Stone Webinar
.2 CEU
3807 Riley St.
Houston, Texas 77005
Tel. 713 464-0055
Cell 713 269-6909
Email: Beverly@vosko.com
Website: www.InteriorDesign-ED.com
www.vosko.com and click on InteriorDesign-ED
Beverly Vosko’s
InteriorDesign-ED
Stone Handouts
Welcome to our 2 hour Webinar!
Stone is a hard solid nonmetallic material found in nature that is natural or manmade:
A. Examples of natural stone are granite, limestone, marble, travertine, onyx & slate
• Granite is an igneous rock, very compact and hard. It is formed as a result of
volcanic lava, or magma hardening as it cooled and creating a very tightly
interlocking crystal mineral structure – which gives granite its strength. Granite is
the most durable of the natural stones. It is the 2nd hardest stone - 2nd only to the
diamond. Granite is also not porous so it can get wet without any problems. It
comes in a variety of colors from off white, to gold, tan, pink, orange, brown,
gray and black, ranges in pattern from almost solid to highly variegated and can
be cut into large slabs and any size tiles from tiny 1” by 1” tiles to large 24” by 24”
tiles and any size and shape in between. Granite has a wide variety of uses and
is especially popular for countertops and floor and wall tiles in homes and offices
today and is used anywhere where strength and durability are important
• Limestone is a sedimentary rock which was formed as a result of millions of
years of sea shells and sea creatures bones settling as sediment on the ocean
floor . The calcium in the bones and shells combined with the carbon dioxide in
the water to form calcium carbonate which is the basic mineral structure of
limestone. Any type of stone composed primarily of calcium carbonate is
considered a limestone so marble and travertine are both types of limestone.
Limestone is porous and needs to be sealed often and some types of limestone
are soft and not very durable. Limestone comes in creamy colors: beige, taupe &
white, can be cut into large slabs and tiles ranging from tiny 1” by 1” tiles to large
24” by 24” tiles and any size and shape in between. Limestone is used for
fireplaces, floor and wall tile for indoor or outdoor use and even exterior cladding.
The Roman Coliseum & many homes throughout Europe are made of limestone
• Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic stone. A metamorphic stone is one that
has changed in form and in this case millennium ago limestone was changed into
marble due to its exposure to great pressure and heat far below the earth's
surface. A non-foliated metamorphic stone is one such as marble, which does
not have a layered or banded appearance. Marble is more durable than
limestone because it is not as porous as limestone but it is not as durable as
granite and can have difficulty in wet areas. It is veined and is available in a wide
range of colors from white or white with black veining which is very popular today
to, gold, peach, tan, brown and black. It can be cut into large slabs and tiles from
tiny 1” by 1” tiles to large 24” by 24” tiles and any size and shape in between.
Marble has a more potential uses than almost any other rock type –floor and wall
tiles, countertops, fireplaces and fireplace inserts, furniture, accessories such as
urns and lamps and objet d’art. For centuries, buildings throughout the world
have been made of marble. The Trevi fountain in Rome is made of Marble.
• Travertine is a sedimentary rock. It is a type of limestone that through geological
shifting has found its way deep in the earth and is found deeper in the earth than
either limestone or marble. Its surface has open holes and crevices which were
created by spring water filtering through it. Travertine comes in creamy colors
such as beige, taupe and tan. It can be cut into large slabs and any size tiles
from tiny 1” by 1” tiles to large 24” by 24” tiles and any size and shape in
between. Travertine is used for countertops, flooring, and wall and floor tile
•
Slate is a fine grained foliated metamorphic rock that is formed through the
metamorphism of shale due to exposure to heat and directed pressure. Foliated
metamorphic rocks such as slate have a layered or banded appearance. Slate
comes in light to dark grays ranging from bluish to near black & browns. It can be
cut into large slabs and any size tiles from tiny 1” by 1” tiles to large 24” by 24”
tiles and any size and shape in between. Slate is very durable and is used for
both indoor & outdoor flooring & wall tile, countertops, tables, furniture & roofing
• Onyx is the “new” popular stone. It is a sedimentary rock and is a semi-precious
form of the family of stones called chalcedony all of which form from silicon
dioxide, also known as quartz. Onyx has a smooth, waxy luster, and is
translucent to transparent, often with layers or bands of color. Honey onyx is the
most common and most popular onyx today, but also comes in blue, green, red
and white. It can be cut into large slabs and tiles from tiny 1” by 1” tiles to large
24” by 24” tiles and any size and shape in between. Onyx is more durable than
marble, being higher on the Mohs scale of hardness (onyx is a 7.0 vs marble
which is a 3.0) and is resistant to acidity. Onyx is used for kitchen and bathrooms
countertops when it is often backlit with a soft light behind it so it becomes
translucent & is also used for wall and floor tile often in mosaic form
