May 2021 - Regatta Universal Exports

Natural Stones – Promoting Greener Construction for Ages

Whenever it comes to exploring green building construction options, natural stone emerges as the first and foremost option among builders, architects, and landscapers. As everyone today is inclined towards green building practices, this option seems to be a clear and concise choice. it has widely been used to build everything from modest residences to the world’s most iconic structures. Being a building material, stone needs almost zero manufacturing and is so tough that stone structures-built thousands of years ago still stand tall today—features only a few present-day “green” products can match.

Despite this, natural stone has been mainly ignored by the green building movement, while ephemeral products made of recycled plastic often carry green labels. Settled, stone has some major environmental influences, but they may not be as influential as you believe, and the stone industry has commenced notable sustainability efforts. This earliest building material may be highly pertinent in today’s green building landscape.

Dimension stone refers to a stone that has been cut, as contrary to the crushed stone. This stone has been used as flooring, wall cladding, solid surfaces, and walls along with landscaping and several other applications. Of the projected, 1.88 million tons (1.71 million metric tons) of dimension stone produced in the U.S. in 2011, 808,400 tons (735,000 metric tons) were used by the building sector, as per the data released by the U.S. Geological Survey. The accumulated stone sourced from Brazil, China, India, Italy, and other countries provides almost half of the total exports to the U.S.

Understanding Stone

Stone is known to have all the qualities of green material. It is treated using nearly zero chemicals, it releases no VOCs or dangerous airborne contaminants, and it is water-repellent and hard-wearing. It is also a captivating material that is found to outlast most structures built at present, and it can be recovered from one structure to be reused or recycled in another. Stonewall cladding is deployed on new buildings to match primitive structures, and in regions that face large temperature changes. Stone can also be utilized as the thermal figure for space heating and cooling.

Types of stone and their applications

The primary natural stones available today are granite, marble, sandstone, limestone, and slate, but there are several others, like soapstone, basalt, and quartzite.

Granite

Granite is a pyrogenic rock developed when molten magma cools gradually under high pressure far deeper in the crust of the earth. This natural stone is composed of alkali feldspar, mica, quartz, and other elements. True granite is known to have tightly combined mineral grains that give a uniform, speckled look to the granite surface.

True granite is composed of quartz, plagioclase feldspar, alkali feldspar, mica, and other minerals, but other fiery rock and metamorphic rocks, such as gneiss, are also marketed as granite. This type of granite has tightly constituted mineral grains that give it a dappled, but even, looks.

Granite is employed for interior décor applications, such as walls and countertops, as well as exterior applications like cladding, landscaping, flooring, and paving. Due to the changing quantities of quartz and other minerals, granite may have a dissimilar density, strength, porosity, and hardness, considering the type of the stone.

Limestone

Limestone is essentially a sedimentary rock formed majorly by the deterioration of earliest organisms that accrued on seabeds and were compressed under pressure over time. Limestone is known to have 50% calcium carbonate (CaCO3), with other types of calcium, magnesium, silica, and other minerals making up the rest. Travertine, another kind of limestone, is created midair when CaCO3 hastens out of mineral springs, mostly near hot springs.

Limestone is utilized for interior surfaces, flooring, exterior cladding, landscaping, and paving. Limestone tends to feature an even, non-crystalline structure but is susceptible to chemicals, so when it gets exposed to acid rain, the boundaries of limestone details can turn curved over time. There are three marks of limestone, Type 1 (lesser density), Type II (mid-level density), and Type III (high density). These characteristically available in white, beige, gray, pink, and other shades, based on the number of minerals. With respect to 3 or 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, limestone is usually too lax to be cultured, and its compressive strength remains less than granite.

Marble

Marble refers to a metamorphic rock created when limestone, dolomite, and parallel sedimentary rocks get exposed to heat and pressure over a period of time. Contrary to limestone, marble features veins caused by minerals crystallized during its development and comprises small fissures.

Alike limestone, marble is used for interior surfaces, exterior cladding, landscaping, and flooring. It classically appears in white, pink, red, and gold and is a soft stone, like limestone, at about 3 or 4 on the Mohs scale; compressive strength is also likewise, sitting at 7,500 psi. And marble is also susceptible to chemicals, so general kitchen tumbles can feasibly damage and stain the surface lest sealed.

Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed when sand, major grains of quartz and feldspar, is put under pressure. Calcium carbonate, iron oxide, and silica between the grains bind them together similar to cement. Sandstones that face extra heat and pressure transform into quarzitic sandstone and metamorphic rock quartzite over time.

