How Can You Tell the Quality of a Good Slab of Marble?
Marbles, being a natural stone, come with a variety of qualities. All slabs of marble are not the same in their physical appearance and chemical compounds. The absence or presence of other compounds in marble can determine its final color. For example, Iron oxide can result in yellow and brown deposits. So, all marbles are not pure. And this makes them have different final qualities, as well. Still, we need to know some hacks and tips to distinguish a fine slab of marble from those fragile ones. Here are some ways to pick out the best slabs.
Some Tips to Check Your Slab of Marble Yourself
The first thing you can do is to check the evenness of the slab throughout the stone. If the stone is uneven, it may result in steep surfaces once you install them. The other thing to look for is the color combination of the stone. There can be different veins, and the colors can have a range of hues. But the overall color palette needs to be the same all over the stone. All four sides need to be machine cut in straight lines. The straight cut lines reduce the wasted stone after cutting.
Check for the Back of the Slab
Everybody checks the surface of the stone. The surface should be beautiful and without any cracks. But what about the backside? Look for the presence of wire mesh. Cheaper stones may have this on the sides except for the surface. Usually, if you see them, it means the stone is more fragile. Also, the backside needs to be even and free of cracks. Especially, check the veins and see if there are any cracks present alongside them or not.
Mind the Pores of the Stone
Natural stones, including crystal marble, granite, and limestone, all have natural pores. But the excessive amount of pores usually indicates a lower quality stone. These stones will absorb the liquids inside them more quickly. If there are fewer pores, the liquid will not penetrate the surface as much. So, maybe you could test a piece or a tile by spilling some lemon juice on it.
Check for the Uniformity of Colors
Unfortunately, some stone manufacturers add some artificial colors to make stones look captivating. The problem with this later added color is that it fades away after some time. How can we detect this artificial color from natural ones? Well, this added color only comes on the surface. So, once you scratch it, you can see the underlying layers. These layers must still have the same color pattern. Plus, this artificial color is harder to scratch, while pure marble can be scratched easily. As long as you get your stones from well-known manufactures, you can avoid these kinds of troubles.
All these said the best tests are available inside laboratories. Most companies run tests to determine the quality of their quarried marbles and natural stones, just like FaraStone has. These final results are more accurate and more reliable. So, trust your stone supplier and seek their advice before purchase.
