Let’s begin our study with petrographic and commercial classification under which ornamental and building stones are grouped:

MARBLE (commercial term)
Crystallized compact polishable rock, used in decorating and building sectors, made out mainly of hard minerals in the range of 3-4 Mohs (like calcites, dolomites and serpentines).
In this category you will find :
* Marbles appropriately called (re-crystallized calcareous and metamorphoses), calcepherous and cipolin marbles
* Limestones, dolomites and calcareous polishable breccia
* Alabaster limestone
* Serpentinites
* Ophicalcites

GRANITE (commercial term)
Crystallized compact polishable phanerite rock used in decorating and building sectors, made out mainly of hard minerals in the range of 6-7 Mohs (like quartz, felspates and felspatoids).
In this category you will find :
* Granites appropriately called (magmatic intrusive acid phanerite-crystalline rock, constituted by quartz, felspates, sodium-potassiates and mica)
* Other magmatic intrusive rocks (diorites, granodiorites, syonites, gabbrites, etc.)
* Corresponding effusive magmatic rocks having a porous structure
* Other metamorphic rocks having the same composition like gneiss

TRAVERTINE STONE
Sedimentary limestone originating from chemical deposits having vacua structure used in decorating and building sectors, some varieties are polishable.

STONE (commercial term)
Used in decorating and building sectors normally not polishable.
In this category you will find varying mineral compositions of rocks that cannot be classified. They can be however subdivided into one or two main groups:
* Soft rocks and/or slightly compact
* Hard rocks and/or compact

Examples of the first group are:
* Various sedimentary rocks (limestones, calcareous cement sandstones, etc.)
* Pyroclastic rocks (Peperine, tufo etc.)

Examples of the second group are:
* Natural fissure stones (quartzites, micacists, gneiss, lastroids, slates, etc.)
* Some types of vulcanites (basalt, trachite, leucites, etc.)

The petrographic description of a stone-like material is extremely important both for the classifying and for singling out all those characteristics that may determine its behavior in the face of mechanical, chemical and physical phenomena which it is due to undergo as regards to the environmental and climatic conditions.
It is essential therefore to be able to make a clear distinction between natural stone-like material and artificial stone-like material. The former are basically originated from stone-like elements obtained from quarry-blocks, without the addition of a binder; whilst the latter are derived from fragments of natural stone-like material and bound together with cement and synthetic resins.
In order to achieve a better expressive quality in the stone- like material, it is necessary to place the surface of the stone under a lasting finishing touch. The raw material obtained from the grinding presents chromatic characteristics which are common to that rock, but the superficial unevenness slightly minimizes the different tonalities of the polishing and honing of the stone. The former defines the color of the rock even though the shades may remain light and dull; the latter enhances to the most the tonalities and contrasts derived from the veins of the stone giving it shine and beauty.
Differing results may be obtained from the blazing and bump-work: this operation does not act so much on the colors themselves as on the superficial texture to the objects. The blazing work gives the material a kind of “soft” texture to the surface whilst the bump-work namely the collision work, the hammer work etc. tend to create in a manner more or less marked, elements having superficial contrasts, lighter and darker shades (which are enhanced by light) depending on the proportion in the irregularity which is derived from the “collision work ” performed on the surface.
In rocks having dividable preferential planes (sand-stone, gneiss, quartzite, porphyry, etc.) it is possible to obtain a particular type of lasting touch called “fissure-stone” which are recognized as having a rustic look.
- The above mentioned processes cannot be applied to any type of rock. For example only a few types of granite and rocks can be submitted to blazing-work and can give good results. Even in natural fissure-stones, a characteristic common to most rocks can be exploited to the most in order to achieve the most convenient and constructive result, and this only in a limited number of materials.
The reason why so many stone-like rocks are used does not derive from their beauty, but rather from their application qualities.
Following scientific studies, new properties have been singled out which define the characteristics of each type of material more specifically in contrast to others.
In technical norms, it has been stipulated that in order to accept stone-like materials as such the full control of the following characteristics are of vital importance:

- PETROGRAPHIC DENOMINATION
- DIMENSION AND FORM
- APPARENT VOLUMINOUS MASS (OR WEIGHT OF VOLUME)
- RESISTANCE TO COMPRESSION
- RESISTANCE TO FLEXION
- NORMAL ELASTICITY MODULAR
- COLLISION RESISTANCE
- MICRO-HARDNESS KNOOP
- IMBIBITION COEFFICIENT
- RESISTANCE TO FROST
- THERMAL DILATION COEFFICIENT
- RESISTANCE TO HARD WEAR

The apparent voluminous mass and the inhibition coefficient provide an indication on the solidarity of the rock and the hardness of the material under normal environmental conditions as well as providing details on its absorbing capacity of liquids, stains, etc. and therefore what kind of treatment the stone should be submitted to.