Slate

Slate is a metamorphic rock created from the layers of clays or volcanic ash changed under heat and pressure over years. Created using quartz, aluminum, chlorite magnetite, and other minerals, slate contains a solid, layered nature that enables it to break along planes to result into thin, durable slabs.

Environmental Concerns

Many people think the quarrying process of marble and other natural stone is similar to mining. They also think that granites pose a radioactive risk, and transportation power need to shift the heavy stone to the application area plays a crucial role.

There is a considerable difference between mining and quarrying. In mining, various elements are extracted from the deeper layers of the earth followed by concentrating them at the surface. During mining, different types of materials are extracted other than the primary material. In addition, the entire process of mining is quite energy-intensive, and its runoff contains harmful byproducts that pose threat to air and local groundwater.

On the other hand, quarrying involved the extraction of rock in large concentrations at the surface. The major environmental issues involved in this are heavy noise, infrequent runoff of solids, and scrap piles. These are minor issues that can be managed in several ways. For example, the sites can be reused, filled is placing waste from production to carve out usable land, or, in some scenarios, turned into lakes.

Are countertops radioactive?

In the year 2008, The New York Times published a post, “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” that stated that granite countertops discharge radon—a neutral, unscented, cancer-causing radioactive fume. Though the article stated that the huge majority of granite countertops are harmless, the fright got attention on the Internet, and granite’s link to radon was paved. Peer-checked, separate researches achieve that radon does not present a considerable risk in the vast majority of granite or slate countertops, but granite is a natural product, and just as your home may sit over a radon flashpoint could possibly possess radioactive cumulative, it is likely that a chosen product may release radon as well. Even then, however, a “hot” countertop is very unlikely to pose a threat based on usual household ventilation rates, derived from other studies.

Despite this, no traces of carcinogens are acceptable, so discovering a way to put an end to this is the best for the industry. Some firms have started their own testing now—but it would be almost impossible to test all granite due to high costs and the problems of monitoring today’s stone through the industry.

Industry initiatives

The stone industry is deploying advanced quarrying and production procedures that enhance the efficiency of stone generation and lower its environmental effect. For example, during the quarrying of stone, cutting the stone with diamond wire saws results in lesser waste and dust; in the shop, CNC machines help in optimizing production and minimizing waste; and on buildings, stripper, lighter products are being applied that substitute bigger, less resource-intensive slabs.

The stone industry is gradually embracing its requirement to engage with the green building standards, but there is still a lot of work to do. Old processes need to be revised. This appointment should continue to enhance the stone’s environmental footprint. There is no ideal building material, but the stone is getting closer.

Impact of Brexit on marble imports in the UK

The United Kingdom is known to be one of the biggest importers of natural stones including marble, granite, and others. As the UK and European Union decided to part their ways and closed the book on almost half a century of close negotiations on Jan 31. Due to which various industry sectors got impacted and the natural stone industry is no exception. Now, let’s find out how it is going to impact the import of marble and other stones in the UK and how a marble supplier would need to act further.

What’s BREXIT?

The liberty to live and work between the UK and the EU came to an end, and in 2021, UK nationals will require a visa to make their stay in the EU more than 90 days in a 180-day time frame. As UK is no longer a part of the EU, the UK is free to define its trade policy and find new deals with other countries. This entire change in the functioning is known as BREXIT.

Northern Ireland will cease to follow many of the EU’s guidelines in order to avert an inurement of its border with the Republic of Ireland. This surely means that fresh checks will be imposed on goods entering Northern Ireland other than the UK.

How Brexit has been affecting the marble imports in the UK

It would be interesting to know how this Brexit deal would impact the imports of natural stones including marble.

According to the data fetched from HM Revenue & Customs, the industry noticed a rise in the value of stone imports in August 2016 after the Brexit vote, but to some level, this will show the upsurge in genuine prices being given as an outcome of the reduction in the pound following the survey. However, importers and their customers had already been doing major changes in their buying outlines due to the economic crisis of 2008, sourcing high quantities of lower price stone from other countries than Europe.

The worth of UK stone imports has witnessed a rising trend since 2012. There was some unwillingness about working on projects live towards the tail of 2015 and the first few months of 2016 as the ballot in the UK on exiting the European Union loomed. As the result was proclaimed that the UK was to leave the EU after the voting in 2016, sureness appears to have engulfed the market, even though the outcome was unforeseen by a majority of folks. Stone firms were quite engaged in the summer and autumn of 2016.

