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7 tips to consider when buying marble slabs for your countertop

7 tips to consider when buying marble slabs for your countertop

Marble has been popular for millennia, since the times of Ancient Greece and Rome, and deservedly so. It’s a natural material that can vary greatly in appearance depending on where it was quarried and how it was cut. A pure calcite marble can be white, whereas the presence of hematite can turn it red, and other minerals can add intricate veining to the surface. In this post we will go over a few tips that should help you choose a marble slab for your countertop that suits your needs and personal style.

A white marble slab will hide stains better

You might want that blood red hematite marble slab for your countertop or maybe that sleek black limestone, but you have to pause and think first. How do you plan to use your kitchen? Will you be cooking on it often? Will you be using acidic substances like lemon juice and vinegar? Marble consists mainly of calcite carbonate or magnesium carbonate and thus reacts with acids. When you spill lemon juice or vinegar on your countertop it can etch and leave a white stain, one that will be significantly more visible on a black marble slab than a white one. You could also consider a dolomitic marble like Bianco Volakas which is over 90% dolomite and thus reacts more weakly with acids than calcite marbles.

Think about how different marble slabs will fit together

Even when marble slabs come from the same block, there can be some variance in coloring and veining, so it is best to handpick the specific ones that will be used for your countertop, if possible. Look for a single slab with a pattern that captivates you, but also consider two bookmatched marble slabs with a beautiful, symmetric mirrored pattern.

Take veining patterns into consideration

Different cuts of the same block can produce strikingly different veining patterns. A fleuri cut produces flowery, abstract patterns that can give bookmatched marble slabs that distinct  Rorschach test look. On the other hand, a striato cut produces striated slabs and emphasizes the veins. It can create patterns with straight, parallel lines that travel along your countertop and down the side, if you use a second marble slab for the corner.

The finish will greatly affect the look of your countertop

In the millennia humans have been working with marble, technology has made such progress that today we have methods of brushing and polishing stone that our ancestors couldn’t have imagined. A honed finish is silky smooth to the touch but maintains a matte look. A polished finish, on the other hand, goes a step further and creates a glossy, reflective look, one that is indeed very popular among marble enthusiasts. The tumbled finish gives marble an aged, antique look through a stone bath of grit or sand. Finally, the brushed finish is achieved by brushing the marble with steel or hard nylon. It’s a textured and wear-resistant finish that hides etching well.

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8 Stone Fountain and Waterfall Ideas

8 Stone Fountain and Waterfall Ideas

Water features such as stone fountains and waterfalls are a gorgeous addition to any garden, patio, or landscape. More than visual aesthetic enhancements, they enrich your space with the soothing sound of flowing water, which promotes relaxation. Read on to find inspiration for your own stone fountain or waterfall project and transform your space into a beautiful, meditative area that will mentally transport your guests and family to beautiful, tranquil locales.

Granite Water Fountain Bird Bath

A classic water feature that combines a water fountain with a bird bath. You can set up more than one around your garden, sit back, and enjoy the sounds of water splashing and birdsong. Depending on your landscape, you can opt for a sleek polished stone look or go for something more rough, rustic, and natural. Your bird bath fountain can be as elaborate as a multi-tier design with decorative carvings or as simple as a granite boulder or a wide granite slab on a sturdy base. No matter your choice, the birds will love it.

Stacked Stone Waterfalls

Waterfall designs centered on stacked stone are incredibly diverse and versatile. Your imagination and budget truly are your only limitations.

Natural Stone Steps

A staircase made out of and surrounded by natural stacked stone can be transformed into a charming waterfall with very few alterations. The end result can be stunning: a small mountain stream in your very own backyard.

Dry Stacked Stone Waterfall

A variation of the stone steps, this is a vertical tiered design, a bonsai waterfall made out of and surrounded by dry stacked natural stone. The water can flow in a small pond or swimming area. This water feature should be perfect for those who want to emphasize their hardscape over their landscape and make heavy use of natural stone.