The resistance to frost and to the thermal dilation coefficient play an important role in the choice of materials destined for outside use, able to resist adverse climatic conditions. Compression and flexion resistance and the normal elasticity modular the carrying out of appropriate tests on stability and static security of elements submitted to mechanical stress. Furthermore, their resistance to abrasion, collision and micro hardness Knoop, consent the evaluation of the behavior regarding stone-like materials used in pavement making and stairs.
Following this brief outlook on the typology of the materials and their processing, we move on to pointing out which are the present existing possibilities of treatment to enable, to impart, to preserve or to increase certain characteristics which have already been mentioned:

- STAIN – HUMIDITY – PROOF
- ANTISMOG – WRITING – PROOF
- CLEANING FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE
- CONSOLIDATING
- IMPROVEMENT IN CHROMATIC CHARACTERISTICS
- RESISTANCE TO HARD WEAR

Thanks to specific chemical products, it is possible to achieve better results in the natural characteristics of the support.
Consequently, we now move on to give a descriptive summary on the existing possibilities capacity and type of these natural materials taking into consideration their absorbing capacity and type of processing they have been submitted to and which will be discussed in the technical data sheet.
Before we begin we must bear in mind that the deposition is the first factor to take into consideration in order to avoid several problems. First of all the depositary basements must be well dry, (residual humidity maximum -3 %) then cement base and purging must be avoided when using cement. There are products in the market which have been purposely studied in the laying of marbles and granites.
Following any treatment process, we recommend using a thin solution of neutral pH detergent like NEUGEL or ALGAFLOOR.

STAIN PROOF TREATMENT FOR MODUL MARBLE
(Calibrated marble approximately 10 mm in thickness). A couple of hours before the installation of modul marble we recommend to apply a thin coat of PRO TW LUX. (This operation will avoid many problems caused by setting operation).
At the end of installation the surface has to be cleaned with a neutral pH cleaner and another thin coat of product can be applied. The flooring has to be dry before the application of any solvent base product.

STAIN PROOF TREATMENT FOR MARBLES, GRANITES AND NATURAL STONES POLISHED AFTER INSTALLATION
To protect a marble or granite flooring against dirt, grease, beverage and other soiling agents it is advised to apply a solvent base impregnator after the polishing have been executed and when the floor will be completely dry and dust free. In our line of products, PRO TW LUX or PRO TEX have been studied for this specific purpose. Usually one or two coats of product (depending on the absorbing capacity of the support) are enough to give an excellent protection to the stone. The application can be done by brush, lambs wool or low pressure sprayer then after seven/nine hours the floor can be buffed with floor machine and fine steel wool pad to remove the dry residue of the product. A liquid or solid wax can also be applied to increase the brilliance of the floor or to remove the dry residue instead of the steel wool. These two products do not make any film on the surface and do not change the natural color of the stone. The treatment will also make the ongoing maintenance easier.

The duration of the treatment is not predictable, it can vary depending on various factors: climatic conditions, application (exterior or interior), maintenance. According to our experience we can say that the treatment can last for an average of four years, however we always recommend to apply a coat of PRO TW LUX or PRO TEX every two or three years.

SAND STONE, LIMESTONE, TRAVERTINE STONE ETC.
These stones are for internal and external use and pertain to that group of stones which have a medium high absorbing capacity, suitable both for interior and for exterior either for floorings or for cladding, they have to be protected against dirt and other soiling agents, graffiti and smog, frost.

We recommend to apply a protective product, chosen according to type of material, the finish of the stone and to the performance required. Some of the most suitable products for these stones are ATS 60, PRO TW LUX, SOL 170, FABERES. Some sandstone can be protected with HIDROCOTT (water base impregnator) and HIDROFAB/AR, a water base wax very resistant to pedestrian traffic.