Arquivos Marble - PR Grupo Parana

The charm of carved sink bowl

Posted on 25 de julho de 2017 by admin

The search for the customization for bathrooms has been growing in the last years. Exclusive parts and materials of high quality make a big difference in the aesthetics and functionality of the environment. Therefore, many architects and decorators are betting in carved sink bowl to provide more elegance and sophistication in the projects.

What is carved sink bowl?

It is a part of the sink that is made with the same material of the entire bowl it aims to hide the water drainage. It can be done in marble, granite, travertine, Pietrafina and quartz surface as Caesartone. Between the most popular models in the market are the carved sink bowl with ramp and the carved sink bowl with bottom.

Project with carved sink bowl in Pietrafina – PR Marble and Granite.

What are the advantages?

The main advantage of carved sink is the possibility of working with different sizes and models, following the appropriate criteria of proportion and functionality. It also offers a wide range of colors, which provides a unique finish.

Carved sink bowl in Cerro Negro PR marble.

Carved sink bowl in granite.

Carved sink bowl in Caesarstone.

Most common models

Check below for inspirations that transmit modernity and elegance in bathrooms:

Carved sink bowl with ramp

The stone is sculpted in the form of a ramp to make the water fall in the direction that you wish.

Carved sink bowl with bottom

In this model the water drainage occurs in the extremities of the stone.

Caution

The project with carved sink bowl requires a special attention for the choice of the tap to be installed. The tap must match and be functional. It also necessary to balance the pressure to avoid splashes at the time of use, as well as the accumulation and the delay in water drainage. Besides that, this is a type of product which requires hygiene care and periodic maintenance.

If you wish to create an authentic and sophisticated project, check out the variety of options of marbles and granites from PR Marble & Granite own quarries!

How to preserve marbles and granites?

Posted on 21 de junho de 2017 by admin

Marbles and granites are elegant, resistant and timeless in any type of environment. These characteristics make the stone often used in architectural and decoration projects, as facades, columns, stairs, floors, fireplaces and countertops. Due to the broad use, they are exposed to different types of substances, which can compromise the useful life and surface of the stone. Therefore, some cares are necessary for the correct conservation and maintenance of marbles and granites.

Waterproofing

In certain cases it is recommended to do the waterproofing of the stones to avoid the absorption by the spill of liquids that can cause stains. This practice should be done annually, prolonging its conservation.

Installation

This point deserves attention! The execution and installation of projects with marbles and granites should be done by companies or capable professionals. Installation mistakes can compromise the design and durability of the stones in some cases, requiring replacement of parts due to irreversible damages. Besides knowing to work with each stone and their particularities, these companies can also guide the customer about maintenance and protection for each type of stone. The installation of the stones should be the last step of the project, avoiding people’s movement with residues in shoes that may cause scratches on surfaces.

Stains and scratches

Marbles and granites are porous materials and require special attention with liquids on their surface. Liquids as oil, fat, coffee, wine or even water in abundance can compromise irreversible stains and damage the brightness of the stones. In case of a spill, the surface should be cleaned as soon as possible.

In the case of kitchen countertops, avoid using the stones as a cutting board, because it can cause scratches and cuttings. You should also avoid leaving aluminum objects, iron and steel on the surface, because with the passage of time they can rust and spot the material.

Daily cleaning

The daily cleaning can be done just with clean cloth, water and neutral detergent. Then, finalize the process drying the surface with a soft cloth.

Avoid chemical and abrasive products

NEVER clean marbles and granites with bleach, kerosene, solvent, alkaline detergent or any other abrasive chemical product. These products are highly harmful to the maintenance of the stones, because they can cause stains and scratches.

Following these orientations you can keep the natural and elegant appearance of the stones for more time. Check out the marbles and granites from PR Marble and Granite own quarries.

How the granite and marble extraction is done?

Posted on 21 de junho de 2017 by admin

Marbles and granites are stones formed inside the earth through the cooling of the magma. Inside the earth, after the mantle, is located a deep layer of melted stone composed by reactions of radioactive elements, which ends up suffering a process of decomposition. The decaying material releases an intense heat wave that merges the stones around. The geological events, as the movement of plates or pressure, make the stones be pushed to the surface. When the rocks reach the surface occurs a cooling that originates igneous rocks, as granite and marble.

Granite cutting board of Imperial Coffee by PR Marble & Granite.

The extraction process of granite and marble starts in quarries. Quarries are natural reserves in rocky mountains, a place where the stones are in their natural aspect. For a successful extraction, a professional team and appropriate equipment are required, because it is a delicate activity and requires safety and preservation of the stones at the time of extraction.

To slice a stone in a smaller size, a variety of tools are used, between them: diamond wire machine, hidrobags, stone crusher, diamond drill, among others. The first piece of the stone is called stand or board, which has an approximate measure of 39″ 4.44′ x 19″ 8.22′ x 5″ 10.86′. After the removal of the stand, it will be analyzed by a trained professional that will delimit this stone in many areas for a new clipping, where it will be produced blocks (small cubes of stones with an approximate measure of 9” 10.1’ x 5” 10,8’ x 5” 10,8’). To move the blocks inside de quarries, from the place of extraction to the storage yard, big tractors as loader machines are used.

