:39:00.001-07:00

The style quotient for a home or several different places inside the house is enhancing in the current times. Hence, if one mulls the styling of a bathroom then he can avail a lot of fancy facilities to make the space much attractive along with a lot of strength.

Bathroom is a much trafficked area of a home as the individuals living in one home may be using different bed as well as study rooms, but a bathroom is used by numerous people in the house. Hence, one has to take special care of the interior materials used in the process of bathroom construction.

Not stretching the point, we all know that the latest trend hovering in the market for bathroom or kitchen construction is of marble. At present, the marble flooring can anytime be seen inside every second house over a single road. The reason behind this is both style and strength which can be availed with much ease in this category.

In order to maintain the bathroom at its stylish best, many homeowners make big efforts like spending a huge amount of their savings and walking through a lot of interior material shops in the market. But, before zeroing over an effective marble tile, one should see if the colour is totally suitable for the floors and walls of his bathroom.

Well, this could be seen as one more headache for an individual who is already surfing through net and reaching small to big showrooms. But, the task can be executed by simply analyzing the area of bathroom.

One can see that if the area of Marble Bathroom in his home is small and is not having space for many luxuries, then he should try to find the luxury inside the marble tiles he is selecting for the space. A bathroom established in a small area would give a trapped look if it is maintained with the dark coloured tiles like grey, black etc. Hence, to construct a user friendly bathroom space along with the luxurious look, one should go for the shining marble tiles with the colours like cream, white, green etc.

On the other hand, if an individual is looking to create an impressive bathroom in a big area equipped with bath tub or a Jacuzzi, then he can make an easy choice among the bright as well as dark coloured marble tiles, as both the options goes well in a spacious area.

Hence, one can say that going for a marble tiled bathroom is a good choice but, it can turn better with right colour selection.

Marble Bathroom, An Ultimate Luxury

2010-10-04T22:38:00.001-07:00

The bathroom is usually the most obsolete part of the house, because very often we tend to overlook it as it is a not prominently visible section and when renovations are done, it is one of the last things that is considered. Nevertheless, it is often neglected and is subjected to the upsetting effects of water and moisture.

Remodeling a Bathroom:

A marble bathroom is the ultimate option if you are looking for style and luxury, when remodeling your home.

Remodeling, can increase the overall value of your home if it is done in such way that matches the style of your entire home. A proper vision and plan will help you to remodel your bathroom the way you want, as it is not only the place to shower but also a place to relieve stress.

Using marble

A marble bathroom evokes sophistication. Since, marble is easily accessible due to improved technology and comes in many different pleasing colors or designs it can be used in just about any style of bathroom. Marble slabs are fabricated into desired thickness by sawing the marble blocks for marble counters, vanities, flooring and wall cladding.

Flooring:

Marble slabs impart an aesthetic look and add grandeur, instantly generates a feeling of style, modernity and cleanliness. The most vital aspect of the bathroom is redoing the floor as it makes a great impact. Honed or tumbled marble tiles are best suited for flooring. Honed tiles have the best non-slip protection whereas polished tiles, though they may look fantastic, are extremely slippery when wet.

Vanities:

Traditional vanities made out of wood but having marble counters add to the elegance of the bathroom. They can be easily matched with any vintage décor. The sinks and the luxurious faucets are made up of distinguished materials. These increase the appearance of the bathroom and impart a luxurious feel.

Cabinets:

Marble cabinets offer a unique look. They are carved intricately. Since, these cabinets are expensive; one can also opt for wooden cabinets with marble counters. The prices are low and they do not have any decoration but the presence of marble enhances their beauty.

Opting for marble countertops, which are stylish and chic provide a water resistant, durable, rugged and stain resistant surface for any bathroom. It is usually great for a home with kids or the one which has too much of traffic throughout the day.

Conclusion:

A bathroom with marble finishing is easy to clean and if needs repairs little sanding is more than able to do the trick. A transparent layer of wax can be easily applied to protect your countertops from damage or after sanding and repairs can be made to avoid further damage to the surface.

One of the beautiful things about a marble bathroom is that it will not require any remodeling or renovation for years to come if proper care is taken. The only main downside being that marble is extremely heavy, and the fact that it comes in ready-made marble slabs can make it difficult to download it at home. However if it is made possible with all the help than you will surly thank your toes for the ultimate luxurious bathroom later.

Sanbao red slabs

2010-10-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

Sanbao red slabs and Sanbao red tiles
Best quality&lowest price Sanbao red slabs and tiles are famous building materials. Especially in residential and commercial remodeling projects.
Materila: Sanbao red
Surface finish: Polished, honed, flamed, split, bush-hammered, etc.

