May 2017 - Regatta Universal Exports

All about Book Matching in Natural Stones

Book-matching can be regarded as one of the most commonly used terms or techniques in the natural stone industry. Especially in the marble and granite manufacturing factories, this technique is heavily employed to highlight the beauty of natural stones. People dealing with natural stones on a daily basis are presumably well aware of the technique of book-matching. All natural stone buyers are even aware of this technique; probably out of interest. But, that is not the case with every other customer. There are a few, who might have no idea of book-matching or only heard about the term with no clue of exactly what it is all about! Keep reading to learn about this amazing technique and its significance in the natural stone industry.

The Technique:

All natural stone materials are liable for being construction purposes. Basically, it is the art of matching two or more wood or stone (our case) surfaces in a way that the two adjacent surfaces mirror each other. Granite and marble are initially cut into large blocks from their respective quarries. These blocks are further sliced to produce slabs of similar sizes and thicknesses. Usually, the same side of the sliced slabs are polished, but for book-matching, opposite sides of the slab are polished.

The very first slab in a block is polished on one side, while the adjoining slab is polished on the backside. Once book-matched and joined end-to-end, the pattern continues to flow from one slab to the next without any break. In the case of two adjacent slabs, book-matching usually gives the impression of an open book to onlookers. This pattern generally appears like open wings of a butterfly in two book-matched slabs; hence sometimes referred to as “butterflied” slabs.

Advantages of Book-Matching:

Book-matched slabs are capable enough to boost the aesthetics of any décor, whether interior or exterior. Another advantage of this technique is that it works well both in contemporary and traditional settings. To get the complete effect of book-matching, it is suggested that the slabs of all natural stone in use should be installed in large spaces. Several examples of installations that are best suited for book-matched slabs are kitchen islands, slab showers, full-height backsplashes and featured walls.

Limitations:

This technique is pretty time consuming and requires special skills. Moreover, it is only possible with only a few variants of marble or granite. For book-matching, the natural stone must be of the finest quality with clearly defined patterns of waves, streaks, swirls or veins. Since this technique has layout restriction, it eventually becomes more expensive as a lot of marble and granite wastage occurs during this process.

Conclusion:

If natural stones fascinate you and budget is not at all a constraint for you, then you must go for this technique to enhance the decor of your commercial and residential projects. Undoubtedly, this technique allows dimension stones to optimally reflect the beauty of naturally occurring patterns on their surfaces; thereby allowing you to take the maximum advantage of natural stone installations at your property.

Slate as a Sustainable Building Material

Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock and has known to be used since the ancient Roman era. Some of its striking properties like water resistance, fire resistance, and durability make this natural stone a great choice for construction. Available in a variety of shades, designs, and colors; this stone is extensively used for wall cladding, flooring, flagging, and roofing. Natural slate stone chiefly consists of micas or clay minerals that depend on the intensity of metamorphism to which it has been exposed to. With an increase in the level of pressure and heat, the clay minerals in the shale transform to micas.

Natural slate stone: Features and different aspects

Like other natural stones, slate shares a number of environmental-friendly characteristics, such as durability, ease of care, low-cost maintenance and enduring life cycle. Architects and designers use natural slate stone both for exterior and interior applications Exterior applications of natural slate stone include landscaping, roofing, copings, and sills, paving, cladding, and wall covering. For interior installations, it is used as wall and floor tiles, fire surrounds, worktops, hearths, and even tableware and house signs. Heat and water resistance properties make this stone a great material for roofing, while high performance, durability, and low-cost maintenance are responsible for making it apt to create cladding panels.

A lot of time and resources are invested in the exploration, extraction, processing, and installation of slate. The exploration process starts only after mineralogical, geological and geotechnical surveys are conducted. The samples are further taken to test for the quality and potential deposits of the stone. Periodic surveys are also conducted in order to prepare the quarry for steady and consistent production in the future. The extraction is done either from open quarries or underground mines.

