Fra pyramiderne til Parthenon har mennesker bygget med sten i tusinder af år. Blandt de mest brugte og velkendte natursten, der bruges til byggeri, er basalt, kalksten, travertin og skifer. Enhver arkitekt, entreprenør eller murværk vil fortælle dig det natursten er usædvanligt holdbar og giver et fremragende afkast af investeringen.
The technical characteristics of different stone such as porosity, compression strength, heat endurance thresholds, and frost resistance, will affect a stone’s application. Stones like basalt, granite, and sandstone fare well for massive construction projects like dams and bridges, whereas travertine, quartzite, and marble work better for interior construction and decoration.
In this blog, we’ll explore different stone types and uses to give you a broad overview of their unique qualities and applications.
While stone and rock are used interchangeably, they are different regarding internal structure and composition. Rocks form part of the earth’s crust and are found virtually everywhere, whereas stones are hard substances like limestone or sandstone extracted from rock, for example.
Den største forskel er, at sten er større og nedbrudt for at hente mineralske elementer, mens sten kan cementeres sammen for at danne komponenter, der er nyttige til byggeri. Uden sten ville der ikke være nogen sten.
Whether igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary, rocks used for building materials contain different types of stone that can construct some of the most magnificent architectural feats. There are three main types of rock. Let’s examine them more closely.
Named after the Latin word for fire, Igneous rocks form when hot, molten magma solidifies below the earth’s surface. This type of rock is divided into two groups, intrusive or extrusive, depending on where the molten rock solidifies. Intrusive igneous rock crystallizes below the earth’s surface, and extrusive rocks erupt onto the surface.
Magmatisk sten til konstruktion omfatter disse typer sten:
Metamorphic rock starts as one type of rock but due to pressure, heat, and time, gradually transforms into a new rock type. Although it forms deep within the earth’s crust, it's often exposed on our planet’s surface after geological uplift and the erosion of rock and soil above it. These crystalline rocks tend to have a foliated texture.
Metamorf sten til konstruktion omfatter disse stentyper:
This rock is always formed in layers called “strata” and often contains fossils. Pieces of rock are loosened by weather, then transported to a basin or depression where the sediment is trapped, and lithification (compaction) takes place. The sediment is deposited in flat, horizontal layers, with the oldest layers on the bottom and younger layers on top.
Nedenfor er de ti mest almindelige typer sten, der har været brugt i århundreder og fortsat indgår i og bruges i vores moderne verden i dag.
This coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock is composed chiefly of quartz, feldspar, and plagioclase. Granite gets its signature color speckles from crystallization — the longer the molten rock has to cool, the larger the grains of color.
Available in white, pink, yellow, gray, and black, this building stone is lauded for its durability. As the earth’s most durable and common igneous rock, granit er et fremragende valg til bordplader, monumenter, fortove, broer, søjler og gulve.
Sandsten er en klassisk sedimentær bjergart lavet af sandstore silikatkorn af kvarts og feldspat. Hård og modstandsdygtig over for vejret, dette byggemateriale sten bruges ofte til beklædning af facader og indvendige vægge, samt havebænke, belægningsmateriale, terrasseborde og swimmingpoolkanter.
Denne sten kan have enhver farve som sand, men de mest almindelige farver er tan, brun, grå, hvid, rød og gul. Hvis det har et højt kvartsindhold, kan sandsten endda knuses og bruges som en kilde til silica til glasfremstilling.
Sammensat af calcit og magnesium, denne bløde sedimentære bjergart er normalt grå, men kan også være hvid, gul eller brun. Fra et geologisk perspektiv dannes kalksten enten på dybt havvand eller på grund af vandfordampning under huledannelse.
Et unikt træk ved denne sten er, at dens primære bestanddel, calcit, hovedsageligt dannes ved fossilisering af skalproducerende og koralbyggende levende organismer. Kalksten som byggemateriale bruges i arkitektoniske applikationer til vægge, dekorative trim og finer.
Dark and heavy, this extrusive, igneous rock makes up most of the planet’s oceanic crust. Basalt is black, but after extensive weathering, may turn green or brown. Additionally, it contains some light-colored minerals like feldspar and quartz, but these are difficult to see with the naked eye.