Serpenggiante Marble

2010-10-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

Serpenggiante Marble -is now used widely for high end projects -hotels, villa etc. Based on the special tree grain pattern, there are lots of colours:
Yellow -royal colour;
Black -profound depth;
Grey -shinning.
They are also processed into countertops, fireplaces, Tables, pillars, mosaics etcs.

Why Natural Stone Flooring is the Sustainable Choice

2010-10-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

Natural stone flooring is not a new idea. Buildings from pre-history can be found that have stone slabs laid carefully flat on the ground to provide a good stable floor. The principle today is little changed, though now we have a much greater choice because of commercially produced stone tiles.

Stone flooring is now available in a wide variety of textures and colours, as well as having built-in durability and suitability for different conditions. When choosing a flooring material you should consider this: natural stone flooring is the only material that actually improves over time. It will last forever. That's why the floors of pre-historic houses can still look surprisingly modern.

There are few flooring choices that have better hard-wearing qualities than stone. Over time it will acquire its own patina adding a distinct characteristic that can only be found in flooring made from natural stone. It is easy to keep clean and depending on your choice, it is stylish and as modern looking as any other type of flooring.

The rock that stone floors come from can be divided into three basic types: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. Travertine and limestone are examples of sedimentary stone, granite is an example of igneous stone, and slate and marble are examples of metamorphic stone.

Reconstituted stone or replica stone is not real stone. Tiles made like this can never compare with the natural beauty of stone that is just as nature made it. Manufacturers have tried hard over the years to reproduce the effect of natural stone, but without success. Some of their products are very good to be fair, but they are not real stone.

Man-made stone tiles are new. Real stone on the other hand has, in some cases, been 300 million years in the making. Nature takes its time, but just look at the results and you will have to agree that they are truly unbeatable. Natural stone flooring has no real competitor, and that is something unlikely to ever change.

Flooring made from real stone doesn't have to be rough. In fact, it doesn't really have to look like our idea of stone at all. It can be polished to a high shine finish, or kept matte allowing the texture to shine through. It can be dark or even black, or light coloured, or indeed anything in between.

Maintenance of a floor made from natural stone is easy and trouble-free. It needs to be sealed to maintain its integrity, but once that is done cleaning is easy. A good sealant will also help to prevent staining, it should not change the natural colour in any way, and it will help to prolong the useful life of the floor.

Natural stone flooring is the sustainable choice for everyone. It will last as many lifetimes as you wish to name. If proof is needed, then consider that the oldest stone floor in Britain, one made of limestone, is around 7,000 years old and still in remarkably good condition. That should be sustainable enough for anyone.

Why Natural Stone Flooring is the Sustainable Choice

2010-10-04T22:19:00.001-07:00

Natural Stone, A Classy Ways to Go All Natural

2010-10-04T22:18:00.001-07:00

The next time our highly plasticized world starts getting you down and you feel an urge to commune with nature, slip off your shoes and walk barefoot on a floor made from natural stone.

Chances are, no matter what type or quality of stone tiles you have used for flooring, it will feel wonderfully cool during the hot summer months and retain warmth during the colder winter months.

Apart from its natural beauty, natural stone also contains no toxins or chemicals which can cause allergies.

But like all natural products, the qualities and features of various stones differ dramatically, so if you want to choose natural stone tiles for your flooring you need to consult an expert to find out which stones work most effectively where.

Let's have a look at how you can incorporate natural stone indoors as a feature.

Slate Tiles

The beauty of slate is in the rich diversity of colours and its durability.

Each piece of slate tiling is like an individual work of art with its variations in tone and texture, ranging from pale greys and pinks to intense greens and blacks. When laid properly in a large space, these variations give a feeling of continuity and tonal flow - much like a painting.

Alternatively, individual slate tiles or small groups can be used to offset or complement a plain stone tile like sandstone on the walls or floors. For example, a cream coloured sandstone with overtones of pink can be highlighted with a small grouping of slate tiles with deeper splashes of pinks and blues, placed on the diagonal.

Like most natural stone products, a sealant improves the quality and durability of slate so it is easy to maintain, easy to keep clean, resistant to chemical spills, won't fade and is impermeable to water.

Sandstone Tiles

Sandstone is a generic name given to a type of natural stone that contains quartzite - the inclusion of quartzite is the only characteristic the various types of sandstone share. Sandstone is obtained from quarries all over the world, so the qualities of sandstone are unique to the region where they are sourced.

Although most designers and homeowners use sandstone for outdoor paving and around traditional chlorinated pool areas, it blends beautifully indoors, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. Sandstone is slip resistant and impervious to water (although poor quality sandstone doesn't possess these important qualities).

Sandstone is an incredibly versatile product and is used extensively by architects and designers because of its durability, fire resistance and thermal qualities. Sandstone is generally pale in colour, so it effectively enhances the feeling of light and space when used indoors, particularly in large open plan rooms.

