IMC Stone- Interceramic Marble Collection

Learning about Limestone: Properties and Applications

Integrating natural stone into your home is a great way to elevate and add interest to its interior design. With its earthy, organic appearance, limestone adds warmth and texture and is available in a variety of colors to complement your home. In the video below, learn more about limestone, its properties and characteristics, and how to incorporate the natural stone into your own design project.

While you may picture limestone as beige and sandblasted smooth, the stone actually comes in a variety of appearances and properties. You can find limestone in different colors, with various veining, and even with the shape of shellfish imprinted into its surface. Made from many of the same elements as marble, which is later heated and crystallized while limestone is not, limestone can be porous or dense, depending on the particular type or slab you choose. With this range of characteristics within one type of stone, limestone can serve multiple purposes in different applications throughout your home. Dense limestone, for example, can be used for intricate carvings while limestone of medium density is suitable for more utilitarian applications, like in countertops or sinks.

To order granite, marble, or exotic stone for your own design project, contact IMC Stone today. We offer an extensive and exclusive selection of exotic granite, marble, and natural stone. In business for over 27 years, IMC Stone is the largest importer and distributor of natural stone in the Southwest. For more information about our Dallas and Fort Worth showrooms, please visit us online or call us today at (972) 488-5700.

Learn the Basics of Sealing Natural Stone

While well-known for its beauty and durability, natural stone is not without its unique maintenance needs. To protect your granite countertops or marble floors from stains and scratches, have your natural stone surfaces regularly sealed. Talk to the stone experts at IMC Stone for more maintenance recommendations, and learn more about sealing natural stone below.

• Sealer Uses: Stone professionals will strongly encourage all clients to seal their natural stone products. Some natural stones, like marble and limestone, are more porous and susceptible to moisturize damage. Even hardier stones like granite, though, should be regularly maintained. As a preventative measure, a natural stone sealer helps your stone surfaces to retain their color and luster, particularly in high-traffic applications like flooring and countertops.
• Sealer Types: Sealers are broken up into two major categories: topical sealers and impregnating sealers. Topical sealers serve as a protective coating on the surface of natural stones. This translucent barrier ensures that your material remains safeguarded from dirt and seeping liquids. Impregnating sealers, on the other hand, provide a protective defense against liquids and spills for stone floors and countertops. This type of sealer works by filling in the pores in natural stone that make it susceptible to stains.
• Sealer Professionals: Working with stone professionals is an effective way to ensure that your countertops and floors are properly sealed. A stone expert can instruct you on which sealants provide the best protection for specific stone types. He or she can also advise you on products that are well-suited for indoor or outdoor applications.

To order granite, marble, or exotic stone for your own design project, contact IMC Stone today. We offer an extensive and exclusive selection of exotic granite, marble, and natural stone. In business for over 27 years, IMC Stone is the largest importer and distributor of natural stone in the Southwest. For more information about our Dallas and Fort Worth showrooms, please visit us online or call us today at (972) 488-5700.

The Benefits of Using Natural Stone in your Home or Office Design

When it comes to building or renovating your home, the choice of design elements, products, and materials is vast. Whether you choose granite for your kitchen countertops or marble for your bathrooms, by using natural stone, you are selecting a material that is beautiful in appearance, functional in its applications, and durable in its wear. Talk to the natural stone experts at IMC Stone to find a natural stone that fits your residential or commercial design goals, and read more about the benefits of using natural stone below.

• Dramatic Visuals: Famous and historic landmarks like the Pyramids at Giza, the Taj Mahal, and the Washington Monument are all examples of the striking beauty of natural stone. Ranging from sleek and sophisticated to rustic and textured, natural stones can help you create a bold design statement. You can highlight a slab of exotic granite as a work surface or create an elegant office lobby using cool and pristine marble.
• Building Green: If you are designing with the environment in mind, natural stone is a green and sustainable material for your building project. Natural stone, reports the Marble Institute of America, is 100% recyclable and, because of its long-lasting durability, “the most sustainable building material available”. Your natural stone warehouse may also stock engineered products like ForzaStone that leave a minimal impact on the environment.
• Minimal Maintenance: Business owners and homeowners alike choose natural stone not only for its appearance but also its durability. Materials like granite are resistant to stains, scratches, and nicks, and properly-treated materials can weather years of use and wear. An annual sealing and an occasional spot-cleaning, for example, can keep your granite countertops looking like new without constant maintenance and worry.

To order granite, marble, or exotic stone for your own design project, contact IMC Stone today. We offer an extensive and exclusive selection of exotic granite, marble, and natural stone. In business for over 27 years, IMC Stone is the largest importer and distributor of natural stone in the Southwest. For more information about our Dallas and Fort Worth showrooms, please visit us online or call us today at (972) 488-5700.

Selecting Natural Stone Flooring: Resources for Further Reading

You may already use natural stones like granite and marble for your kitchen countertops or bathrooms, but have you ever considered natural stone for your floors? In addition to granite and marble, natural stone materials like limestone and travertine are elegant and durable flooring options that both enhance your home’s style and stand the test of time. Read more about selecting a natural stone flooring option, and contact IMC Stone to view our extensive and exclusive selection of natural stone.

• Get back to basics with this glossary of stone flooring terms from the World Floor Covering Association. Knowing your stone and finish options can help you choose the material and style that best suits your home and requirements.
• Slate, a material commonly used for roofs, can also be a durable and attractive choice for your floors. Some slate flooring ideas include mixing materials for a rich and textured floor and using black, sandblasted slate to achieve a contemporary look.
• Particularly in high-traffic spaces, your natural stone floors can become dull and scuffed. With this stone flooring cleaning guide from HGTV, learn how to restore the luster of your granite, marble or limestone floors.

To order granite, marble, or exotic stone for your own design project, contact IMC Stone today. We offer an extensive and exclusive selection of exotic granite, marble, and natural stone. In business for over 27 years, IMC Stone is the largest importer and distributor of natural stone in the Southwest. For more information about our Dallas and Fort Worth showrooms, please visit us online or call us today at (972) 488-5700.

Telling the Difference Between Granite and Marble

Beautiful, durable, and resistant to scratches and other abrasions, granite is one of the most popular materials for kitchen countertops and high-traffic areas of your home. An igneous rock formed by volcanic activity, granite bears unique characteristics that distinguish it from other natural stones. Learn more about granite and how to recognize it in the video below.

Unlike marble, granite slabs are usually larger because of its strength, and the stone itself contains tiny crystals. In addition, granite usually contains a multitude of colors while marble is more homogenous in its appearance. Marble is a softer stone than granite, which means it does not have the same sheen or gloss that can be found with granite. While marble and granite may be well-suited to different purposes in your home, both stones can make a bold or classic style statement.

To order granite, marble, or exotic stone for your own design project, contact IMC Stone today. We offer an extensive and exclusive selection of exotic granite, marble, and natural stone. In business for over 27 years, IMC Stone is the largest importer and distributor of natural stone in the Southwest. For more information about our Dallas and Fort Worth showrooms, please visit us online or call us today at (972) 488-5700.