Marble Tiles

Traditionally, the term Marble was used by stonemasons to describe any stone that would receive a polished surface. However, from a geological point of view, Marble is defined as Limestone that has undergone thermal metamorphism. This process of metamorphism results in a dense, closed surface, although some materials may have slight open veining or surface cavities. Marble has been used in ancient structures for thousands of years because of its wide variety of beautiful hues and mineral veins. SomeMarble tilesor slabs with particularly prominent veins may have a mesh backing applied to the back of the tile predominantly to strengthen the material during handling and cutting. It is also common practice to apply the resin filler to cavities and open veins before or after processing. Marble is a very dense stone that easily matches the finish, but is also available in Honed and Tumbled finishes.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed by the consolidation of sediments, seashells, and other organic matter. This calcareous stone constitutes our widest product range. Each Limestone exhibits its own characteristic colors and markings and can vary greatly in density. Some Limestones have a similar appearance to traditional Marbles, which can often lead to misclassification. Some degree of edge chipping with occasional surface voids, fossilized shells, fissures, mineral streaks and resin infill should be expected. Limestone is an acid sensitive material and therefore care must be taken to use the right products during cleaning.

Travertine begins as a calcareous dispersion that is later precipitated by hot mineral springs. The result of this formation method is a honeycomb structure with visible surface voids and voids when finished. Travertine usually comes in 'cross-cut' or 'vein-cut' formats. Grainy tiles are cut so that the surface plane of the tile is parallel to the existing long grains, cross-cut tiles are cut perpendicular to these grains. After the tiles are cut, they are either filled with a resin suitable for their color or left unfilled. In general, voids are only left unfilled in Tumbled, Brushed, or Splitface overlays and are filled during the grouting process. Although filling the voids provides a smoother surface, in general use some small areas of filling may become dislodged or previously unpunched holes may become visible. This is not unusual and the holes should be refilled with a suitable resin or mortar. Travertine tiles may require additional adhesive to be applied to the back of the tile to fill larger gaps.

Onyx primarily refers to the parallel-banded variety of the silicate mineral chalcedony. Agate and onyx are layered varieties of chalcedony that differ only in band shape: agate has curved bands, and onyx has parallel bands. The colors of their bands range from black to almost any color. Generally, onyx samples contain black and/or white bands.[3] Onyx, as a descriptive term, has been misleadingly applied to varieties of parallel-banded alabaster, marble, calcite, obsidian, and opal.

Natural stone tiles all have different densities and properties and behave differently when cut. It is important to use the best equipment to get the best results.

Cutting should be done using a water-cooled, diamond-bladed bench saw. However, it should be noted that the final aesthetic finish achieved will largely depend on the choice of cutting equipment and the skill level of the manager. Special equipment and knives must be used to cut a specific product being attached.

If necessary, the cutting blade should be emptied during mowing to retain dust and cool the blade.

Please note that high quality diamond blades should always be used. If a blunt or worn diamond blade is used, peeling or peeling may occur on the edge of the tile.

The above instructions are general, for information on specific products, please