Types of Stone

Jerusalem Stone
Jerusalem Stone is the trade name of stone quarried in areas from the Jordan River on the east of Israel to the Mediterranean Sea on the country's west, and from the southern Port of Eilat on the Red Sea to The Galilee and Haifa on the north. It is mostly dolomitic limestone or dolomite, and tends to be of a gold or reddish hue, though some varieties are grey or nearly white.
Dolomite is composed in large part of the mineral dolomite, which is made of calcium magnesium carbonate crystals.  Dolomite crystals are white, grey to pink in colour and it is this that gives Jerusalem stone its characteristic tint.  Dolomitic limestone is where the stone has been formed by the replacement of limestone with dolomite crystals.

Travertine
Travertine is a sedimentary rock. Travertine is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to or primarily calcite; which is deposited from the water of mineral springs (especially hot springs) or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When pure, travertine is white, but it is often brown to yellow due to impurities. When carbon dioxide-rich water percolates through rocks in limestone areas, the water dissolves the limestone and becomes saturated with it. When the water resurfaces later, the sudden drop in pressure and the change in temperature cause the water to release the carbon dioxide gas, much like fizzy drinks. The calcium carbonate then recrystallizes, often over minute underwater plants. The resulting rock is typically quite porous with numerous cavities.

Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock, formed from limestone by heat and pressure causing the limestone and any fossilised materials to recrystallise and form large coarse grains of calcite. Impurities present in the original limestone give the marble its colour and minerals form the veins that are a characteristic feature of the stone.  Marble is found all over the world in different forms and the properties of each stone vary according to its composition.

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Types of Finish

Honed
A smooth satin finish achieved by using abrasive polishers on the surface of the stone.  This preserves the aesthetic qualities of the stone but gives a less reflective surface than polishing.

Polished
A highly reflective finish achieved by applying polishing abraders to a honed stone surface.

Brushed
A soft worn finish achieved by using plastic or metal brushes on the surface of the stone.

Tumbled
The stone is tumbled in a machine similar to a cement mixer or washing machine with small pieces of abrasive material such as granite or marble.  This achieves a worn rustic finish.  Larger pieces are either brushed or acid washed to achieve the same look as it is not practical to tumble them.

Antiqued
This worn finish is achieved by a variety of methods such as tumbling, brushing or acid washing (treating the stone with an acid that eats into the surface to produce a worn effect).

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Installation

Natural stone is subject to considerable variations in tone and vein.  It is therefore advisable to purchase enough for your entire room at the same time and to lay the tiles out before fixing to ensure that a satisfactory mix is obtained.
The best substrate for fixing stone is a solid bed.  Where fixing onto any other substrate care should be taken to ensure that it will not deflect more than half a millimetre when a heavy load is placed on it.  Failure to do this will lead to cracking of the stone tiles.
Fast setting cement based tile adhesives are most appropriate for stone installations using the solid bed method.  Light coloured stones should be fixed with white adhesives to prevent discolouration of the stone.  Where fixing on wood or under floor and under tile heating a flexible adhesive should be used.
Before grouting it is advisable to apply an anti-stain impregnator treatment to ensure that any grout residue is easy to remove and avoid any possible staining by the grout.  Use a cement based grout and add a flexible additive where flexible adhesive has been used.  If fixing tumbled or unfilled stone use a slurry grout to ensure that all cavities are filled.
Tile & Marble Collection Ltd recommends that in all cases you consult the adhesive and grout manufacturers’ instructions to ensure that a satisfactory job is done and future problems are avoided.

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Protection, Care and Cleaning

The porosity of stone varies according to the type of stone and finish.  It is recommended that you apply an anti-stain impregnator treatment to seal the stone and protect against everyday wear and tear and stains such as tea, coffee, wine etc.  There are two types of treatment: water based or solvent.  Both have their advantages - water based impregnators can be applied while the stone is still damp before grouting and then in an additional treatment after grouting.  They are also user and eco-friendly.  They require reapplication every 12 to 18 months to maintain the sealant.  Solvent based applicators can only be applied when the stone is clean and dry, but will last without reapplication for 3-5 years depending on the cleaning and maintenance regime. 
When cleaning the stone a neutral or alkali stone cleaner should be used.  Certain stones, especially polished marble and limestone, are prone to acid etching and we recommend that any spillages should be cleaned up promptly as a matter of good housekeeping.
Polished stone floors in particular may lose some shine particularly in hard traffic areas where dirt is being ground into the floor.  To prevent this, proper dirt-catching entrance matting should be installed and a thorough dust mopping cleaning programme used.  Mops should also be cleaned to remove dirt particles.
Tile & Marble Collection Ltd are distributors of the excellent LTP range of maintenance products.  Click here for futher details.
Tile & Marble Collection Ltd recommends that you try a patch test before using a new cleaning product to ensure that it does not damage the stone and follow the instructions of the sealant and cleaning products manufacturers in all cases.

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