B. Man Made Stone
• Earthenware tile which is commonly called Ceramic tile is clay that is formed
into a uniform shape, glazed with a coating for color, texture, strength and in
order to water seal it, then fired at relatively low temperatures where vitrification
(the transformation of a substance into a glass) does not take place. Ceramic
tiles are not very strong. They are porous, thick, opaque, relatively inexpensive to
make and reasonably priced. They have a white interior and only the glazed
surface displays the color and design of the tile – so if the tile chips, the white
interior shows through. They are stain resistant, heat resistant, do not need to be
sealed and other than chipping, are easy to clean and maintain. They come in a
multitude of colors, and in every size and shape tile imaginable. Ceramic tile is
used in many commercial and residential spaces for flooring, wall tile, kitchens,
bathrooms, and anywhere that a reasonably priced decent quality tile is needed
• Porcelain tile is actually a ceramic tile but is called Porcelain tile to differentiate
it from earthenware ceramic tile. It is made by heating materials, generally
including feldspar and kaolin, in a kiln to very high temperatures so that the body
can vitrify (transform into a glass) and become non-porous so it does not need
glazing to render it impermeable to liquids. The higher the temperature the tile is
fired at, the stronger the tile, so porcelain is tough, strong, durable and
translucent. It is denser, harder and more durable than ceramic tile, but more
expensive. It is often selected, despite its higher price in high wear areas such as
floors and commercial use where strength is important. Porcelain is not porous
so is suited for wet areas. It shows less wear than ceramic tiles because its color
is consistent throughout the tile so if it chips or scratches, the chip or scratch will
hardly show whereas the same size chip or scratch will show far more on a
ceramic tile who’s color is only topical. But Porcelain tile sometimes needs to be
sealed. Porcelain tile comes in a variety of colors that often try to mimic either
natural stone or wood. It can be cut into tiles of any size from tiny 1” by 1” tiles to
large 24” by 24” tiles and any size and shape in between. Porcelain tile is used in
many commercial and residential spaces for flooring, wall tile, kitchens,
bathrooms, and anywhere where strength and durability are important especially
in high traffic areas that want a heavy duty long lasting product.
•
Silestone is an engineered man made material composed of 94% natural
quartz. It is stain resistant, acid resistant, scratch resistant, heat and scorch
resistant so you can put very hot items on it straight from the oven, impact
resistant so it won’t chip or crack, and is the first and only quartz countertop with
Bacteriostatic Protection so it won’t get contaminated by bacteria or food and get
people sick. And it is not expensive – it is comparable in price to granite.
It is available in over 60 colors, but it is homogeneous looking and not as
attractive as natural stone if you like movement in stone. Silestone can be cut
into any size and shape and is used for both residential and commercial kitchens
and bathrooms, medical facilities, labs and hospitals: where it is used on
countertops, sinks, floors, walls, office desks and cabinet surfaces, and
anywhere that requires a highly durable, hygienic, easy maintenance surface
ECO by Cosentino is a “sustainable” product manufactured from 75% recycled
materials such as mirror, glass, porcelain, earthenware and vitrified ash. It has a
hardness rating of between 5 and 7 on the Mohs scale and is resistant to impact,
staining, scratching, scorching, chemical products, is non-porous and has an
extremely low rate of porosity. It comes in a variety of designer colors and
textures and can be cut into any size and shape. It can be used anywhere that
needs high quality, durable surfaces that cares about using recycled sustainable
“Green” products especially bathroom & kitchen countertops, floors and walls.
Vetrazo is another Sustainable product made from 100 % recycled glass. It is
scratch resistance, stain resistance, heat and scorch resistance and is extremely
durable, strong and easy to maintain. It is also non-porous and is perfect for use
in wet areas. Vetrazo comes in a variety of designer colors including whites,
grays, blues and reds and can be cut into any shape. It is lovely but expensive so
is primarily used in commercial spaces for countertops, flooring, walls or
anywhere that wants high quality, durable surfaces that are sustainable
Difference Between Natural vs Man Made Stone: Natural stone is often
considered more beautiful and each piece is unique but it needs to be regularly
maintained and sealed vs man made stone which is homogeneous, easy to
maintain and (other than porcelain) doesn’t need to be sealed
C. Unlike man made stone, all natural stone is porous – which means it admits the
passage of gas or liquid through its pores – so it must be sealed to minimize
absorption, not have stains or scratches and keep it looking its best. Granite isn’t
porous but Marble,Travertine & Limestone are & need to be sealed regularly
• The stone finish also determines how much sealer needs to be applied to it.
