Natural Stone Quarrying and Its Maintenance Needs in Australia

Natural stone has been used in Australia from ancient times, and its demand has increased these days with innovative and stylish design techniques adding magnificent effects to its natural beauty.  

Australia has significant deposits of natural stone and many operating quarries. The texture, colour and character of each type of stone vary from quarry to quarry depending on the minerals in that area and the physical environment. These differences allow for more variety  when designing interiors and choosing stone.

Given Below Are Different Stone Mining Areas in Australia:

In Western Australia marble is quarried in Maroonah, granite in the Fraser Ranges, Esperance, Jerramungup, Bruce Rock and Watheroo, limestone in Moore River, Seabird and Postans, sandstone in Donnybrook, Karratha and Mount Jowlaenga, and other stones in the Ord Ranges and Mount Barker.

In Queensland sandstone is quarried in Helidon, Murphy’s Creek, Warwick and Beaudesert.

In South Australia granite is quarried in Wallaroo, Streaky Bay and Black Hill, slate in Mintaro and limestone in Waikeri and Ramco. In Victoria granite is quarried in Benambra and sandstone in the Grampians.

In New South Wales, granite is quarried in Tocwal, Dundee and Gosford.

In the Northern Territory, granite is quarried in Tennant Creek. Quarrying methods vary depending on the type of stone being quarried and the equipment available. Quarry operators look for natural joints in the stone, so they can split it and cut it to size. Explosives are often used with great expertise, so blocks can be obtained in required sizes.

Once the stone has been removed from the quarry, it is transported using heavy duty trucks and machinery to a processing area where it is cut into slabs - the size and thickness that the slab will be cut to will depend on its final use.

After cutting, the slabs are given further enhancement such as planing, profiling, texturing, polishing or honing as per the requirement. In this case specialised saws, some incorporating computer technology, are used to create a variety of shapes, designs and surface finishes. Some pieces requiring more detail are crafted by a stonemason.

Stone Care and Maintenance with Marble Man 

The Marble Man team has a combined experience of 29 years in the natural stone maintenance industry. Their technicians are given training on latest stone repair and restoration techniques with the help of modern equipment. Get a free stone restoration quote today. You can also send them a video or photograph of your defective stone surface, so they’ll guide you how it can be repaired. Visit website or call their friendly staff now on 1300 627 626. 

More Stone Care Tips and Professional Help

 Marble and other natural stone surfaces that are regularly and professionally maintained will retain their magnificent look and feel for a very long time. This is mostly applicable for people who always care about aesthetic qualities and orderliness.

Stone Care Tips

Benchtops

Clean the stone surface with a recommended product such as S-P Cleaner and a soft damp cloth after use to avoid the build up of bacteria and substances that may scratch or etch the surface. Read more...

Floors

Sweep floors on a daily basis to prevent dirt from scratching the surface under foot and accumulating in the grout. Mop on a regular basis after sweeping or vacuuming. Regular attention is a must for proper stone care.

Showers

Remove soap scum from marble or stone surfaces effectively by using a recommended product such as Stone Deep Clean and a recommended white pad scourer only such as the  Scrub-a-dub. Dry the area as thoroughly as possible after cleaning to prevent the growth of mould and mildew. Stone care is to be taken seriously.

Outdoor areas

Sweep outdoor areas weekly with a medium bristled brush, as dirt can accumulate quickly and settle in the grooves of textured surfaces. Read more... 

The team at The Marble Man will do its very best to provide you with professional, 5 star service and effective stone care solutions. Our administration and sales team are trained and available on line and on the phone to answer your questions. 

Natural stones have different kinds of surface finishes offering different aesthetic and tactile properties. So these stones can be used for a wider range of applications such as kitchen countertops, bathrooms in your home, office or other commercial buildings. To know which type of stone finish is most applicable for you, and what are its repair and restoration requirements, call us today on 1300 627 626, or visit the website of Marble Man.

Know Your Stone - What Type of Finish Your Stone Surface Has?

Stone surfaces generally have smooth finishes or textured finishes. Here, the experts at The Marble Man discuss different characteristics of stone surfaces and the special treatment given to them to achieve certain stone qualities.