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5 Pool Bar Ideas That Utilize Natural Stone & Minerals

5 Pool Bar Ideas That Utilize Natural Stone & Minerals

Pools are ubiquitous in Miami, which is unsurprising given our hot, tropical climate, the city’s wealth, and its culture. Pools are personal little oases, a place to exercise, cool off and relax, or hang out with guests and family. They can also enhance a property, making it more luxurious and increasing its market value. Similarly, a pool bar can elevate a pool, transforming it into a personal piece of paradise on Earth. More than a place for a guest to have a drink in the shade while they’re waiting to dry after their swim, a pool bar can also be an entertainment hub for your guests to mingle and interact with each other. So, grab your beverage of choice and read on for some pool bar ideas that make use of natural stone and minerals.

Natural stone poolside wet bar

A pool bar/kitchen built into one of the sides of the pool. Guests can sit inside the bar and drink or eat while taking in the gorgeous view of the hardscape or they can dive into the water and swim up to the bar for a drink whenever they feel thirsty. Natural stone steps are a perfect way to connect the bar to the pool deck. For the siding of the inner walls and the floor tiling, natural stone remains a great choice. You can go with large or small cuts, smoothed or rough. A mix of the two on different surfaces can also create contrast and add character. Finally, a marble countertop with complementary colors and patterns completes the look.

Ledgestone poolside dry bar

A shaded space near the pool where your guests can sit and relax after their swim, enjoy a cold beverage and maybe watch a sports game on a wall-mounted TV. Ledgestone siding is used on all walls, inner and outer. Multicolor and single-tone looks can work depending on the surrounding hardscape. A marble countertop can complement either look with the right pattern and color combination.

Cobblestone poolside wet bar/kitchen

A rustic design fitting for pools which have cobblestone decks. If you have enough space and expect enough guests, surrounding the pool bar with tables can give it more of a Mediterranean tavern feel and function. Cobblestone siding is used to cover all the walls. The countertop and tabletops are made of marble with matching tones, though quartz is a great alternative because of how durable it is. After all, that countertop and those tables are going to be seeing a lot of use from a lot of guests.

Granite stacked stone swim-up bar

A more modern look that focuses on sheer, sharp angles and contrasting color combinations. Granite stacked stone covers the walls and the waterline. Light and dark tiles create a busy pattern, with the rectangular shapes enforcing order upon the chaos. Two-tone granite with complementary colors is used for the countertop and the bar stools. The overall look fits best as part of a modern, angular hardscape in which the luxuriance of the granite is counterbalanced by the geometry of the design.

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Volakas marble: imbue your space with a piece of Classical Greece

volakasmarble volakas marble miami

The gorgeous Volakas marble takes its name from a small town 20 miles away from the city of Drama, in northern Greece. The marble is quarried open-pit and underground, using tunnel excavation, from the nearby Falakro Mountain to the east. Due to both the sheer volume of marble quarried and its characteristics, the area is sometimes referred to as “the Carrara of Greece”. The leading quarrying company alone produces around 6,000 containers with marble blocks a year, which equals over 1,400,000 ft3.The gorgeous Volakas marble takes its name from a small town 20 miles away from the city of Drama, in northern Greece. The marble is quarried open-pit and underground, using tunnel excavation, from the nearby Falakro Mountain to the east.

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Enhance your home’s interior and exterior with stone

petra_spiti Stone solutions for interior or exterior

Buildings with stone walls, be they rustic farmhouses or majestic mansions, evoke images of an idealized past: from small, picturesque towns surrounded by forests to regal cities with imposing villas and castles. Stone is associated with weight and durability. It gives a house a quality of permanence, of stability.Buildings with stone walls, be they rustic farmhouses or majestic mansions, evoke images of an idealized past: from small, picturesque towns surrounded by forests to regal cities with imposing villas and castles. Stone is associated with weight and durability. It gives a house a quality of permanence, of stability.

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Marble Floor Polishing & Stone Floor Polishing

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We have extensive experience in the field of marble and stone floor polishing and restoration. If your stone can be cleaned and restored, Easy Stone Corp will achieve the optimum possible results for you. On the other hand, if we feel the outcome won’t live up to your expectations, we will let you know beforehand. All our operatives have undergone extensive training and have many years experience restoring floors to new in people’s homes.