Basalt, der er rig på jern og magnesium, bruges i byggeriet til at lave byggeklodser, brosten, gulvfliser, vejsten, jernbaneballaster og statuer. 90% af al vulkansk sten er basalt.
Elsket gennem tiderne for sin luksus og overdådighed, marmor er en smuk metamorf klippe, der dannes, når kalksten udsættes for højt tryk eller varme. Det indeholder normalt andre mineraler som kvarts, grafit, pyrit og jernoxider, der giver det en række nuancer fra pink til brun, grå, grøn, sort eller broget farve.
På grund af dets unikke årring og elegante udseende er marmor den bedste sten til at bygge monumenter, indretning, bordplader, skulpturer og nyheder. Den mest prestigefyldte hvide marmor er brudt i Carrara, Italien.
Skifer er en finkornet, folieret, homogen sedimentær bjergart, der stammer fra skifersten bestående af ler eller vulkansk aske. De oprindelige lermineraler i skifer ændrer sig til glimmer, når de udsættes for stigende niveauer af varme og tryk.
Gray in color, slate contains quartz, feldspar, calcite, pyrite, and hematite, among other minerals. It’s a desirable building stone that’s been utilized in construction since ancient Egyptian times. Today, it’s used as roofing, flagging, decorative aggregates, and flooring because of its attractiveness and durability.
Pumice is a porous igneous rock produced during volcanic eruptions. It forms so rapidly that its atoms don’t have time to crystallize, essentially rendering it a solidified foam. While it occurs in various colors like white, gray, blue, cream, green, and brown, it is almost always pale.
Selvom den er finkornet, er overfladen af denne sten ru. Pimpsten i pulverform anvendes som tilslag i letbeton til isolering, som slibesten og i en række industri- og forbrugerprodukter samt slibesten.
Når kvartsrig sandsten ændres af varme, tryk og metamorfosens kemiske aktivitet, bliver den til kvartsit. Under processen binder sandkorn og silicacement sig sammen, hvilket resulterer i et formidabelt netværk af sammenlåsende kvartskorn.
Kvartsit er normalt hvidt eller lyst, men yderligere materialer båret af grundvandet kan give nuancer af grøn, blå eller jernrød. Det er en af de bedste sten til konstruktion af bordplader, gulve, tagsten og trappetrin på grund af dets marmorlignende udseende og granitlignende holdbarhed.
Travertin er en type terrestrisk kalksten dannet af mineralforekomster nær naturlige kilder. Denne sedimentære sten har et fibrøst eller koncentrisk udseende og kommer i nuancer af hvid, tan, creme og rust. Dens unikke tekstur og attraktive jordfarver gør den populær til byggeapplikationer.
This versatile stone variety is commonly used for indoor and outdoor flooring, spa walls, ceilings, facades, and wall cladding. It’s an affordable option compared to other natural stones like marble, yet still maintains a luxurious appeal.
En mellemhård gips, alabast er normalt hvid og gennemskinnelig med et fint uniformeret korn.
Its small natural grain is visible when held up to the light. Because it’s a porous mineral, this stone can be dyed in a variety of colors.
It has been used for centuries to make statues, carvings, and other decorative and ornamental work. While the splendor of alabaster is undeniable, it is a soft metamorphic rock that’s only really suitable for indoor applications.
The many natural stone products on the market and their unique characteristics can make it challenging for contractors and homeowners to select the correct ones for their projects. If you’re new to the process, the first thing to consider is the location of the stone installation. For instance, the type of stones for floor applications will differ if it’s indoors or outdoors.
Then you’ll need to evaluate the stone’s durability, the fabricator’s warranty, and its grade. There are three grades of natural stone: commercial, standard, and first choice. Standard grade is a good fit for interior applications, like countertops, whereas commercial-grade, may be better for apartment or hotel projects where only a portion of slab is required, and large imperfections can be avoided.
There’s a lot to consider, right? As well-seasoned experts in the stone business, our team at Stone Center can help you with stone selection for residential and commercial stone projects, regardless of their scale. Why not start by taking a look at our extensive catalog of premium byggesten?