Tag: marble

The power of backlight on the stones

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Both marble and granite have an incredible beauty. Thanks to the unique drawings and variation of shades in its composition. The use of the backlight is a big trend in decoration of architectural projects, because it allows to highlight what the natural stone has the best to offer.

The backlight is only possible in translucent materials or in our materials that have the Pietrafina technology.

Pietrafina technology consists in decrease the stone’s density. It goes through an exclusive cutting process and other transformations to become translucent. This effect by itself is already gorgeous and besides making the materials translucent, this technology also permits more lightness and resistance. It’s incredible, isn’t it?

The light applied on the back excels the veins and colors of the materials, which makes the beauty of the stone even more in evidence.

Backlight fireplace - Pietrafina

Fireplace – Architect: Manu Cancela.

Backlight - Pietrafina project

Project by Fabricator Pedra Moderna.

Pietrafina technology - Casa Cor 2014

Architect: Tufi Mussi.

Backlight marble - Pietrafina

Architect: Hecher Yllana.

Backlight: Pietrafina - Ana Cristina Avila

Architect: Ana Cristina Avila.

Backlight marble - Gastão Lima

Architect: Gastão Lima.

Pietra Fina - Casa Cor Curitiba 2015

Architect: Gislaine Tourinho.

Loft Casa Cor Curitiba - Pietrafina

Architect: Christian Schonhofen and Richard Schonhofen.

Pietra Fina technology - Casa Cor 2014

Mostra Casa Cor 2014 – Itajaí (Brazil)

Translucent materials are most used in internal environments as walls, fireplaces, stairways, and countertops. However, there are uncountable possibilities of application, it depends on your creativity and boldness.

Pietra Fina - Mostra Casa Cor SC

Mostra Casa Cor 2014 – Itajaí (Brazil)

The most indicated bulb to emphasize the beauty of the natural stone is the LED, because it allows to use different colors in backlight: blue, purple, green, yellow, among others. You can check out in our webpage a preview of how Pietrafina looks like with the light.

PR Marble & Granite offers a variety of marbles, granites, and other materials from its own quarries. Get in contact with us for more information about our products!

Travertine Fireplace

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Besides warming the environment in cold days, fireplace is an elegant and welcoming decorative element. Either wood stove, gas or electric, fireplace creates a perfect scenario to have friends and family any time of the day. There are several types of materials that can be applied, however, marble is very desired because of its unique beauty and high resistance. Among the options, Travertine is a type of marble very used in wall claddings and outside facades.

Travertine

Travertine marble is classified as a natural stone in cream color available in different intensities.

Types of Travertine - PR Marble and Granite

Types of Travertine.

The positive point is the facility to harmonize with different materials in the project. It matches with wood, for example, because it transmits balance and modernity to the environment.

Travertine Fireplace

Be inspired with pictures of living rooms that there is Travertine Romano as wall claddings on the fireplace:

Travertine Fireplace

Travertine Fireplace

Travertine Fireplace

Travertine Fireplace

Travertine Fireplace

Travertine Fireplace

If you wish to create projects of fireplaces, contact us! PR Marble and Granite offers a variety of stones from its own quarries. Check out all the options available to make your project unique and authentic!

The charm of carved sink bowl

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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.

Carved Sink Bowl in Pietrafina - PR Marble and Granite

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 and Granite

Carved sink bowl in Cerro Negro PR marble.

Carved Sink Bowl in Granite - PR Group

Carved sink bowl in granite.

Carved Sink Bowl in Caesarstone - PR Marble and 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 ramp - PR Marble and Granite

Carved sink bowl with ramp - PR Group

Carved sink bowl with bottom

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

Carved sink bowl with bottom - PR Marble and Granite

Carved sink bowl with bottom - PR Group
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!

 

PR Marble & Granite participates in the Casa Cor Paraná 2017

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The Casa Cor is the most complete exhibition of architecture, interior design and landscaping of the Americas. In 2017, PR Marble & Granite will be present in 24th edition of the event to show several trends of design for internal and external environments.

The biggest exhibition of decoration of the state of Paraná (Brazil), the Casa Cor Paraná 2017, occurs between the days 06/04 and 07/16 at the administrative building of Jockey Club Curitiba. According to the director of the event, Marina Nessi, the goal is revitalize a historical building to demonstrate the concept “from the uselessness to creativity”.

More than 30 environments will be set up in the event in an area with more than 30138.95 sq ft. Check out the list of environments with products from PR Marble & Granite’s own quarries and the respective architects of each project:

EXTERNAL AREAS

Front garden

Responsible architects: Marcelo Calixto and Ariathany M. Zaiczuk.

Ticket office, facade and lighting

Responsible architects: Bárbara Penha and Pauline Moraes.

MAIN HOUSE

Main Living

Responsible architects: Ana Cláudia Marini and Camila Martinez.

Kitchen

Responsible architects: Christian Schonhofen and Richard Schonhofen.

Suite

Responsible architect: Michele Krauspenhar.

Fireplace room and TV

Responsible architect: Alessandra Gonçalves Gandolfi.

Home Theater

Responsible architect: Samara Barbosa.

GASTRONOMY EVENTS

Living room bar

Responsible architect: Carlos Navero.

NEW CONSTRUCTIONS

House’s store

Responsible architect: Eliana Cunha.

Lounge LINK

Responsible architect: Gisela Carnasciali Miró and Rafael Carvalho.

How the granite and marble extraction is done?

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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 - Extraction

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 - PR Grupo Paraná

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.

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?

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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.

Types of Travertine - PR Grupo Paraná

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.

Roman Travertine - Rough or natural


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.

Roman Travertine - Plastered

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.

Roman Travertine - Levigate

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

Roman Travertine - Polished

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!

Tips for choosing granite and marble colors

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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 Granite - PR Grupo Paraná

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 granite - PR Grupo Paraná

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 granite - PR Grupo Paraná

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 PR - PR Grupo Paraná

Crema Clássico PR.

White Calacata marble - PR Grupo Paraná

White Calacata PR.

Imperial Dark marble - PR Grupo Paraná

Imperial Dark.

Nero Marquina Espanhol marble - PR Grupo Paraná

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?

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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 stone - PR Group Paraná

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 - PR Group Paraná

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

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.