How to choose the right natural stone for you?
Natural stone is one of the highest quality materials used for architecture and interior design projects. It is strong, durable, does not harm the environment, and is also very aesthetically pleasing. Using natural stone will certainly provide a fresh effect to any environment, which is accompanied by the good energies that nature always transmits.
However, there are some factors to consider that could make some stones types better suited than others. Some of these factors are hardness, resistance to water, resistance to acidic materials, colors, or suitability to form decorative elements.
At RLautier - The Natural Stone Workshop, we understand choosing the right natural stone for your place might not be easy at first. That’s why we would like to share on this post some insight on the differences among the most popular natural stones: marble, travertine, granite, and quartzite.
MARBLE
One of the greatest things about marble is that it covers a very broad colour palette that goes from the purest whites to the most intense blacks. Marble has become an all-time favorite for creating stylish, high quality works in any space where sophistication and elegance are desired.
With amazing colours and beautiful veins, marble is a versatile natural stone with many possibilities. It is commonly used for flooring, wall cladding, countertops, window sills, thresholds, and vanities, among many other uses.
Marble is a relatively porous stone, especially when compared to granites, quartzites, and some other natural stones like slate. This natural stone requires some maintenance to keep it pristine, but doing so periodically it will certainly preserve the marble’s natural beauty and elegance.
Some of the most popular marbles are Bianco Carrara, Bianco Statuario, Breche de Vendome, Caffe Moka, Calacatta Carrara, Calacatta Oro, Emperador Light, Emperador Dark, Grey Stone, Grigio Carnico, Lilac, Nero Marquina, Ombra di Caravaggio, Rosso Alicante, Rosso del Levanto, Silver Roots, Tundra Grey and Verde Guatemala.
You can find these and many other marble options in our Natural Stone Workshop in Msida (Malta), as well as in our online Natural Stone catalogue.
TRAVERTINE
Popular worldwide as a versatile and attractive material for design projects, travertine is a classic choice for creating stylish spaces with consistency. It is also the most suitable material for damp or humid environments since it is naturally porous and breathable.
Homeowners wishing to decorate in neutral warm tones will find travertine is one of the most appealing natural stones available. Besides, it comes in many forms and in a wide variety of earth tone colors, which makes it easier to design a cohesive ambiance. Some of the most popular travertines are Travertino Romano, Travertino Navona, Travertino Noce or Travertino Bianco Venato.
Travertine is a very durable natural stone and stands up well to heavy traffic. It can be used in various applications like flooring, showers, sink basins, pool coping, facades, cladding and countertops.
Travertine tiles can be polished, honed or brushed. Also, it can be filled or unfilled, depending on the use and client's preference.
GRANITE
Granite is an igneous rock with a distinctive and timeless aura. Due to its durability, granite will last a lifetime, making it an excellent choice for busy and high traffic areas. However, granite is not suitable for humid or damp environments.
Granite is made up of different grains of materials, and you can actually see these grains in granite surfaces, creating a wide range of colours and patterns. This variety of patterns will make each slab originally unique.
Also, granite is one of the most heat and scratch-resistant countertop materials on the market, which makes it an excellent kitchen countertop choice. Besides countertops, it can be used in various applications like flooring, interior walls, exterior cladding, ventilated facades, vanity tops, backsplashes...
Granite is easy to clean and maintain. Maintenance required is less in case of granite countertops as compared to marble countertops.
Some of the granites we have in our collection are Cabernet Brown and Nero Assoluto.
NATURAL HARD QUARTZITES
Natural Hard Quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones, maintaining its properties almost unalterable over time. Its durability, versatility and beauty make quartzite an increasing popular choice among homeowners and interior designers.
Quartzite is often confused with quartz composite due to its similar name, but they are actually two different stones. Quartz composite is a man-made stone whereas quartzite is a natural stone formed from sandstone in the earth being exposed to intense heat and pressure over time.
The wide range of patterns and colors makes quartzite a material with almost unlimited uses. It is widely used on wall cladding and countertops.
In fact, quartzite is the best natural stone choice for kitchen countertops due to its durability and resistance to chemicals, heat, scratching and etching. However, despite its great hardness, quartzite is not indestructible and should be cleaned periodically to help maintain the surface.
Some of the hard quartzites we have in our collection are: Atlantic Grey, Calacatta Brasil, Glacier, Quarzite Nera and Taj Mahal.
You can learn more about our Natural Stone Collection in our catalogue, where you can also find other natural stones such as slate, limestone, sandstone, basalt and onyx.
If you need advice or you would like to see our showroom, do not hesitate to visit us in our office in Msida in Malta or send us an email to info@rlautier.com for any enquiry.