Natural Stone can be either: Polished which has a glossy finish or Honed which
has a matt finish. Polished finishes seal off some of the stone’s pores and help it
repel moisture making it less porous than honed stone. Honed stone shows less
etching, staining & wear but must be sealed more frequently than polished stone
D. Natural Stone Can Be Used For Numerous Applications:
• Interior Application Considerations: stone needs to be food safe, bacteria
resistant, stain resistant and able to be cleaned with cleaning chemicals
• Exterior Application Considerations: stone needs to be UV stable nor get ruined
by acid rain, thermal variation, freeze/thaw, de-icing salts and harsh cleaners
• Residential Applications Considerations: stone needs to be: pet friendly, scratch,
and stain resistant and able to be cleaned with cleaning chemicals
• Commercial Application Considerations: stone needs to be: unaffected by
pedestrian traffic patterns especially in high traffic areas, scratch resistant, and
able to be cleaned by janitorial services that aren’t always careful
E. Both Natural Stone and Man Made Stone can be installed and utilized as:
-Flooring which must be slip resistant and have a coefficient of friction of 0.6 or
greater when wet and not scratch, mark or show wear in high traffic areas.
-Walls be it slab or tile which must be able to get wet and not stain or get moldy
-Countertops – Kitchens which must be food safe, bacteria resistant, stain
resistant especially when concerning items used in cooking and cleanable
- Countertops and all wet area – Bathrooms which must be cleanable and able to
get wet. Remember….sealers are water resistant but not water proof so you can’t
let the natural stone get too wet or it will get ruined – even with the sealer
- Fireplaces and Fireplace Inserts- neither natural stone nor manmade stone are
flammable so are both good to use for fireplaces and fireplace inserts
F. Problems that occur when using Natural Stone:
Efflorescence: the white, powdery, crystalline deposits that appear when
groundwater which contains salt crystals seeps through the ground from below,
travels to the stone surface, and then evaporates leaving deposits called
“whiskers” on the stone surface.
• Spalling: the cracking, peeling and flaking that occurs when salt crystals seep
through the ground from below, settle near the stone surface, push outward from
the inside and cause the stone to expand and eventually crumble
• The best way to prevent efflorescence and spalling from happening is to apply a
water proofing membrane or moisture barrier prior to installing the stone and the
best way to treat these problems once they occur is with an impregnating sealer
G. Sealers
•
Always test the sealer in a small inconspicuous area, to make sure that it doesn’t
change the appearance of the natural stone or that if it does, that you like it
• All sealers need a carrier to take the active ingredients into the surface
• There are 2 types of carriers:
water-based carriers, which are cheaper and odor free but do not last as long
and solvent-based carriers which are more expensive, and can have an odor but
penetrate deeper into the natural stone and therefore last longer
• There are 2 types of sealers: Impregnated sealers which penetrate into the
stone’s pores and get absorbed so are long lasting. They are also invisible, water
resistant, stain resistant, oil resistant, UV stable and don’t change the coefficient
of friction of the tile they are sealing – but they do not coat the stone surface so
do not fill in holes or prevent etching
• Topical sealers at topical and don’t penetrate below the stone surface or get
absorbed by the stone so they are vulnerable to surface abrasion and will wear
off fairly quickly and have to be stripped and re-sealed. They will fill pores and
fissures in the stone surface improving the appearance of lower quality stone and
protecting the stone surface against etching and staining while the topical coating
is still present. They can alter the stone surface making it shiny and plastic-y
looking and can alter the coefficient of friction of the stone making it slippery
• You can NOT use both sealers on your stone…. you have to choose one of them
H. Acid vs Alkaline
• If a product is too acidic, it will make the stone dull and or etch it
Many household products are acidic such as vinegar, red wine and tomatoes
• If a product is too alkaline, it will also etch the stone - Luckily not many household
products are alkaline
J. Cleaning
• For routine cleaning use a PH balanced neutral soap cleaner that is made
specifically for natural stone
• For heavy duty cleaning/refinishing always call in a professional to do the job
Bibliography
1. Fano, Arturo A. Natural Stone .1 CEU - I attended this CEU Mr. Fano who sells stone
and learned a great deal about stone
2. Simmons, Robert. Ahsian, Naisha The Book of Stones: Who They Are and What They
Teach Copyright Sept 4, 2007
3. Simmons, Robert The Pocket Book of Stones
Biography
Beverly Vosko, Allied Member ASID, RID, CAPS, L.E.E.D Green Associate, CGP (Certified
Green Professional) is a full service, Registered Interior Designer in Texas #6333. She is
President and founder of both Beverly Vosko Interiors and InteriorDesign-ED; both DBA’s for C.
V. Design Inc. For over 25 years, she has been designing homes across the United States and
Europe, specializing in creating custom residential and commercial environments, be they
traditional, transitional, contemporary or eclectic, that match her design clients’ every need,
through her design firm, Beverly Vosko Interiors. For nearly 20 years, she has taught Interior
Design: first at Rice University, then at the University of Houston, and for the last 10 years
nationally, with her Continuing Education company, InteriorDesign-ED. Specifically, she has
taught Interior Design, Aging in Place, Green/Sustainable Design, Lighting and Antiques. She
graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania, studied Art
History at Harvard University, received her MBA in Marketing from NYU Stern Graduate
Business School, and completed Design and Antiques training from Sotheby’s, the worldrenowned Inchbald School of Design and Houston Community College. Please view her
websites, www.vosko.com and www.InteriorDesign-ED.com.