Because stone is a natural, not manufactured, product, no two pieces are exactly the same, which means each finished countertop, wall, floor, mantle, or sill in your home is distinctive and matchless.

And, unlike synthetic imitations, natural stone can be three-dimensional and used as columns, statuary, balustrades, doorjambs, and even furniture pieces. When used in exterior applications, natural stone has also proven superior to manufactured or engineered stones in withstanding the effects of nature. This guide has been developed to help you make a wise selection from the many varieties of natural stone available from Collins Tile & Stone. You can also find assistance by calling us at 806.747.7738 or come on by and visit our show room at 4715 Clovis highway or you can even contact us via email through our contact page . 

The Benefits of Natural Stone

• Classic Beauty
• Durability
• Easy Maintenance
• Superior Quality
• Affordability
• Increased Home Value

You have many options when it comes to beautiful, long lasting natural stone for your home or business's interior and exterior: Slate, granite, marble, qurtz-based stone, and limestone, just to name a few. Choosing a natural stone for your home is a very personal decision, much like selecting wallpaper or artwork, and Collins Tile and Stone is hear to help answer any question you have.

While there are scores of natural stones to consider, some are better suited than others to particular uses in and around the home. Collins Tile & Stone can help you explore your options and offer guidance on the right stone for the right home project.

Factors to Consider While Selecting a Natural Stone

Color
Natural stones are available in a beutiful spectrum of colors. Colors in granite and marble, for instance, can range from soft beiges and pinks and classic black and whites to rich corals, greens and multi-colors. Marble traditionally features swirls and veins of colors, while granite has a flecked or pebbled appearance.

Unlike the repetive samenes of materials broduced by machine or assembly line, natural stone's naturally varied appearance has wonderful character and creates a one of a kind effect everywhere it is used.

Finish
Natural stone can be polished, honed, or flamed for a distinct appearance:

• A polished finish has a glossy surface that reflects light and emphaizes the color and marking of the stone. This finish is typically used on walls, furniture tops, and floor tiles.
• A honed finish is a satin-smooth surface with relatively little light reflection. It is generally preferred for floors, stair treads, thresholds, and other areas where heavy traffic will wear off a polished finish.
• A flamed finish is a rough textured surface used frequently on granite floor tiles.

Usage
The harder the stone, the more it resists abrasion. One measure of a natural stone's strenth is it's Measurement of Hardness (MOH) rating, on which 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest. On the MOH scale, most marbles rate as a 3 while quartz-based granites rate as a 7. Using a softer stone simply requires the homeowner to use gentler cleansers and more frequent dusting to prevent scratching.

Marble

Ideal for foyers, bathrooms, floors, and hearths
Marble is found in the mountainous regions of Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain , the U.S. and other countries worldwide. Because of its beauty and elegance, marble is a popular choice for countertops, floors, foyers, fireplace facings and hearths, walls and windowsills.

Marble adds a sophisticated element to your home or business, and its wonderful appearance, superior engineering characteristics and ease of maintenance make it a natural choice for floors, wall coverings, table tops bathroom walls, floors, vanity tops, tub decks and showers.

Marble should be cared for as you would a fine wood finish. Using coasters on table tops and cleaning up spills immediately will preserve the marble's natural beauty.

Another option for marble loers is using another natural stone, serpentine, for kitchen counters. Somtimes called the "green" marble, serpentine is not a true marble but offers a marble like look. And, because it is magnesium silicate based, it is not sensitive to citric acid.

Granite

An excellent choice for kitchen countertops, floors, and other heavily used surfaces
Granite, quarried from the mountains of Italy, the U.S., India and dozens of other countries around the world, is on of the most popular natural stones on the market.

Available in a striking array of colors, granite's durability and longevity makes it ideal for kitchen countertops and other heavily used surfaces, including table tops and floors.

While some synthetic surfaces scratch easily and melt under hot cookware, granite resists heat. Granite is also one of the most bacteria resistant kitchen surfaces and is not affected by citric acid, coffee, tea, alcohol or wine. It is also nearly impossible to scratch and with the proper cleaning will not stain under normal us. Collins Tile & Stone offers sealants that help further improve granite's resistance to staining.

A leading consumer magazine recently compared granite with engineered stone, ceramic tile, laminate, butcher blocks and other manufactured surfaces and granite still received the highest overall performance ratin as a kitchen countertop material.

Because of granite's exceptional strength it is well suited for exterior applications such as cladding, paving and curbing.

Travertine, Limestone, Sandstone and Slate

Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out
Travertine, limestone, sandstone and slate are other examples of natural stone frequently used in residential applications.

Travertine, a type of limestone, is one of the most popular natural stones for interior and exterior wall cladding, paving, statuary and curbing.

Limestones is widely used as a building stone because it is readily available and easy to hande. Popular applications include countertops, flooring, interior and exterior wall cladding and exterior paving.

© The Marble Institute of America