a wide range

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed from limestone millions of years ago. Extreme changes in temperature or pressure, due for example to orogeny, the process of mountain formation, caused the limestone to crystallise and become marble. Mineral impurities in the original limestone (such as clay, loam, sand or iron oxides) caused the so-called veins and patches in the marble.

What makes marble so unique?

Marble is a hard substance, yet at the same time it feels soft and is easy to work with. This stone is available in many different hues: white, red, yellow, pink, green and more. Fossils and veins lend marble a unique look, making this stone the perfect eyecatcher for your interior. Discover the stunning range of colours in our extensive stock.

What can marble be used for?

The kitchen and the bathroom are favourite places to use marble. This is where the natural stone comes fully into its own. But marble can also be used for floors, tabletops, fireplaces, furniture and more.

Given the right thickness and finish, marble can be used in both modern and classical interiors. Opt for a soft touch for a matte finish, or polished for a glossy surface. Combine this with a straight, oblique or rounded edge. Looking for inspiration? View our references.

How do you look after marble?

Marble is porous and therefore naturally absorbs liquids. So Potier Stone treats all its marbles with QTOP® PROTECT. This is a high-tech treatment involving mechanical and chemical influences that provide unprecedented protection for the stone.

We have developed an appropriate maintenance programme to help you care for your marble thereafter. But we advise you always to be careful with acids.
For very intensive cleaning you can call upon our professional service team. During this treatment, we will re-apply the QTOP Protect so that the stain resistance remains effective. We advise you to do this yearly.

Did you know…

• marble becomes even lovelier as the years pass.
• the word ‘marble’ comes from the Greek word ‘marmaros’ (‘μαρμαρος’), which means ‘shining stone’.
• sculptors love marble because this stone is easy to polish and to work with as well as reflecting the light beautifully.
• marble can be found in Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Russia, Romania, Sweden, the US, India and Germany.
• our top Belgian products include Rouge Belge and Gris des Ardennes.
• the Apuan Alps to the east of the city of Carrara are home to around 300 marble quarries.
• Carrara marble is also known as white gold.

Granite is hard and not very porous. This is due to the origin of this natural stone. Deep in the earth’s crust, temperatures are very high. So at these depths, rock is liquid. This very hot, liquid rock is known as magma. The magma tries to rise to the surface of the earth through so-called ‘weak spots’ in the earth’s crust. Here it makes its way outside through volcanoes and cracks in the ground.

However, the continental crust is fairly thick. The magma does not always reach the surface. It comes to rest, slowly cools (from a temperature of over 1000°C) and solidifies. We call this magmatic pluton.

Blue hardstone is sedimentary rock that formed millions of years ago. This limestone is full of fossilised molluscs, shells and plants from the sea. Depending on the finish, the colour varies from blue to almost black. Bluestone has a natural charm and becomes lovelier as the years pass.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock. Sediments are grains or particles moved by the wind or water. Chalk, sand and gravel are examples of sediments. The loose particles become interwoven through the action of chemicals. This is a very slow and complex geological process that ultimately results in a unique hard rock.

You never get tired of limestone. Limestone has something Mediterranean about it. It is a simple, superb natural stone with its own cachet. The veins and fossil remains of plants and animals can sometimes still be seen in limestone. Just like marble, limestone ‘ages beautifully’.

There are various different sorts of slate, depending on what sort of clay the stone comes from. It is formed from clay mud, a very porous substance with a high water content. Under pressure from the deposits that have piled on top over millions of years, the water was gradually pressed out of the clay layers.

Just like granite, basalt is a magmatic or igneous rock. Magma can best be described as hot, liquid rock. It is found deep inside the earth. It makes its way outside through cracks or spectacular volcanic eruptions. Upon contact with air and/or water, the magma quickly cools down and becomes rock once again.

Composite actually means ‘made up of various different materials’. And it lives up to its name, as composite consists of a blend of granite or quartz granulates bound with resin using a unique process. The quality and properties of composite largely depend on the proportions of these ingredients.

Ceramic is the youngest member of the family and has a number of important properties. It is particularly hard, resistant to abrasion and colour-fast. In addition, ceramic is heat-resistant. On the other hand, its hardness makes it more likely to break than quartz composite.