Smooth Finishes:

Honed

Honed stone surfaces are porous and so require effective sealing with a penetrating sealer. Floor areas prone to high traffic will often have a honed surface. It doesn’t show marks and flaws like a highly polished surface.

Polished

Polished stone surfaces have a smooth finish and a glossy look, and are less porous compared to honed stone surfaces. Polishing imparts varying levels of shine and also accentuates the natural grain and makes the colours more vibrant. A polished surface is very durable; however, the gloss will fade if incorrect cleaning products are used. Always use the high quality, professional products of The Marble Man for safe and effective maintenance.

Textured Finishes:

Sand Blasted

Sand blasted stone surfaces have a dull, matt and irregular appearance. The roughness of the finished product depends on the size of the grit used to blast it. This process is often applied to sandstone in outdoor areas to give a slightly textured look and provide some slip resistance.

Flamed

Flamed surfaces have a texture that is not rough but not quite smooth and its special look is achieved by applying extreme heat to the natural stone. A flamed appearance often gives a rustic feel to the stone and can also fade the colour.

Bush Hammered

Bush Hammered surfaces are rough and dimpled. This effect is achieved by beating the natural stone with a mechanical implement like a hammer that has teeth. Used for laying on paving, steps or even walls.

Acid Washed

Acid Washed stone surfaces can have a weathered, slightly corroded look or a mildly antique look, depending on several factors. Acid washing to achieve an antique look is an alternative to the bush hammered treatment. Acid washing is often used on floors, walls and paving.

Unfilled

Unfilled stone surfaces expose the natural holes in the stone. Travertine can remain unfilled to retain its unique flaws. It is sometimes left in this state when used on exterior cladding to give a natural look.

Saw Cut

Saw Cut stone surfaces show the parallel saw marks on the surface of the stone and also expose the grain in the stone. It is roughly polished to give a more rugged look.

The Marble Man natural stone restorers have a combined experience of 29 years in the field of natural stone repair and maintenance. Customer care is of utmost importance to us. If you are not satisfied with our stone repair or cleaning job, we’ll come back and do it again till you are happy without any additional cost. We also give a stone restoration guarantee which is very rare in the industry. You may visit our Website for more info. Call us on 1300 627 626 for making your appointment today.

Polishing, Sealing & Repairing Your Marble and Other Natural Stone Surfaces

At The Marble Man, we use latest techniques for stone maintenance so as to produce amazing results to tired looking marble and stone surfaces. We repair chipped, cracked or damaged marble and stone surface. We also polish and seal your costly stone.

The most common maintenance required to stone is to have the surface polished occasionally to bring the natural gloss back to the surface. Polishing of marble and stone floors and benchtops can make the difference between a dull looking bathroom or floor and a brand, dazzling stone surface.

You may use the Free Call 1300 627 626 to contact us and discuss your stone repair or even better Email Us some photos of your damaged stone surface so we can tell you clearly the results we can achieve.  All our stone care discussions and advice are free for you to use. Our strength is based on 29-years of combined experience on natural stone repair and restoration in Australia.

Marble Polishing Guarantee:

When we polish your marble or stone surface we want you to be assured of our quality and level of service. This is why we offer all our clients an 8-point guarantee.

Marble and Stone Polishing:

The Marble Man team offers a huge range of polishing systems to produce many different finishes depending on your requirements. They are enumerated below: 

• Kitchens and Vanity Benchtops
• Marble or Stone benchtop Polishing
• Marble or Stone Benchtop Honing
• Floor Tiles
• Marble or Stone Floor Polishing
• Marble or Stone Floor Honing
• Bathrooms
• Marble or Stone Shower Polishing
• Marble or Stone Wall Polishing
• Marble or Stone Vanity Polishing 

The Marble Man uses cutting edge technology and continues to update its equipment and services so as to remain at the forefront of stone restoration in Australia. We have a team of stone restoration specialists servicing: the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Northern NSW and other areas throughout QLD, NSW and Victoria. It is the largest specialized stone restoration company in Australia and continues to grow due to its reputation for providing quality service.