Humans have been using hard natural substances to build and decorate for centuries. From the Taj Mah to the Pantheon, from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Washington Monument, we’re always on the lookout for stone for sale and love the look of these natural building materials. Here are surprising facts about architectural stone, marble slabs, and the other natural materials we love to build with:
- We’ve been putting up stone for sale for 5,000 years. Marble in architecture, art, and design have been used since the earliest Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures. People in those cultures were using engineered stone (think pyramids), but natural stone slabs were used in all kinds of applications, too. Altars for sacrifice, the construction of Stonehenge, palaces, ancient city walls: all were made of durable stone. Stone for sale? Yes, please.
- Stone is the number one natural material for kitchen renovation. Maybe we like the look; maybe we want the durability; maybe we like what it says about environmental friendliness. Whatever the reason, 93% of homeowners update their counter tops when they renovate the kitchen, and most of them choose natural stone.
- Stone and marble give us the impression of environmental friendliness. Of course one reason there’s so much stone for sale is that it is an environmentally friendly building material. But a lot of hotels are choosing to use it because it communicates eco-friendliness to customers. Since 81% of travelers think their hotel’s eco-friendliness is important, stone is more than just a decoration. It can actually help a place communicate ecological values.
- Natural stone buildings last for a very long time. Just take a look at the pyramids of Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens (the Greeks called marble “marmaros,” which means “shiny and beautiful), and the Taj Mahal of India. All are made from limestone or marble, and all are still standing. That’s not an accident.
- Marble can be used for more than just construction! You probably didn’t realize it, but there might be marble ground up in your toothpaste! It’s also used in glues and plastics, as well. It makes a wonderful fine powder that can be sticky, tacky, or abrasive, depending on your needs.
- It’s very easy to maintain. One reason there’s so much stone for sale is that it’s just plain easy. It’s hard to break it, it’s easy to clean in, and as it ages it only looks better and better. Granite, for example, is a natural stone that is so hard the only things harder in our world are diamonds, rubies, and sapphires!
Whether it’s engineered stone, ceramic slabs, or natural stone slabs, there’s stone for sale everywhere. Using stone is a great way to update your property with something durable, easy to maintain, and eco-friendly.