FAQS

One of the oldest naturally formed materials globally. Natural stone takes over millions of years to develop in all its different compositions. Over time, through copious amounts of pressure, the earth’s crust formed large deposits of heavy minerals that were trapped near the core of the earth. As the earth’s crust grew and eroded, it pushed mineral rock deposits up to what we now know as quarries.

With natural stone deposits formed worldwide and upwards of 10,000 different materials available, we made a considered choice to hand-select most of our natural stone from Italy, Spain, Turkey, India, Greece, France and Brazil.

Natural stone is categorised by the way it’s formed and the composition of the stone. Although we have a vast collection, these are some of the main stones that we source;

 

Dolomite

A stone formed from the interaction between limestone and groundwater rich with magnesium. Dolomite is known for its characteristic white and grey colouring, often causing it to be mistaken for marble or quartzite.

 

Granite

Mostly known for its granular appearance, granite is extremely scratch, heat and chip resistant. It’s an excellent material for both internal and external applications, such as kitchen benchtops and flooring.

 

Limestone

A highly versatile stone often produced with a honed finish as most cannot take a high polish due to its beautiful delicate nature. Limestone is ideal for indoor and outdoor applications.

 

Marble

Renowned for its beauty, marble has a versatile use across buildings and monuments, interior decoration, tabletops, and statues. It’s a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone’s subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism.

 

Onyx

Mostly known for its use in jewellery and furniture, Onyx has recently become more popular in contemporary architecture due to its unique rich palette of beautiful colours and appearance. Onyx’s distinctive veining and translucency is a result of how it’s created.

 

Quartzite

With colours and veining similar to that of marble, quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones available and is ideal for kitchen benchtop material. It’s also suitable for both internal and external applications.

 

Travertine

Generally found around mineral springs and hot springs, travertine is widely known for its unique veins. Available in vein cut and crosscut; vein cut is when a block is processed in alignment with the veins. This cut will give you veining, which generally runs horizontally. For crosscut, it is cutting across the vein. This cut provides the material with an irregular, almost cloud-like pattern with no linear veining.

Natural stone is a porous material, so we always recommend that it’s sealed. This helps prevent liquids spilt onto the surface from leeching into the stone and etching or staining it. Due to the nature of natural stone, any liquids containing acid and/or alkaline will, unfortunately, etch the natural stone.

Yes, they can. Natural stone is a porous material, meaning it’s prone to etching without proper care. While it may be easy to mark, it’s also easy to remove, so long as the specifics of the substance that caused the stain are outlined. Processes like osmosis and poulticing are processes that are frequently used to restore natural stone. Re-honing and re-surfacing are also common practices.

Poulticing is the process of applying a moist substance with an absorbent paste-like consistency to a surface to clean, remove, or draw out stains.

Natural stone is a robust material, but it also requires regular care and maintenance. This helps to protect it from substances that could affect its appearance. Using a natural stone friendly detergent will ensure the stone is not left with any traces of a substance that could etch or stain the stone. We recommend using FILA products.

Natural stone can be used for almost any application, but finding the right stone based on durability and aesthetics is critical to design and function. Speak with our Vero Galleria team to discuss what material is best suited to your needs.

Natural stone is renowned for its durability, heat resistance and strength, making it an excellent material for any space. Over time, the surface of natural stone may wear and age, but it can also be easily restored, and in some cases, back to its original state to what it was when it was first installed.

To find the right application for your project, please get in touch with the Vero Galleria team.

Honed

One of the more popular finishes in Australia, a honed surface is achieved by using abrasives. This finish will give the stone a smooth non-reflective finish whilst being more durable towards etches.

 

Leathered

A finish that is becoming increasingly popular, leathering, is achieved by using abrasive brushes that are run over the surface—resulting in a subtler coloured soft and textured finish.

 

Polished

Almost the same process as honing, except a polished finish is achieved by going through a higher grade of abrasives. A polished finish will give you a mirror-like finish that intensifies and enhances the veining and colours.

 

Exfoliated

One of the most suitable finishes for external areas and areas prone to copious amounts of water, the exfoliated surface is produced by applying a high-temperature flame to the stone’s surface, which creates thermal shock and causes the inherent crystals to fracture. This finish is mainly used on granites and will hide surface imperfections and tone variations.

Originating in the 16th century, terrazzo is a composite material created to utilise marble and granite chips and offcuts. Commonly poured into prefabricated blocks, marble chips are blended into a cement base to create unique and distinctive tiles and slabs. Given the nature of the material, terrazzo is often used for feature pieces such as walls, floor, countertops, and stair treads. Since the late 2000s, terrazzo has become one of the more sought-after materials in contemporary architecture.