Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why choose stone?
2. What is Limestone?
3. What is Granite?
4. What is Travertine?
5. What maintenance does stone require?
6. Can you match new and old material?
7. Can I see the exact piece being supplied?

Why choose stone?
In modern and traditional buildings, marble and granite are more widely used today than ever before, chosen because they are durable, practical and timeless. The vast range available from Cullifords gives unlimited scope for the architect, client and stonemason alike to enhance the beauty and value of any building by the creative use of natural stone.

What is Limestone?
Limestones are sedimentary rocks rich in carbonates and composed chiefly of calcite.

Limestones form by organic or inorganic processes mainly deposited from marine remains and constitute between 15% -25% of sedimentary rocks exposed above sea level.

What is Granite?
In the stone industry Granite is often used as a collective term for igneous rocks which have similar properties to that of actual Granite.

Actual Granite is a coarse grained igneous rock and consists essentially of quartz and Alkali Feldspar. Granites are igneous rocks with an origin deep within the earth where rocks melt because temperatures are so high. They form by the cooling of molten material and the perfection and size of crystals show the extreme slowness at which each mineral is cooled.

Within our stocks we have many materials from Gneiss, Dolerites, Granodiorite’s & Syenites, which often fall under the collective heading of Granites and in most cases can be used in the same way.

What is Travertine?
Travertines are a hard very compact material typically deposited in volcanic regions, where cooling carbonate – saturated water is exposed. These materials are usually white but can be yellow, beige or red, all formed from impurities such as iron. The characteristic holes found in Travertines are created when bubbles of carbon dioxide are trapped as the stone cools

Marbles are Metamorphosed Limestones which have undergone intense pressure and heat, yet still chiefly consisting of calcite although other minerals can be present.

As with Granites the word Marble is often used to classify many different types of material. In it’s broadest sense it means polished stone. Within our stocks we have many materials from Serpetines, Onyx and Quartzite’s which often fall under the collective heading of marble, and in most cases be used in the same way.

What maintenance does stone require?
Natural Stone is a porous material but provided it is treated with respect it will last for many years. Below are a few guidelines to help preserve the beauty of the material.

• Floors should be kept clean on a daily basis using a soft broom and all dust particles, grit, etc, removed.
• Spillages on the surface should be wiped up immediately with a damp cloth.
• Floors should be washed thoroughly on a weekly basis using warm water and a neutral detergent e.g., Lithofin Easy Care is ideal for regular maintenance on all stone surfaces.
• Stubborn stains such as those caused by rubber shoe marks, etc, should be removed by using a special multipurpose cleaner, e.g. Lithofin Wexa.
• Abrasives must never be used and domestic soap will tend to leave a slippery film on the surfaces.
• Do not use household or commercial cleaning agents, which contain bleach.
• In the case of minor stains or joints requiring re-pointing you should seek professional advice.

Lithofin Products are available from Cullifords Ltd. Tel: 020 8390 4656 or Fax: 020 8390 8088

For further Technical Information you can contact the Lithofin Help – Line 01962 732126

Can you match new and old material?
Natural Stone is variable by its nature. With some materials it is often possible to match old sample to new, however quarry seams can change over time and sometime materials can run out all together. If you have a sample to match we try our best to find the material you are looking for or we will suggest similar alternatives.

Can I see the exact piece being supplied?
The slabs in our yard are stored together as the blocks from which they were cut. It is possible to see the front slab from a particular block, but not always the exact slab which will be used for the particular job. This should not worry you too much though; there is usually very little variance through a block from slab to slab. In terms of tiles, for big jobs we can supply samples of the material which will be supplied. For smaller jobs we would provide a sample which would be a representation of the material to be supplied.