The extraction process involves cutting rocks into large blocks by a diamond cutter. These blocks are then transferred to the slate factories. For its use as a coolant or an agent to remove rubble, right from the extraction to finishing of slate; water is recycled and stored in a closed vessel. Before being packed, slate has to undergo three phases that are discussed below:

Sawing: Large blocks, extracted from quarries, are sliced into varied sizes as per the requirement.
Shaping: Every slate block is manually cut into sheets with utmost care and attention. Water is applied whenever necessary to prevent drying and also to promote exfoliation.
Finishing: Several methods are employed to bring out the desired finish on the surface of the natural stone product.
Beveling: This step includes beveling the edges of the product (tile, etc.) that helps the water to pass through the surface easily when the slate is placed on the roof.

Available in amazing textures and colors, natural slate not just boost the value and décor of any property, but gives you a wonderful feeling of being close to nature.

Tile, Marble and Wood for Flooring: A Comparison

All the three materials, viz. tiles, marble and wood are globally used for flooring but are different in terms of origin, appearance, components, and properties. Marble floor tile products depend on these factors and their suitability change for different types of projects.

Tiles: Marble floor tile is manufactured under human-controlled conditions in factories and mainly consists of materials, such as stone, ceramic, metal and sometimes, glass. It is completely an artificial material and frequently used for both architectural and decorative purposes. Since it is manufactured under controlled conditions, it can be developed with desired properties and appearance (in terms of design and shades). Physically speaking, tile is a fairly strong material and comes in innumerable varieties and shades. When you compare functional marble floor tile products with other materials, you will find tile is cheaper than wood and marble.

Marble: Marble is a naturally occurring metamorphic rock, which comprises re-crystallized carbonate minerals, such as dolomite or calcite. Since marble occurs naturally, its shades and designs and even properties can’t be altered. Though it is a tough stone, it is a bit porous and therefore requires sealing as well as regular care and maintenance. Because of its limited deposits across the globe, it is much pricey in regions that lack marble deposits and requires its import.

Wood: Similar to marble, this also occurs naturally, but from an entirely different source. It consists of fibrous and porous tissues. Extracted from large trees of different varieties, marble is used to make furniture and also as an architectural component, like flooring, roofing, and ceiling. Polishing and periodic maintenance are highly recommended for its longevity. Depending on the quality, it can be very expensive. Furthermore, its organic nature makes it susceptible to damage from insects, microbes, and moisture.

With the above discussion, it can be concluded that, if the cost is not a constraint for you and can bear maintenance cost, marble or wood are perfect materials for flooring. These not only impart a natural grace to space but also boost the aesthetics with their unique designs and color palettes.

When compared with marble, wood is more susceptible to damage from microbes and moisture, hence not suitable for kitchen and bathroom applications. It is a soft material, whose maintenance is comparatively costlier than marble. On top of these, wood features brown shades and pattern that are typical of wood with minimal variation. On the other hand, marble occurs in relatively more varieties in terms of designs and color combinations.

Considering the characteristics of tiles, it can be your first choice, if you want to keep the project cost low, but don’t want to compromise on durability and designs. It is also easy to maintain and can be installed at any part of the property. However, the statement made by high-quality marble is downright incomparable and can be kept shining as new with a little care and timely maintenance. This is practically not possible in case of wood or even tiles. Unlike tiles, marble can be repaired for scratches and chips with the help of an expert.

India, a leading producer, and exporter of high-quality marble have numerous marble manufacturing factories across India, especially in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Regatta Universal Exports, a leading supplier and exporter of Indian marble, offers the best-in-class Indian marble products at highly competitive prices. For product and export information, write to us at info@regattaexports.com or call at +91-9910066990.

Maintenance of Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock that consists of recrystallized carbonate minerals with the most common ones being calcite or dolomite. It is a beautiful natural stone that occurs in numerous shades and patterns. In the construction sector, marble is mostly used to create floor tiles, countertops, and furniture. Although Indian marble is a durable material, it contains several impurities that are responsible for some amazing shades and patterns on its surface and also make the marble comparatively softer. For these very reasons, marble can be easily etched, dulled or stained. Therefore, to preserve its shine or appearance and to ensure its longevity; proper and timely maintenance is required. The maintenance of Indian marble can be broadly divided into three categories, viz., basic maintenance, stain removal, and scratch removal. Continue reading to learn about these methods in detail.