Designers often use a darker natural stone tile like bluestone or quartzite to break up large sections of sandstone or to define a particular area. This effect can look stunning with a little creativity and imagination.

Bluestone

Nothing beats bluestone for its incredible strength and versatility. Not only that, bluestone is an aesthetically beautiful natural stone that is grey in colour but with subtle variation in tone. Surface treatment options make it versatile for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Bluestone with a polished surface has a refined luster under any lighting. Honed bluestone is a softer, low sheen option popular for both indoor floors and walls. Bluestone with a flamed finish is a natural outdoor paving stone.

The best quality bluestone is being used extensively indoors in kitchens, living areas and hallways because it is virtually impervious to water and has a stain resistance. The dark grey tones of bluestone effectively hide dirt, making it a busy homeowner's dream natural stone surface.

Cutting edge designers are now incorporating bluestone into high traffic areas because of its durability and toughness and also because it is so easy to maintain. Nowadays you will see bluestone in honed and polished form used extensively in wine bars, restaurants, hotel lobbies and up-market retail outlets.

Outdoors the natural stone tile of choice is flamed bluestone because of its non-slip characteristics, to say nothing of its luxurious appeal. Garden designers are increasingly using the grey/black tones of bluestone to offset water features and pool surrounds.

The Appeal of Natural Stone

From the sleek lines of steel and glass used in contemporary architecture to the soft decorative features of a federation style home, the inclusion of natural stone complements any environment.

Imagine a stacked stone water feature made with blue-grey slate inside a glass covered portico at the entrance to an architectural masterpiece, or the soft colours of sandstone laid in the entry of an old inner city terrace, or an expansive family room floor tiled in the earthy, ambient tones of limestone.

Natural stone is...well...natural and it glows with life, no matter how or where it's used. In a world burdened by the effects of toxic chemicals and products, doesn't it feel good to experience the look and feel of something that you know has been created by nature? Natural stone was here long before we were and will still be around long after we're gone.

How to Care for Natural Stone Products

2010-10-04T22:17:00.001-07:00

Natural stone is a natural material which has been used in construction, finishing, exterior and interior decoration for a long time and up to the present. Quality of the initial material, modern equipment and high qualified stone masons allow creating real masterpieces from plain at the first glance slabs. Products of every imaginable applications: bathroom suites, kitchens countertops, windowsills, tiles and columns, vases and chandeliers demonstrate both delicacy of form and natural beauty of stone.

This material is solid, reliable and durable and can serve for more than one decade. However, not many people know that stone also requires regular cautious care, because it is the care that the appearance of your renovated house or garden will depend on after some time passes.

Natural stone tiles care.

After tiling, the tile made of natural stone often bears traces of cement which is used to fix the tiles to the walls or floor. Do not scratch the polished surface with the knife, you should use a specific cement remover. Besides, this substance will also help you to take away the lime masses and mold, and other persistent formations on marble or granite surfaces.

You can also use "Stone soap" for further care of stone products. It is not, of course, a common bar of soap, it is actually a special cleaner that not only cleans the stone as well as helps to maintain its colour and protect from dirt, forming a thin protective film. Common stone cleaners remove spilt oil, fat, paint as well as stains of natural wax. You can easily treat granite, marble, terrazzo and travertine with these agents.

Rust marks may occur when stone is in contact with metal, as it is the case while tiling bathroom walls or floor with natural stone. Rust removers not only transform the rust, as well as form long-term protective coating that protects products from further contamination.

Stone sealers can also serve as additional protection of porous finishing materials. Transparent acrylic coating does not only block pores, thus increasing the resistance of products to water and dirt, but also enhances colour and emphasizes stone structure. The stone sealer facilitates care for walls and floor tiles, fireplace finishing details and other ornaments.

Besides, such porous stone as limestone can be treated with stone enhancer that hardens surfaces and prolongs service life of products.

Floor care.

Marble or granite floors make newly refurbished houses look really luxurious and highlight the interior elegance. It's not that difficult to care for them, just you should know useful tips, so that the stone that is daily exposed to regular pressure can serve longer and maintain its initial natural elegance.

To avoid scratches you should sweep away the sand before cleaning stone tiles. If you ignore it, abrasive particles will scuff the floor during wet cleaning and after a while the floor will look eroded and unattractive.

The stone floor should be cleaned with a mop, preferably without metallic particles that may scratch the floor. If the floor is too dirty, you should apply special liquids for cleaning the stone tiles. These liquids differ from common cleaners used, for example, for ceramics or linoleum, with their composition and particularly with neutral level. Moreover, they form a protective layer that facilitates further cleaning.

Natural stone worktops care.

