Types of natural stone and their advantages
TYPES OF NATURAL STONE
Natural stone is a very attractive material. If we choose the right one, we get not only a long-lasting floor but also give the room a special character and a touch of elegance. Natural stones differ in colour, mineral structure, pattern and finish.
Which types of natural stone do we sell?
At Marnit we sell natural stone retail and wholesale, and we provide complete stonemasonry services, from measuring and making the pieces to fitting them. We offer a large choice of raw-edge slabs, paving and natural stone tiles.
We keep more than 80 types of natural stone in stock, more than 30,000 m² in thicknesses from 1 to 12 cm. Our strengths, a long tradition and uncompromising quality, commit us to doing our best at every step.
We offer very competitive prices, so that we can meet the needs of everyone who wants to buy stone products.
Get to know the types of natural stone, their advantages and the many patterns you will find in our range.
Granite
Granite is one of the highest-quality and most useful natural materials. Its hardness and resistance to all kinds of weather make it highly recommended for cladding outdoor and indoor surfaces (floors and wall cladding). It also performs very well in these products: window sills, stairs, kitchen worktops, fireplaces, tables and decorative items.
Every granite slab is one of a kind, because no two pieces are the same. You can choose from many textures, patterns and shades, and our range includes more than 60 types of granite.
From rich earth tones and bright shades of green, blue, red or yellow to more basic tones of black, grey and white. Which granite pattern will grace your home?
Marble
It is a metamorphic rock that formed from limestone or dolomite, transformed deep underground under pressure and high temperatures. Marble mixes with various mineral impurities, which create its distinctive range of colours and characteristic veining.
Marble also gets its look from its texture and structure, which stand out more on a smooth surface than on a rough one.
It is most often used for bathrooms, indoor rooms and as cladding for interior walls, and in some cases also for exterior cladding (allowing for patina).
Compared with granite, marble is a softer rock, so it is easier to shape. It also has a softer, gentler look that is pleasing to the eye.
Limestone
It has natural colours (mostly beige shades) and a uniform structure (pattern). Its clean, simple look gives a contemporary impression. Limestone is used mainly indoors, but some types are also suitable outdoors.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock. These rocks form when material of many different origins, mainly silicates, settles and binds into a compact rock.
Its properties (strength, durability and weather resistance) mean it is most often used on outdoor surfaces: for terraces, staircases, floors, walls and facades. Its natural look, which comes from the rough finish, also makes it a good fit inside the home.
Sandstone gives you many options for landscaping, because this stone blends very well with its natural surroundings. The solid blocks and thinner slabs we keep in stock let you play with different patterns.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a very hard stone with a distinctive beauty, great durability and easy care. If you prefer something more dynamic, you cannot go wrong with it, because it has a very rich structure.
Flooring or wall cladding outdoors, in the hallway, in the bathroom or by the fireplace, kitchen worktops, decorative feature. Quartzite can be used in a great many ways.
The range at Marnit includes a wide choice of patterns that add movement and create a distinctive setting that others will admire.
Slate
Slate is a natural stone that splits into layers, so it mostly has a riven surface. It is usually used on outdoor surfaces, and in the past it was often used for roofing.
Its great durability, attractive look, long life and non-slip structure mean that today you can also see it in many places in the home, from the terrace, courtyard, hallway and around the fireplace to the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom.
The layered structure of the stone is usually grey or brown, but there are also slabs in blue, green, gold and black. Our range includes slate in black and brown, but on request we can source a pattern that suits the other elements of your home.
Engineered quartz
It is a composite made mostly of crushed natural stone, with additives that further improve the properties of the stone.
This process also allows any choice of colour, which is why engineered quartz comes in many different colours and shades. Its structure usually looks uniform.
Veneer
Veneer is split from the rock in thin layers and then ground to a thickness of 1 to 2 mm. It is fixed with adhesive, is very durable and is ready to fit on all kinds of surfaces inside or outside the home.
It gives an elegant, finished look. It is light, flexible and can be fitted on many different surfaces, including curved and round ones. Veneer is often used where solid stone would be too heavy or too thick, both indoors and outdoors.
It is more affordable and a practical choice for renovating both homes and business premises.
In our range you will find a wide choice of textures, colours and patterns of stone veneer in different sizes. Choose an innovative alternative to solid natural stone and use veneer to create an elegant look with a touch of nature.
Do you already know which natural stone will grace your home? Let your creativity run free and choose combinations that look good and work well. Get in touch with our team, who will be glad to help you choose the right type of natural stone!
Stonemasonry Marnit – over 100 years of experience with natural stone.