Image source – stonespecialist.com

According to a report released by the International Trade Centre and the National Statistical Institutes, the import of marble blocks and slabs attained a record high of over 38.7 million dollars since 2007 whereas their imports faced a downturn, summing up at 15.1 million dollars in 2017.

The following table shows the import data of marble blocks and slabs to the UK from the top 10 countries.

Image source – stonenews.eu

As depicted in the given table, in 2017 UK imported Marble Blocks & Slabs from France at a higher price per ton in comparison to 2016 by the remarkable +2,473%, from Turkey by +81,87%, from Italy by +42,78%, from China by +30,78%, from Portugal by +21,42%, from Egypt by +5,55%, from India by 4,83% and from Spain by 1,64%. On the opposing, UK imported at a reduced price per ton only from Greece by -7,52%. With respect to Norway, UK didn’t import any Marble Blocks & Slabs sourcing from Norway in 2016.

It is to be noted that UK imported almost half of the marble blocks and slabs from EU member countries except Italy.

Finished Marble Products

UK’s Finished Marble Products imports have been consistently declining over the last decade. Seemingly, from 2008 till 2017 the value and the number of imports were cut almost by half. However, the price per ton was steady at predominantly extreme levels. Between 2016 and 2017 UK imported Finished Marble Products at a higher price per ton by 5,4% though the import value got down by 11,68% while the number by 16,2%.

Image source – stonenews.eu

The HS codes (Harmonized System Codes) for marble products are shown below:

251511: Marble and travertine, crude or roughly trimmed

251512: Marble and travertine, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape

251520: Ecaussine and other calcareous monumental or building stone of an apparent specific gravity of >= 2,5, and alabaster, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape (excluding in the form of granules, chippings or powder, and marble and travertine)

680221: Marble, travertine and alabaster articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excluding with a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802,10, setts, curbstones and flagstones)

680291: Marble, travertine, and alabaster, in any form (excluding tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, imitation jewelry, clocks, lamps, and lighting fittings and parts thereof, buttons, original sculptures and statuary, setts, curbstones, and flagstones)

Source: ITC

With most stone intended for the UK emerging from China and India and already on the route by the time lockdown in the UK was imposed, there was a slight pause between the beginning of the first lockdown towards the end of March and the reduction in stone coming at the docks. By the end of 2020, imports were fast, of their 2019 figure. Brexit perhaps played a role in that. When the UK exited the European Union at the beginning of 2020, there was quite an uncertainty about what it would define and there was a general thought that it could lead to a drop in sales. As it came out, whatever the influence of Brexit might have been, it was waded in the impression of the Covid-19 pandemic, which encountered the biggest drop in UK GDP since the ‘Great Freeze’ in the year 1709.

Construction was badly hurt. It witnessed the biggest fall of any industry by a substantial margin, as per the Office for National Statistics. For stone and marble suppliers, it is always a big thing to know how Brexit would shape the marble imports in the UK.

On the other side, it faced the most outstanding recovery and by the end of the year, it regained its last position which was at the beginning of the year, while the other sectors were still trailing behind.

As far as imports are concerned, stone imports performed better, according to HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs).

Image source – stonespecialist.com

It is too early to determine the actual impact of Brexit on Marble imports in the UK. The government has invested a huge sum of money in assisting industries to survive the influence of various events, which has helped to diminish the impact for now, although an extra 700,000 folks, mostly younger adults, have become jobless. More jobs may go in vain when the government terminates the furlough system that has kept people on a minimum of 80% of the fully salary when they are not at work.

Stone of the month: Statuario Marble

Popularly known for its natural surface texture and looks, Statuario Marble is an excellent marble option for a wide range of building construction applications. Due to its superb hardness, longevity, strength, and weather-resistant properties, it is commonly used in flooring, kitchen countertops, monuments, pool coping, window sills, and sinks.

For ages, marble has been widely used in the construction industry. Marble was recognized by ancient civilizations as a stone perfect for carving engravings and shaping statues. It is difficult to work than the more pervasive limestones and sandstones but its compressed composition enabled early sculptors to depict life more promisingly, making it the foremost choice of Kings and Sovereigns.

What is marble?

