Stone Slabs

About Stone Slabs

When selecting stone slabs, it is essential to pick a material that will meet both functional and aesthetic needs. Natural stone adds lasting value to the property, but only when properly maintained to remain in good condition. 

Advantages of Stone 

• Each piece of natural stone is unique, with its blend of hues and organic patterns.
• Stone slabs will retain their look over time, in contrast to many other alternatives that change over periods of extensive use. 
• On average, stone landscaping products are more long-lasting than concrete paving.
• Stone is exceptionally low-maintenance, requiring only simple cleaning.
• Installation of tiles and stones is straightforward.
• Natural stone materials add steady market value to the property.
• Stone, both natural and engineered, is one of the most sustainable building materials available.
• Most natural stone slabs and tiles can be recycled or reused. 

Types of Stone Slabs

Marble

Marble has long been a staple of luxurious residences, due to its longevity, steady value, and timeless beauty. While being one of the most delicate-looking stones around, it’s also softer and more porous than granite, hence more susceptible to damage. Marble can be stained or scratched, although that doesn’t occur easily. Marble tiles and slabs need to be sealed before use, for moisture protection. 

Granite

Granite slabs are a popular choice among homeowners because of their sturdiness, durability, and scratch resistance. This material is exceptionally durable, unique in appearance, and easy to clean and maintain. 

Limestone

Limestone is available in a wide range of colours, from ivory and cream to grey to gold. It’s typically found in a honed finish that enhances its visual properties. Limestone should be sealed periodically to maintain its appeal and prevent damages. 

Travertine

Travertine is a popular stone for countertops and floors, offering a sophisticated appearance in an affordable price range. It’s typically found in a polished or honed finish. Polished travertine tiles and slabs boast a more refined look, but honed finish excels in concealing damages. 

Slate

Slate is a dense material with properties that make it a premium quality choice. Due to very low porosity, it had become popular for outdoor use, especially for paving. 

Slate boasts a refined appearance and a rich colour palette, ranging from earthy tones to dark greens and blues. It can hold the original colour without fading for a long time, requiring only occasional jet wash. No sealing is necessary, since the density puts slate in a similar category as porcelain tiles.

Engineered Stone

Engineered stone is a factory-made composite alternative to natural stone. It typically features pieces of marble and quartz crystals adhered with an adhesive or resin. Due to the high percentage of quartz crystals contained in some engineered stone varieties, it’s often called “quartzite”. However, not all engineered stones compounds are the same.

Quartz

Quartz is distinguished by durability, beauty, and ease of maintenance. Most varieties come in light hues with some veining patterns. The surface is scratch-resistant but needs sealing. In general, the stone’s properties determine the most suitable application - e.g., quartz slabs used in the kitchen as countertops should feature high moisture and acid resistance. 

Onyx

Onyx has a fascinating appeal, seemingly fragile - especially when backlit. It’s best suited to modern and contemporary designs and vertical applications. Onyx is not a good solution for floor tiles since it can’t withstand much foot traffic. 

Stone Surface Finishes

Polished

The grinding and buffing process produces a sleek, slippery surface to reveal the true palette and character of the stone. Polished stones are distinguished by high lustre, which requires maintenance, suitable cleaners and occasional resealing.

Honed

Honed stone passes through the sanding process, which creates a matte finish with a smooth surface. It needs more frequent resealing than polished versions but provides better friction. Slip-resistance makes honed stone a good choice for flooring, while the matte appeal conceals flaws and light damages. Leathering creates a visibly textured surface on a honed finish, most prominent on dark grey and black stones.  

Tumbled

Stone can be tumbled with sand and pebbles to achieve a weathered, ageing look. It’s characterised by a deliberately worn surface, often accompanied by chipped edges and imperfections. 

Stone Slabs Edge Styles

• Bevelled edge
• Bevelled top and bottom of the edge
• Devel edge
• Chiselled edge
• Core Dupont edge 
• Core Ogee edge
• Crescent pencil edge
• Demi bullnose edge
• Double chamfer
• Double cove

Things to Consider When Choosing Stone Slabs

It’s recommended to imagine the result before buying. Stone’s colour palette, natural veining and surface finish make a visual impact and need to coordinate with the environment. Some characteristics can be enhanced or muted down by finishing processes, so it’s good to explore all options before making the decision.

Granite slabs come with natural fissures. However, once the surface is sealed, once the surface is installed and sealed, its visual and tactile properties change. 

Most stones require very low maintenance, but some stones need to be resealed more often than others. 

Seeing a large or installed full-size sample provides a better picture than standard tile-sized pieces of stone. 

The stone should be explored under the same kind of lighting it will be exposed to after installation. A slab intended for an indoor countertop will not give the right appeal in the sunlight. Similarly, outdoor tiles and pavers will look different under artificial lighting. 

The average thickness of stone slabs for countertops ranges between 1.5 - 2 cm. Thinner slabs are also weaker, while thickness bears a significant added weight.