Storage yard with Imperial Coffee granite.

After this stage, the materials are stored in big trucks adapted for heavy loads and transported with destination to the industry where the blocks are transformed into sheets.

The sheets can be produced in the following finishes: polished (with brightness), levigate (without brightness) and plastered (without brightness). After the process of extraction and industrialization, the granite and marble will be ready to be market by stores that will execute projects of sinks, stairs, countertops, columns, fireplaces and as far as the creativity goes.

Kitchen with Imperial Coffee granite.

The PR Marble and Granite offers a variety of marbles, granites and other materials from own quarries. Check out all the options available for your project on our product’s page.

What is travertine?

Posted on 8 de maio de 2017 by admin

Travertine is very common in constructions and finishing for being a noble, elegant, and timeless option. Travertine is a beige and natural calcareous stone composed by calcite, aragonite, and limonite. There are little cavities and veins that remind branches and leaves.

Types of travertine

The most popular types are from Italy, such as Roman, Navona, Classic, Tuscan, among others. In Brazil, the two most commonly used types are Roman and Navona, both imported from Italy and other places in the world.

The main difference between them is the color and intensity of the veins.

Finishing

Although beige is its natural color, travertine can be found in different colors and finishing. These aspects make the difference when you choose the material for your project. Coming up next you will see 4 different finishing available in the market:

Rough or natural: It’s the way the stone comes from the nature. In other words, the marble is just sawn. It is very common in wall coatings for presenting an exceptional beauty.

Plastered: It is made applying a resin in the stone that covers the pores on the surface. This finishing can be combined with the levigate or polished type.

Levigate: It has an opaque and smooth aspect that keeps the natural color of the stone. It can be applied in different ways in external and internal environments.

Polished: It has a smooth and “glossy” aspect.

Recommendations for use

Since it is a beautiful and sophisticated material, travertine has a greater value compared to other coatings. It is mostly indicated to internal environments such as fireplaces, sills, table top, countertops, panels, walls, footers, and floors.

It’s worth pointing out the importance of waterproofing the stone to preserve the characteristics of this calcareous stone. Without the correct waterproofing, the high humidity or chemical agents can damage the travertine over time. The cleaning can be done with cloth, neutral detergent, and water.

Check out the travertine options available on products webpage from PR Group Paraná and give a touch of elegance to your project!

Paraná Granitos turns 30, renewed and with a new brand

Posted on 17 de abril de 2017 by admin

Paraná Granitos Ltda was founded in 1987, in Colombo, in the State of Paraná, by the Portuguese Anibal Tavares Lopes, now being directed by his children Jucimara Lopes Moraes, Luciane Souza Lopes, Anibal Souza Lopes, Valdirene Lopes Ferreira, Marineira Lopes Reksiedler, and Francine Lopes de Pontes.

The Group acts in extraction, processing, and distribution, and has several units: Paraná Granitos Ltda and Stone Gallery, located in Colombo, in the state of Paraná; Mineração Café Ltda., located in Santa Rita de Caldas, in the state of Minas Gerais; PR Group Paraná, located in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, in the state of Espirito Santo; and PR Marble and Granite, in Tampa, Florida, USA.

To guarantee the production and meet the increasing demand for the company’ materials, as well as the end quality of the products, the Group counts on state-ofthe-art equipment in its industrial park, such as Breton multi-wire gang saw and polishing line, besides Prometec resin treatment lines, Ramos & Universo multi-wire gang saws, and an MGM polishing line. The company also owns quarries in Brazil and abroad, of some of the most traditional and well known materials, such as Branco Paraná, and Crema Paraná marbles and granites such as Café Imperial, Verde Tunas and Sea Foam Green.

Paraná Granitos acts in the domestic and foreign markets with marbles and granites from their own quarries and several imported materials. Their materials are present in important architecture projects in Brazil and abroad, such as: Hotel Campo Bahia, place where the German team was hosted in 2014 World Cup, where 2,500 sq m of marble Crema Paraná were specified, for the external area; Museu do Amanhã, in Rio de Janeiro, a very important piece signed by the renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, where 13,500 sq m of marble Crema Paraná were specified; Royal Regency Palace Hotel, also in Rio de Janeiro, where 650 sq m of marble Perlato Paraná were specified, for the entrance hall; Grupo Boticário, in Curitiba, where 8,500 sq m of Crema Paraná marble were specified, for the management building; and the Body Tech chain of gyms, that possesses units all over Brazil, where Crema Paraná marble was specified.

