2. Natural Stone Is Ecological
Natural stone as a building material is found naturally in virtually finished form. No energy is needed for its actual manufacture. Energy is only consumed for quarrying and processing, but the share is small compared with other building materials. The stone is extracted mostly from relatively small quarries with major blasting operations. The unused stone waste can be used directly for filling in the parts of the quarry where stone has been extracted or for other practical uses. Nothing is lost in the complete cycle of natural stone quarrying, processing and the return to nature.

3. Natural Stone Is Environmentally Compatible
As a natural building material, natural stone contains no pollutants that are damaging to health. Natural stone can be used safely in food areas. It is incombustible and it is also a class A building material. Natural stone also requires no auxiliary chemical substances such as protective coatings before it can be used as a building material.

4. Natural Stone Is Varied
No other building material has as many different colours and structures as natural stone. Various surface finishing processes make variety virtually unlimited. Developers and architects therefore have a broad spectrum of choice, which allows matching to any desired appearance or ambience. Natural stones are often chosen for their good visual and technical qualities. Natural stone is available in a variety of different colours, structures and textures. A suitable natural stone is available for virtually any requirement imposed on a building material.

5. Natural Stone Is Individual
Natural stones are quarried in large blocks and cut to desired size by natural stone fabricators. The size of the natural stone slabs is limited only by the size of the rough blocks and not by standard dimensions specified by production. The size can be adapted individually to meet planning requirements. Any desired shape can be provided, not only square or rectangular slabs. Modern processing machines allow inlay work in natural stone. The variety of the stones and the individual processing and design possibilities highlight the uniqueness of the building material.

6. Natural Stone Ages Well
Whereas many building materials become unsightly over the course of many years, natural stone retains a natural patina, which is not detrimental to its beauty. Many natural stones are like good wine: they only attain their full elegance with advancing years. Natural stone can also be cleaned easily and inexpensively. Even centuries- old floor coverings of natural stone can be resurfaced, polished and restored to their original condition with the expertise of Marble Renewal®. The lifetime of natural stone is extremely long. With the right planning and construction, buildings and natural stone have been known to survive for many thousands of years.

7. Natural Stone Is Three-Dimensional
Any desired solid stones can be produced as well as slab sizes. Milling grooves and flutings in the stone surfaces can create interesting light and shade effects. Such processed slabs radiate strength and solidity when mounted on a façade. Solid components like moldings, frames and pillars permit an aesthetic structure.

8. Natural Stone Is Attractively Priced
If the total costs of a building material are considered over a useful life of 30 years or more, independent investigations show that natural stone is no more expensive than comparable synthetic building materials. The relatively high investment costs are offset by the long-term maintenance costs and long life. The cost of cleaning and maintenance of natural stone is low.

9. Natural Stone Is Physically Practical
Natural stone has very good thermal conductivity and a large heat storage capacity. Natural stone as façade material absorbs the heat radiated by the sun and prevents unwanted heating of the building. Tests show an energy requirement of 100-150 kWh/m² for multi-story buildings with stone façades, in contrast to an energy requirement of 300-700kWh/m² for the necessary heating and cooling of glass façades.

10. Natural Stone Is Durable
The high-pressure resistance values of many natural stones have given the material a reputation of being an everlasting building material. Natural stone is also the most durable material with the lowest abrasion values for floor coverings. Coverings of granite or similar hard stones show hardly any signs of wear even after decades of use in domestic situation.

Source: Stone Report, Germany