Natural stone is held in high regard as a premier building material because it
reflects unique character, stability, and grandeur. Variations in natural stone’s
broad range of colour, pattern, and texture are visually interesting and
impossible to replicate. And, because it comes from the earth, from eco-friendly
compositions, it is a natural choice.
Natural stone has very good thermal conductivity and large heat storage
capacity. Natural stone as a façade material absorbs the heat radiated by the sun
and prevents unwanted heating up the building. Tests show an energy
requirement of 100 – 150 kWh/m2 for multi-story buildings with stone facades,
in contrast to an energy requirement of 300 – 700 kWh/m2 for the necessary
heating and cooling of glass facades.
As natural building material, natural stone contains no pollutants that are
damaging to health. Natural stone can be safely used in food areas. It is
incombustible and it is also a Class A building material. Natural stone also
releases no substances that are hazardous to health in case of fire. Natural stone
also requires no auxiliary chemical substances such as protective coatings,
impregnating agents or coatings before it can be used as a building material.
The diversity of natural stone products encourages limitless design potential.
Aesthetically, what you do with stone is as varied as your imagination. Its many
factors in the way stone formed within the Earth contribute to its varieties and
enhance the creativity it provides – something that cannot be duplicated in a
laboratory or come from a mould.
Natural stone products like those created in granite, marble among others
possess innate characteristics that contribute toward LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) or LEED intended construction. Consider
stone’s low embodied energy, ready availability as a naturally occurring
material – often locally (within a 500 mile radius of the project), no off-gases toimpair indoor air quality, high thermal capacitance, and exceptional durability
for low maintenance and structural permanence. Using natural stone for your
projects shows that you care about the environment and consciously strive to
preserve it. See more below.
Design projects should stand out and reflect the passion, taste, and personality
of the designer. Natural stone is a one-of-a-kind building material that sets you
apart from others because it can’t be mimicked, manufactured, or faked.
The value in natural stone is more than a monetary measure. It involves
longevity, ease of maintenance, permanence and stability that far exceed initial
investment. Utilizing natural stone is now more affordable than ever due to
advancing stone quarrying and processing technology that has improved
efficiency over the years. New automated machinery allows fabricators to cut
natural stone thinner, faster, more consistently and at less cost than in times
past. Development of anchoring technologies and systems make installation
easier, quicker, and more secure. In addition, natural stone is simple to care for,
has an appearance that literally improves with age and can last a lifetime.