Marble Floor Cleaning & Stone Floor Cleaning

Cleaning and stain removal

Most marble and natural stone floors and surfaces can be revitalized and returned to their original state. When installed and cared for correctly, your stone or marble floor should last a lifetime. We have cleaned, polished, sealed, repaired, and restored thousands of marble and stone floors, dating from the 1800s to modern times.

Stains can occur very easily in natural stone. If a floor is unsealed, any liquid spilled will seep into the stone. Our stain removal process starts with a very gentle chemical clean and can range up to a poultice or resurfacing of the stone.

Poultice treatments are a very gentle way of removing stains. A cleaning agent is mixed with a very fine powder, applied to the surface of the stain, covered with polythene, and then left to dry. The powder draws the stain from the surface. This may take up to three days and several applications may be needed. However, we rarely have to resort to this method of cleaning, usually, a strip, clean and polish is sufficient to transform a floor.

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5 Bathroom Tile Ideas For Small Bathrooms Part 2

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This is the second half of the 5 Bathroom Tile Ideas For Small Bathrooms article, make sure you have read the first part of the article.

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5 Bathroom Tile Ideas For Small Bathrooms Part 1

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You've finally got around to decorating your small bathroom and you're really keen on the idea of tiles, but you have no idea what sort of tile will work best in a tiny room. Fear not, we have some fantastic bathroom tile ideas for small bathrooms right here!

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Want a Marble Bathroom Consider These Factors First

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Marble has been used by master craftspeople throughout the ages to adorn palace floors, ceilings and walls. Although it was once a show of wealth and power, today marble tile is making its way more and more into everyday homes – bathrooms in particular – all over the world.

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The Benefits of Choosing Quartz Over Marble for Your Countertops

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Homeowners today have a lot of choices when it comes to their countertops. The kitchen gets a lot of use and attention, so it’s important that the countertops you choose for this room both complement the style and last for the long run.

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Marble Flooring One of the Most Luxurious Flooring Materials

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Interior decoration is incomplete without a proper selection of flooring. The flooring material of your house will define the class of your home. Flooring is something that will last up to the life of the house.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Marble Flooring

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Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor. Floor covering is described as any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. Various flooring materials are available in the market. Marble flooring is one of the popular types of flooring materials.

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Selecting Tiles: 8 tips

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If you would like to take an informed decision when it comes to selecting tiles for your space, here are a few tips to help you.

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The complete guide to shopping for tiles in Florida - Part 2

easystone-marble-floor-living-room Marble Tiles living room

3. What About Non-Slip Tiles?

“Non-Slip” is something of a misnomer when it comes to describing a tile. Put simply, no tile can be guaranteed to be slip-proof. We use a slip rating system known as R-Ratings, with the results of any particular tile ranging between R-9 and R-13. A higher rating indicates a more slip-resistant tile. There’s no applicable building regulation at the moment for slip-resistance. Tiles with any given “R” rating do not have to be used in any particular area, but the higher ones, in particular R-11 and higher, are definitely recommended for disabled-access bathrooms and public areas. Often, an architect will nominate a minimum rating if he or she is detailing the specification on a project. Obviously a polished porcelain or gloss finish tile is slippery than a natural finish porcelain or a matt glazed tile. Because any floor tile may be used on any indoor floor, and without a building regulation, it’s up to the consumer to choose an appropriate product in terms of performance and design, based on the practical information available.

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The complete guide to shopping for tiles in Florida - Part 1

easystone-floor-marble-exterior-villa_20190624-164812_1 Project of Marble tile exterior

If you're thinking of buying tiles, you'll find this link to a  list of questions to ask before purchase very useful. It'll ensure you've all the relevant information to hand, and are able to select the best tiles for your purpose. But if you're just looking for more general information on wall and floor tiles, then you'll find what you need below:If you're thinking of buying tiles, you'll find this link to a  list of questions to ask before purchase very useful. It'll ensure you've all the relevant information to hand, and are able to select the best tiles for your purpose. But if you're just looking for more general information on wall and floor tiles, then you'll find what you need below:

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We are the manufacturers of some of the leading products in today's stone industry. Our equipment, our inventory, and our 90-year experience can assure the success of your project

745 West 18th Street, Building #4, Hialeah, Florida 33010
+1 786-600-7700
+1 305-477-6339
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