FAQ about Stone

What’s the difference between marble and granite?
Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble’s relatives – limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different stones. Granite is formed deep in the earth’s mantle at extremely high temperatures composed of quartz, feldspar and mica and a wide variety of minerals. It is the hardest and densest natural stone, as well as the most versatile, durable and maintenance-free of all the stones.

The marble family – limestone, travertine, marble, and onyx – starts out as sediment – animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt – at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years this solidifies into stone. The marble family of stone is mainly comprised of calcium and is much softer than granite. Being that its main component is calcium, it can be affected by acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages.

Is it necessary to seal stone?
All stone is porous and will absorb stains over time. Some stones are more porous than others, so it is important to use a penetrating sealer to prevent stains. Substances such as vinegar, oil, wine; citrus beverages or other liquids can soak into the surface of stone and cause permanent staining.

What is granite? Granite is the most durable architectural building stone. This igneous rock is comprised mainly of quartz, graphite, mica and other minerals. There is an increasing popularity for granite due to its beauty, versatility and consistency. This stone is used for a variety of commercial and residential applications. Why is granite good for kitchen counters? Granite is very hard and dense stone formed at very high temperatures deep in the earth’s mantel. It’s unaffected by typical kitchen usage such as hot pans, cutting knives or spilled liquid. Can granite be damaged?

GRANITE SAMPLE View Full Slab

Can I cut on my granite countertop?
Absolutely! Granite is harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly, if you use the countertop as a cutting surface. Our recommendation is to always cut and chop on a wooden or plastic cutting board.

Marble Can I use marble on my kitchen counters? It is not recommended. Marbles tend to be softer and more porous than granites. This stone is more vulnerable to household acids including vinegar, mustard, ketchup, citrus and a host of other food-related products because it is made from calcium carbonate. These acidic substances cause a chemical reaction that will remove the polish. Marble and limestone can be scratched more easily than harder stones such as granite. Marble is, however, sometimes used in the kitchen as a pastry slab; its perfectly smooth, cool surface is ideal for rolling out dough and piecrusts.

MARBLE SAMPLE View Full Slab

What is marble?
Marble has been valued for centuries for its rich palette of colors and polished for a mirror-like shine. This metamorphic rock is comprised primarily of calcium carbonate and other minerals that create a wide variety of colors.

What is honed marble or limestone?
Marble, travertine, or limestone that is honed has a matte or satin finish. This is achieved by stopping just prior to the last stage of polishing. One feature of honed marble is that it doesn’t show marks as readily, or wear patterns on floors. It has a less formal appearance than polished stone.

What’s the best way to clean marble and other stones?
Never use abrasive cleansers or pads to clean your stone and it will damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia or many common liquid cleaners.

You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone. There are excellent stone care products available through Cosa Bella.

Limestone
What is limestone?
Limestone is a sandy sedimentary rock formed closer to the earth's surface. It frequently captures fossilized plant, shells, animal life and sediment that add texture and character to stone. It is formed by material that settles to the bottom of bodies of water, and over millions of years, solidifies into solid rock.

Can I use limestone in my kitchen?
Like marble, polished limestone is not recommended for countertops in kitchens and is more vulnerable to surface changes or damage from kitchen acids including citrus juices, wine, vinegars, and so forth.

Travertine What is travertine? Is travertine the same as limestone? Travertine is limestone, in a sense. It is formed by geysers, when the extremely hot underground water dissolves the underlying limestone and carries it upwards with the geyser water. When the water falls to the ground and evaporates, it leaves behind the dissolved limestone that re-hardens into stone. Onyx What is onyx? Onyx is a very soft stone yet somewhat brittle. It is the result of water dissolving limestone and re- depositing it as sinter, a different kind of stone. Onyx is a beautiful stone that is very striking when backlit and can be used for specialty projects but not good to be used in areas that are subject to heavy traffic and hard wear.

TRAVERTINE SAMPLE  View Full Picture

Crosscuts What does "crosscut" mean? "Crosscut" refers to a particular way of slicing a block of stone. The traditional way of cutting layered material such as Travertine is the "vein cut," similar to cutting with the grain of a piece of wood, so that the layers of material appear as parallel stripes or layers. If the block is cut across the grain, it yields a very different look, like cutting across the grain of a piece of wood.

ONYX SAMPLE View Full Slab