DEFINITIONS
Marble
A crystalline rock composed predominately of one or
more of the following materials: calcite, dolomite, or
serpentine, and capable of taking a polish.
Agglomerate Marble
A man-made product fabricated to look like quarried
marble stone. Usually composed of stone chips or
fragments embedded in a matrix of mortar or
thermosetting resins.
Terrazzo
A type of concrete in which chips or pieces of stone,
usually marble, are mixed with cement and are ground to
a flat surface, exposing the chips which take a high
polish.
Granite
A very hard, crystalline, igneous rock. Contains
granular, flecks of minerals spread consistently
throughout the stone to form a visibly even crystalline
structure.
Limestone
A sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcite or
dolomite. The varieties of limestone used as dimensional
stone are usually well consolidated and exhibit a
minimum of graining or bedding direction. Often contains
remains and fossils of sea creatures that lived in the
warm seas millions of years ago.
Travertine
A variety of limestone. Usually has voids on the
surface formed by water elements and pressure over time.
These voids are either filled or left unfilled.
Slate
A fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from clay and
shales, which possesses a cleavage that permits it to be
split readily into thin, smooth sheets.
Sandstone
A sedimentary rock consisting usually of quartz
cemented with silica, iron oxide or calcium carbonate.
It is durable, has a very high crushing and tensile
strength and a wide range of colors or textures.
Flagstone
Thin slabs of stone used for flagging or paving
walks, driveways, patios, etc. It is generally a
fine-grained sandstone, bluestone, quartzite, or slate,
but thin slabs of other stones may be used.
Terra Cotta
Low fired clay, either glazed or unglazed.
Clay Brick
A natural mineral aggregate consisting essentially of
hydrous aluminum silicate. It is vitrified when fired to
a sufficiently high temperature.
Concrete
A composition material consisting of cement,
aggregate, and water. When mixed together, will result
in a chemical action that will set and harden into
rock-like mass.
Stucco
A mixture of lime or gypsum with sand, pounded marble
and water; hardens into a smooth solid; used to cover
walls and ceilings.
Cementitious Brick
A block of clay, made from or composed of cement,
baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or
paving material.
Ceramic Tile
A mixture of clays which have been shaped and fired
at high temperatures resulting in a hard body. This hard
body may then be left untreated or it may receive a
glazed wear layer.
Porcelain Tile
A ceramic mosaic or paver tile, generally made by the
dust-pressed method, of a composition that produces a
dense, impervious, fine-grained tile with smooth and
sharply formed face.
This type of grout can either be sanded or
non-sanded. Both varieties are absorbent and
acid-sensitive. Often
cement-based grout is polymer modified to prevent or
minimize cracking and add strength.
Epoxy-Based Grout
Epoxy grout is impervious to liquids and does not
need sealing. It will not allow bacteria to grow and it
minimizes cracking. It is generally used with ceramic,
porcelain and quarry tile and not with natural stone.
Cantera
A volcanic quartz-based stone with qualities similar
to Adoquin, but not as dense; quarried in Mexico.
Adoquin
A volcanic quartz-based stone containing a variety of
colored aggregates and pumice in a quartz matrix.
Quarried in Mexico and available in several colors.
Finish Definitions (applicable only to stone)
Polished
Glossy smooth surface that reflects light and
emphasizes the color and markings of the stone.
Generally only possible on hard, dense materials.
Unpolished / Honed
Satin smooth surface with relative little light
reflection.
Textured
A rough surface finish that tends to subdue color and
markings; obtained by bush hammering and machine
chiseling.
Uniformity Definitions (applicable only to stone)
Minerals are evenly distributed to form a visibly
even crystalline structure.
Minerals are distributed according to a certain
orientation –
directional.
Minerals form veins of a different color to the base
color, creating a curved or swirled movement in the
rock.
Please contact
us for a free inspection and professional quotation.
Trust BRILLIANT
to expertly upgrade your Home.