Care for worktops is not only about protection of material they are made of from exposure to water, fat, citrus juice effects, etc. You should also bear in mind that kitchen natural stone worktops contact with food oftener than other products that is why the selected cleaners should be absolutely safe for health. The cleaner "Dust protection" is developed just for this purpose, it forms fast-hardening protective layer that gives waterproof effect to the product. This protection makes cleaning easier and spilt coffee, tea or juice do not leave stains. Special cream paste is used for removal of oil and fat stains from the surface of table tops.

Natural stone windowsill care.

Traditionally windows are decorated with flower pots which are usually placed on the windowsill. Plants require regular watering and during tillage soil sometimes spills out of the pot. So, natural stone windowsills also must be protected from water and dirt. An efficient method to cope with this task is the already mentioned cleaner "Dust protection" for natural stone worktops.

Care for ornaments and landscape products.

Marble statues, decorative fences, alcoves look very spectacular and are widely used in landscape design. Though, unfortunately they require rain and dirt protection. Stone impregnation, that contains Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) the most widely used silicon-based organic polymer, penetrates deeply into the stone thus making the surface water-resistant.

Besides, you should also have special impregnation that protects from dirt, oil and fats for stone products which are located outside. It is especially actual for alcove floors and natural stone pavements.

Stone products polishing.

To make glazed surfaces look beautiful and spectacular for as long as possible, natural stone requires regular polishing. Polishing liquid that contains natural and synthetic waxes adds luster to the stone and gives them anti-skid effect. Silicone based polishing agent will allow both stone cleaning and polishing. It can be used for all kinds of stone products - worktops, windowsills, floor and wall tiles.

Useful Tips For Choosing Natural Stone Products

2010-10-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

Stone products have been widely used for home décor in recent years. Unique veins and beautiful color of natural stone provide many creative elements for home designers. More and more people are using natural stone products to decorate their house. But many people do not know how to choose stone products that fit and they do not know how to do regular maintenance after they are installed. Actually, there are a lot things you need to know about natural stone selection, installation and regular maintenance.

How do you know the stone is good or not?

The quality of raw material and fabrication workmanship decide the quality of natural stone products. Stone is a natural material. The color of the raw material can not be changed even after they are polished. So, the color of surface is a very important standard to judge the quality of a stone product. The surface of good quality stone products shall be in uniform color and little color variation. The inferior stone products can not cover this "defect" even after they are repair and re-polished. The other aspect that influence the quality of stone products is fabrication workmanship. If the stone is not fabricated properly, the stone products may be warping, concave or have spot, dirt, color variation, crackle. So fabrication workmanship is important for good stone products.

Choose the right stones

When using stone to decorate your house, do not use dark color stone for flooring and wall cladding which will make your home a dark feeling. Use light color and bright stone for flooring and cladding giving people a warm and peaceful feeling and also make your home look more spacious.

There are many types of stone in the market such as granite, marble, sandstone, travertine and so on. We had better choose those hard, wear-resistant, acid-resistant and alkali-resistant stones such as granite and marble. In terms of price, light color granite is fairly low price and is a ideal choice for home décor. It is very to find a replacement in the market when it needs repair and replace. When come to size, we suggest to use thin granite tiles (10~15mm) for flooring. But it depends on your floor intensity and load bearing.

Color for tables

Nowadays, stone furniture, such as stone tables or table tops, become more and more popular for home décor. When choosing a stone table and table tops, we had better choose the dark color stones, like black, blue, green, or red granite or marble. The marbles that have big veins are ideal choice for table. We had better choose granite for thick kitchen (25mm) counter tops and worktops because granite can be durable in use in the acid and alkali environment of kitchen.

Installation and maintenance

Because stone is a natural product, the veins and color are different from one tile to the other. Before installation, we need to put all tiles on the floor and then move the tiles around to make the overall veins and color looked harmonious and smooth. When the whole looks good, then we should mark the position of each tile. Please note do not write directly on the tiles in case the paint gets into the stone. You can write it down on a paper tag and paste it on each tile.

Before we install the stone, we should mix water and cement and paste them on the floor, and then put concrete onto them as a base. We need to flatten the concrete before pave the stone. After the stone is paved on floor, we have to level the stone with a level meter. This is very important because if it is not level it would cause a lot trouble in future. Tips: the thickness of concrete had better not exceed 20mm; do not walk on the floor and let it alone for 8 hours; some stones have grid on the back, we have to remove them before installation.

When the installation is done, we had better coat some white wax on the surface of the stone. Do regular maintenance every two weeks is enough. We will provide detailed maintenance tips later or you can visit our website for more information.

Price for stone:

The price for natural stone tiles range from $1 per square feet to $15 per square feet. As mentioned above, the light color granites have the lowest price and the dark color granite and some marbles that have unique veins have higher price.