Brazilian Exotic Granite

A Basic Guide to the Natural Stone Quarrying Process

Natural stone is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most popular building and detailing materials. However, many people don’t understand the work that goes into producing just one piece of natural stone. For a look at the quarrying process for natural stone, continue reading:

Where Does Natural Stone Come From?

Natural stone is harvested from quarries around the world. Over millions of years, the chemical compositions of soil and stone, combined with heat, pressure, and exposure to the elements, turn ordinary bedrock into what we know as natural stone. The beautiful colors, textures, and designs of these stones are prized by designers, contractors, and homeowners alike. The nations of Brazil, the United States, India, China, and South Africa are said to produce the highest-quality natural stone.

How Is It Quarried?

To quarry the natural stone, workers will use special cutting equipment to carve out giant blocks of the solid material. The quarries are either located on mountains or underground, and the blocks are transported to nearby fabrication plants. At the plants, teams of workers use more cutting equipment to slice the blocks into tiles or slabs. The slabs are usually used for carving and custom pieces, and usually measure around nine feet by five feet. Once cut, the natural stone pieces go through a polishing machine, inside which multiple heads clear out grime and debris and add a natural shine to the pieces. Because of the nature and density of natural stone, abrasive compound bricks or diamond-trimmed discs are used for polishing. Depending on a client’s specifications, additional layers of finish will be added after the polishing process.

The sales team at Brazilian Exotic Granite is involved in every step of our stones’ quarrying and importing process. We even have a satellite office onsite in Brazil, from which our quality assurance experts can verify that the residents of San Diego receive only the highest-quality marble, granite, onyx, and slate. If you have any questions about our inventory, call (866) 787-9351 today.

Onyx's Decorative Potential is Truly Breathtaking

Of the many types of natural stone that have become popular for use in construction, onyx is one of the lesser known. You should always take this beautiful stone into consideration during a home design project.

This slideshow demonstrates some of the many uses for onyx in decorating. Onyx can be used to create stunning bars, floors, countertops, and walls. In addition, because this beautiful stone is transparent in nature, lights can be placed inside an onyx structure and make it glow with a regal ambience. Watch the slideshow to see these examples for yourself.

Brazilian Exotic Granite is proud to import only the finest, purest onyx, as well as granite, marble, and a number of other gorgeous stones for decorating. If you would like to place an order or ask any questions, visit our website or call our San Diego office at (760) 744-7415.

Tips for Preventing and Responding to Common Natural Stone Countertop Stains

There are few people who can resist the allure of a shining countertop made of granite, marble, or another natural stone. If you get a natural stone countertop, it is critical that you know how to prevent and fix stains that could affect your investment. Read on for some helpful tips on how to do this:

Protect Your Countertops

The best way to prevent stains on your stone countertop from ever occurring is to protect the countertop itself. A cutting board can protect against acid deterioration damage when working with acidic fruits and vegetables like lemons, limes, tomatoes, and pimientos. If you are painting your upper-level cabinets, cover your countertops thoroughly with newspaper, wrapping paper, or another material, and tape it in place securely. Paint must be scraped off when its gets on stone countertops, which is a very risky and delicate operation.

Determine the Type of Stain

You should not even attempt to remove a stain until you know what it was made by. The method of removal varies between staining materials, such as poultices for rust stains or hydrogen peroxide for ink marks. Using the wrong method could inflict permanent stains or damage on your natural stone countertop, so be sure to do your research on different types of stains and their fixes.

Have a Poultice on Hand

A poultice is best described as a viscous material made of an absorbent material and a liquid cleaner or chemical. Poultice components vary by the countertop, such as talc, powdered chalk, or kaolin for the absorbent material, and hydrogen peroxide for the liquid. Because time is of the essence when a stain is made, you can save yourself a lot of time by preparing a poultice well in advance and keeping it in a sealed jar.

At Brazilian Exotic Granite of San Diego, we import gorgeous natural stone from the finest quarries all over the world. We offer superior customer service and competitive pricing to ensure the countertop material of your dreams is never out of reach. Call us at (760) 744-7415 to place an order today.

Find More Useful Natural Stone Information When You Visit The Sites Below

Before beginning any home decorating project it’s important to research what kind of materials will work best in your home environment. Even if you know that you want to create a natural stone path or install a new kitchen countertop, there are still a number of options to choose from. This information can help you understand the difference between using marble, travertine, and granite stone.

Learn how to incorporate stone pavers into your backyard patio with this information from HGTV.com.

You can see a number of elegant ways to incorporate marble into your home décor with these images provided by Houzz.com.

Better Homes and Gardens illustrates how to use different sized stone pavers to create a beautiful pathway in your landscape.

This video on AOL.com explains how to properly maintain your marble countertops.

Learn how to properly care for your natural stone countertops with this article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Call Brazilian Exotic Granite, Inc. at (760) 744-7415 to learn more about incorporating natural stone into your outdoor landscape and interior decorations.

The Benefits of Landscaping with Stone Pavers

If you’re looking for an easy way to enhance the appearance of your property, you may want to consider incorporating stone pavers into your landscape. In addition to their elegant beauty, stone pavers are also very functional. You can use them to update the look of your pool deck, patio, or walkway.   

Stone pavers come in a variety of designs

Stone pavers are available in a range of textures, designs, and colors to ensure that you can create the exact look you want for your landscape. Because the patterns of many stone slabs were created naturally, you can select a truly unique pattern to incorporate into the look of your property. You can use stone pavers to create a unique design for your outdoor patio or to develop a gorgeous, useful pathway in your backyard. 

Stone pavers are durable

Unlike concrete slabs, stone pavers can stand up to the harsh natural elements of an outdoor environment such as wind and rain. Concrete pavement will eventually crack, crumble, and wear away over time. The strength of natural stone pavers made from granite or travertine means that they won’t crack, flake, or chip easily. Not only do these stone pavers last longer than concrete alternatives, but also they are easier to clean and maintain.

Stone pavers boost appearance of property

Whether you’re looking to enhance the appearance of your home or your business, installing stone pavers is a great way of giving your property a natural, charming appeal. Stone pavers can be made from durable, natural stones including marble, slate, and travertine. These materials will easily blend into the look of your property; yet subtly make your landscape appear more bright and modern.

To learn more about installing stone pavers in your outdoor landscape call Brazilian Exotic Granite, Inc. at (760) 744-7415. Our company began as a family owned and operated business in San Marcos and has since expanded to the San Diego and Rancho Cucamonga areas. The sales team at each of these locations can help you find the perfect stone paver for your home.