1). Basic Maintenance:

Protection from Scratches: Don’t let any sharp-edge objects to come in direct contact with Indian marble. For marble floors, padding can be done under the legs of chairs and tables. In the case of marble countertops, mats or coasters can be used to protect the same from appliances and glass objects.
Frequent Cleaning of Marble: This natural stone gets easily stained, particularly when a liquid is left untouched for a longer period of time. It is, therefore, suggested that, if an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage spill over the surface of Indian marble, it should be immediately removed or cleaned. Kinds of Stuff with strong pigments, such as curry powder, leafy greens, and coffee grounds should be wiped instantly.
Wiping Marble with a Moist Cloth: A soft piece of cloth moistened with lukewarm water is recommended to clean small spills and dust from the marble surface. Avoid scrubbing as it may lead to scratches. Make circular motions surrounding the area of the spill with a little pressure to clean the surface.
Keeping the Marble Dry: Never leave water on the marble surface even after you finish cleaning the marble floor or countertop, as this may cause stains to occur on the surface. Delicately rub the wet area using a dry soft cloth after cleaning the surface with a damp cloth.
Using a Mild Soap, Natural Material or Recommended Marble Cleaner: To clean debris or dust from a marble floor or countertop, a diluted solution of dish soap in lightly warm water works well. A soft cloth should be used for the cleaning purpose.

Tips:

Although vinegar is a great natural cleaning agent, its acidic nature can cause damage to Indian marble, hence shouldn’t be applied.
Hydrogen peroxide is a suitable cleaning agent for light shaded marbles.
Shining the Marble with Chamois Cloth: Made from soft fabrics, the chamois cloth can be used to dry and shine the marble surface. Commercially available marble polish is also a great option, but before using the same, make sure that the polish is exclusive for marble stone and not apparently meant for granite or other natural stones. This is because of the fact that marble is unique in terms of its composition and a harsh chemical can bring damage to its surface.

2). Stain Removal:

Spraying Water at the Stained Area: The stained area and its vicinity should be sprayed well with water.
Applying a Poultice: Prepare a thick paste of baking soda using water and apply it directly on the stain. Thereafter, cover the stained area with a small plastic sheet, and let it untouched for the next 24 hours.

Note: A poultice can also be made using a mixture of flour and non-abrasive dish soap.

Removing the Poultice: Uplift the plastic wrap and use a soft, moist cloth to remove the poultice. Repeat the process to remove the leftover poultice, if required.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide: Apply a little hydrogen peroxide over the stain and cover it with a plastic sheet. This is also required to be left for the next 24 hours. After this, remove the plastic wrap and gently remove the hydrogen peroxide using a damp cloth. If required, repeat the process.

Note: In case the Indian marble is dark in color, be careful while using hydrogen peroxide as this may discolor its surface.

Using Corn Starch on Grease Spots: Spread a little corn starch on the grease spot and let it absorb the grease for nearly 20 minutes. Further, wiping away the corn starch with a moist cloth will remove the spot.

3). Scratch Removal:

Begin with Gentle Cleaning: Using lukewarm water, rub a soft cloth against the scratch to remove it. Mild dish soap can be used to create a bit of friction in the process. Make sure to wipe out all the soapy water from the surface and let it dry after rubbing.
Using Finely grained Sandpaper: To remove deep scratches, gently rub the scratch with fine-grain sandpaper. Avoid using coarse-grain sandpaper as it might create tiny dents or cavities on the surface.
Consulting a Professional: If the above two methods fail, it is better to hire an expert instead of causing further damage to the marble. Professionals have appropriate experience and equipment with which they can easily remove the scratch from a marble floor or countertop without causing any harm.

Aging and weathering are natural phenomena that are sure to occur in case of every natural stone. Sadly, one can’t cease them completely, but the good news is that these phenomena can be delayed with proper care and maintenance. These, in turn, would keep the marble floor or countertop to shine like a new for decades.

Natural slate stone: Features and different aspects

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