Besides marble and granite from its own quarries, the Group always had as its aim the search for innovative solutions such as the Pietrafina technology, presented to the market in 2010. It is an exclusive cutting system that yields stone plates as thin as 5mm, reducing the weight of the stone by up to 70%, yet significantly increasing its impact strength due to its special structure. This innovation opens a wide array of possibilities of implementation of dimension stone in never before imagined places, such as drawer and wardrobe doors; elevator floors, walls, and ceilings; lampshades, plafonds and lamps; also the employment in the boating industry. Besides, some materials become translucent.

In these 30 years of activity, completed in 2017, the Group has kept as its philosophy to guarantee the trust and credibility of the products and services it offers, reaffirming values such as commitment to the clients, respect to humanity and the environment, and ethics.

To celebrate the 30 years of history and strengthen the company brand, the Group reinvented itself and is adopting a single brand – PR Grupo Paraná – that translates the evolution of the company over these three decades of Group activity.

The PR Grupo Paraná also contributes to the development of the regions where it acts, participating in a significant way with social and environmental projects. In the social sector, they participate with monthly contributions to day-care centers, churches, and nursing homes, and also distribute organic food produced in their own land to institutions. They also promote a vacation themed camp annually.

In the environmental sector, they preserve more than 50 hectares of owned property and monitor seven water springs, also on owned lands. Among these activities, they built a nursery for the planting of native seedlings which are donated.

(By Revista Rochas – Patrízia Corsetto)

Tips for choosing granite and marble colors

Posted on 27 de março de 2017 by admin

Stone finishing in constructions and decorations can provide more sophistication and durability. After we helped you understand the difference between marble and granite, it’s now time to show some color suggestions from both stones for your project.

Granite colors:

Granite is a versatile stone and can be used both in external or internal environments: floors, walls, fireplaces, kitchens, bathrooms, among others, all of them with a variety of color options and forms of application, beauty, resistance, and ease cleaning. Check below some granite colors options:

White granite

It’s a fact that white granite is one of the most popular in market, allying the lightness of this shade to resistance of the granite. However, since there are few options of white granites, it becomes a less exclusive option.

White Dallas has little spaced dark stitches in wine color, creating an unforgettable effect in decoration. It matches with other shades of white and black color.

White Dallas.

Brown granite

Brown is an option that escapes the obvious and traditional, warms up, conveys coziness and sobriety. Among the options, Imperial Coffee granite has a mixture of dark colors. The uniform coloration transmits sophistication to the environment, and it matches with black color, orange, light shades like beige and metallic shades.

Imperial Coffee.

Black granite

Black granite is one of the most popular in market and easily matches with everything. Absolute Black, as well as the Black San Gabriel, are some of the most popular options for kitchen countertops. It makes a good composition with woody elements, white and gray finishing and shades of straw.

Black San Gabriel.

Marble colors:

Marble transmits luxury and sophistication. There are colors options ranging from the lighter colors to black ones, pleasing all tastes. Marble is very used in tables, stairs, fireplaces, pillars, and walls. Check below some marble colors options:

Crema Clássico PR.

White Calacata PR.

Imperial Dark.

Nero Marquina Espanhol.

Check out all the granite and marble colors options available on PR Group Paraná website, and give a touch of elegance to your project. Visit our product’s webpage.

What is the difference between marble and granite?

Posted on 13 de março de 2017 by admin

A frequently question that comes up when people look for kitchen countertops or floor and wall covering is about which type of stone should be used: marble or granite? It’s common the confusion between these two terms. Although both are natural stones, each one has their own different technical features. On this article, you will see the difference between marble and granite.

The first difference is the composition of each stone. Marble is a metamorphic stone of calcareous origin and its color varies depending on the mineral present on its composition. It can be predominantly white, grayish, cream coloring with dark veins, greenish or yet predominantly black.

Marble – from PR Group Paraná Quarry.

The term metamorphic stone is used for marble because at first it was a common calcareous, but then it went through by physical and chemical transformations due to high temperatures and pressure inside the Earth.

Granite, on the other hand, is composed by quartzite, feldspar and mica. It’s harder and stronger than marble, and there are more colors because of the distribution of its internal minerals. This composition makes granite to have a “glossy” appearance when compared to the uniform and soft appearance of the marble.

Granite Santa Cecilia.

Marble and granite application

Since granite is harder than marble, it’s also more resistant. These characteristics make granite the most used in kitchen countertops or laundry rooms, because in the past it was better known for being more resistant to scratches and stains caused by using sharp knives or liquid spills. However, nowadays the stone market has specific products that, when used properly, allow the use of marble in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms, ensuring more resistance against scratches, absorption of liquids and corrosions.

Kitchen countertop with Imperial Coffee from PR Stone Collection – Penha Morais Architecture.

Cleaning

Both marble and granite cleaning is easy and simple. Just use a wet cloth with neutral detergent when necessary.

Maintenance

For projects with marble, it’s recommended to seal it up once or twice a year. In the case of granite, it can be done about once every two years. However, the maintenance period may vary according to the use. It’s always important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for a better use of the product.

We hope that the difference between marble and granite is clearer for you now. Keep up to date on our blog for more news and information about marbles and granites. Enjoy and check out the products from PR Group Paraná quarries.