A marble is considered a metamorphic rock that is formed when limestone is put under extreme temperatures and pressures. Marble takes shape under such conditions as the calcite leading to limestone recrystallizes emerging into a more solid rock composed of coarsely granular calcite crystals. The wide range of hues shown by marble is a result of minor levels of impurities being included with the calcite during the process of metamorphism. While marble can look sketchily like quartzite, a piece of marble can be smashed by a metal blade, and marble tends to froth on contact with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Texture – grainy

Grain size – mid-level; interlocking calcite crystals are noticeable with the naked eye.

Hardness – Dense, though component mineral is soft (Rated 3 on Moh’s scale of hardness).

Color – Differentiated – pure marble comes in white color but can also be obtained in various hues from red to black

Mineralogy – calcite

Other features – usually gritty to touch.

Applications – building stone; dimension stone for flooring, paving, etc.; divided into blocks and modified for monuments, headstones, etc., whiting material in paper, paint, and toothpaste.

Statuario Marble

It is one of the widely preferred marble stones for both residential and commercial applications worldwide. The natural looks of this marble make it great and its design pattern is comprised of uneven grey lines over a white color background. A majority of marble exporters in India offer both standard and custom-sized Statuario marble to various parts of the world.

Salient Features of Statuario Marble

An excellent stone choice for exterior flooring and wall cladding
Shattering resisted, low refractive index, high versatility, and great looks
Perfect for both residential and commercial applications
Easy availability for any type and scale of the project
Excellent physical properties (compressive strength, density, water absorption, hardness, porosity, and weather resistance)

Mining of Statuario Marble in India

When it comes to the mining of marble, India is considered to be a hotbed of high-quality marbles that are found in various parts of the country. However, the mining of specifically Statuario marble is done near Balaji Dham, Kelwa, Umraya in Rajasthan in India.

Due to the abundance of high-quality marble stones in India, construction contractors, architects, and interior designers look towards India when it comes to obtaining the finest quality marble for any type of construction project.

Processing Unit

At this level after mining, marble is further processed technically for application usage. For example, it is polished, its edges are refined using special tools and machines. In order to get a specific finish, different techniques have been used.

The typical processing of Statuario Marble commences with primary cutting, followed by the application of a surface finish, and is usually followed by next-stage cutting or shaping.

In order to cut and shape the Statuario Marble, cutting and calibration machines are used at stone processing units. Similarly, for brushing and polishing tasks, special machines are used. For minor alterations, small hand-held tools like axes and mauls are employed by stone workers. Irrespective of the type of construction project it is, most Indian marble manufacturers provide standard and custom-sized sandstone products to B2B buyers all across the world.

Finished Material

As the surface pattern of Statuario marble is largely defined by grey-colored lines, the major finishing can be done in terms of size and finish.

So, when it comes to defining the finished material of Statuario Marble, the main variations come in terms of different sizes and finishes. It is up to the exact requirement of the buyer that defines in which size stone is cut and processed. The most commonly preferred sizes of Statuario Marble are:

Gangsaw slabs – 260 x 160 cm up in 2 & 3 cm
Cutter slabs – 180 x 60 cm up in 2 & 3 cm
Tiles – 30×30, 30×60, 60×60 cm
Countertops and vanity tops – Custom sizes

Finishes

Depending on the precise project requirements, Statuario Marble can be obtained in various finishes. Today, the leading marble manufacturers and exporters in India employ high-end tools and techniques to apply an attractive and lasting finish. Some of the popular finishes available on Statuario marble are Polished, Lepatora, Honed, Antique, Brushed, Bush-hammered, and Leather.

All variants of Statuario marble come with machine-cut edges.

Installation

The high level of hardness, great looks, excellent durability, and superb weather-resistant make Statuario Marble a stone of choice for a wide range of construction projects. From wall cladding to flooring, monuments, countertops, sinks, pool coping, and sills, Statuario Marble remains one of the most preferred options to give a touch of sophistication to any space.

A large number of Indian marble manufacturers and exporters provide high-quality Statuario marble in a safer and affordable manner to almost any part of the world. Both in standard size and custom size, this marble can easily be obtained from India.

Natural or Artificial Stone – Which is better?

Whether you are a construction contractor, a landscaper, or an interior designer, you can’t deny the fact that today there is a wide range of material choices available in the industry. And sometimes, it becomes confusing for you to decide on the best. For example, if you are confused between choosing a natural or artificial stone, this post is meant for you.

Be it a large-scale construction project or a low-key one, the selection of the right construction stone makes a big difference to the overall value of the project. In the market, there are primarily two types of construction stones – natural stone and engineered stone. Though both of them have their pros, it is a good idea to compare them before arriving at a final decision.

