Natural marbles & granites

Whether you have just taken delivery of some beautiful natural worktops or are looking at different stones for inspiration, its hard not to be impressed by the sheer diversity and beauty of natural Marble & Granite. But how does it stand up in the real world? And is it practical? Here we aim to give you a brief insight into the world of natural stone.

Before deciding to purchase natural Marbles, Granite, Slates or Stone it is worth considering that many of these materials can be 300 million years old! Many of them come from remote parts of the world and have in the past been constantly moved by the continents, by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and through the slow passage of time.

It is therefore to be expected that considerable variation may occur in the colouration and markings of any given type of natural material. Marbles, Granites, Slate and Stone are changeable natural materials and every piece is unique. Many of these natural materials are sold throughout the world as inherently unsound varying from hairline cracks in some to extensive brecciations in others. It is therefore commonplace to stop, cramp and resin in these materials to make good and strengthen them. These essential and common repairs whilst not always required should therefore be regarded as commonplace and not be treated as defective.

Whilst uniformity of appearance should therefore not be expected, the experienced craftsmen at the Marble Works of Bath are experts at cutting from the areas of your slabs with the most character and strength. Whether that means incorporating the natural veining in the slabs or perhaps using the fossils of prehistoric creatures, we appreciate that this is the heart of your home and as such, we always take the utmost care when cutting your stone. If however you wish to take a more hands on approach and choose which piece comes from where on your slab then please call to arrange a time to visit. More often than not we will be more than happy to accommodate these requests!

Marble, Slate and Stone are naturally porous materials and as such may be more prone to absorbing liquid than Granite, even once sealed and polished. Therefore care and respect should be used with certain things around these natural products. Wine, vinegar, toothpaste, acidic fruits and oils amongst others can stain or remove the polish from these materials. Granite however is extremely hard and very resistant to marking. Prevention is always better than cure though and any member of The Marble Works of Bath team will be happy to advise you which materials work best in different situations as well as running through any dos and do nots.