Natural Stone

As the name indicates, natural stone is a product of nature that is formed beneath the earth’s surface over millions of years. It is then extracted from the Earth at various places all across the world. Their exact mining location is important when it comes to determining the stone slab’s category, texture, color, quality, and value. Some of the popular natural stones are granite, marble, quartzite, limestone, sandstone, and slate.

The most distinctive thing about natural stones is that no two pieces would be identical. For example, a granite slab would be of a somewhat different surface pattern than another slab. But these irregularities and natural defects make natural stone popular among construction professionals.

Artificial or Engineered Stone

It is a man-made material that was brought to use in the 80s. It is its high level of consistency in terms of color and texture that makes it different from natural stones. These stones are made up of composite material which is prepared by crushing stone (preferably marble or quartz) and combine them using an adhesive, usually polymer resin. At present, artificial stone looks identical to natural stones and lends a number of benefits to the users. Some of the commonly used engineered stones are Silestone, quartz, Caesarstone, cambria, icestone, and others.

Comparison of Natural and Artificial Stone against different parameters

Now, let’s compare both of them against various parameters.

Looks

While natural stones tend to highlight natural colors and patterns that emerge due to natural processes, artificial stones reveal an even color and regular patterns due to the advancements in technology.

But in terms of authenticity, there is no point in comparing a man-made product with a natural product. Natural stone is made over thousands of years and in that process, its looks keep changing with time and environment. In other terms, each natural stone slab differs in its looks – no two slabs look similar. Go to any natural stone market in the world and you will come across dynamic variations in color, quality, veining, and flecks that lend a distinctive appearance to each stone.

On the other hand, artificial stones reveal consistency and repetition in terms of color, texture, and style. As they are made using mechanized techniques, they all look the same. You can also find a hand-painted finish in artificial cladding which is often performed to give an exclusive look. Hence, folks who like natural appearance may have issues with the peculiar and impractical design of artificial stones.

Cost

It is generally believed that artificial stones cost less than natural stones. This is due to the reason that artificial stones are 20-30% lighter than artificial stones and their similar design pattern and texture make it easier for professionals to install.

Apart from this, the exact specification of the project determines the actual cost of the stone to be purchased. For example, the orientation of the kitchen may be of value in determining the actual waste and cost.

Longevity

Longevity is one of the major factors that decide which type will perform longer. Natural stone is always a step ahead in terms of durability and upkeep. For example, you can look for various ancient sculptures made of natural stone that are still standing impressively, even after centuries.

A majority of natural stones are less porous in nature which results in increased durability. Nonetheless, the upkeep of natural stone can be performed easily using a pressure wash. However, maintenance of artificial stone is labor-concerted as it will not be able to bear the pressure of washing or manual scrubbing.

Versatility

This is one area where artificial stones may have an edge as they can be installed on diverse substrates that don’t follow a structure like masonry or wooden frame.

However, in search of a good stone for cladding purposes, it is not good to use an artificial stone. Artificial stone may also not be a feasible choice for application near swimming pools. It could affect the structural integrity of the substrate it is installed on.

According to construction experts, the use of artificial stones for flooring or kitchen countertops may not give that rich look like a granite stone. One benefit of artificial stones is that they don’t require sealing like natural stones. However, they are found to get discolored permanently when exposed to certain chemicals. However, there are various varieties of granite, particularly dark-colored ones that do not need sealing. So, it is all up to you which material you actually choose for your project.

In a standard size room, the installation of artificial stone would take just 1 – 1.5 days as they come in ready to install conditions whereas, in the case of natural stones, it would take a much longer time due to the manual processing and cutting of each slab.

No matter which stone you choose, both have their pros and cons. Thus, there are lots of factors that determine which stone one should go with like installation area, local climate, design orientation, allotted budget, and the purpose.

If you love sticking to nature, natural stones like granite or marble are surely a winning choice. However, in order to end up getting the best, you need a reputed and reliable natural stone supplier or exporter in India who has been providing quality products for several years. Always keep in mind that natural stone is a product that may be full of natural defects but this is what makes it so demanding despite the high price. On the other hand, getting artificial stone is very easy due to the involvement of mechanized processes.

To make the best choice, it is recommended to do thorough research on all the available options and decide on a stone product that matches best to your project needs and budget.

How Brexit has been affecting the marble imports in the UK

Comparison of Natural and Artificial Stone against different parameters

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