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 For
thousands of years, almost all great ancient builders used natural
stones quarried from the earth's crust to create monuments that
are, in some cases, still standing tall. From the Pyramids to the
Parthenon, to our very own Taj Mahal, these great edifices have
endured the test of time, whereas those built from mad-made material
have often decayed.
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India stands seventh in the world in consumption of
natural stones with a share of 4.5% of the market. And
according to world consumption patterns 72.5% of natural
stone usage is in the building industry, while the rest
is mostly for structure, funerary art, statuary and
other purposes. (Source: GDM Stone Industries handbook
2000)
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 Though
houses and flats today are constructed mostly from concrete, more
and more people are incorporating natural stones into their finishes,
appreciating the qualities that make natural products a cut above
their manufactured rivals. The numerous natural stone vendors and
distributors stand testimony to this fact in Chennai. "Natural
stones are not as fragile as people seem to think. In fact,
the reverse is the truth. It is very durable. Anywhere you
go, you see so many things made out of natural stone.", says
a leading dealer for natural stones in Chennai. The advantage
of natural products is that you can have larger pieces, rather than
just one size. When you choose a natural product, you must
see a whole batch of it, as it is misleading to see just a single
piece. Samples only give an approximate representation of
the product, which are subject to many variations in colour and
vein. Marble is a wonderful natural material that breathes.
With the combination of its decorative appearance and immense strength,
marble for long has been prized for architectural purposes and for
statues.
Granite is a much harder material than marble, with the additional
advantage that it does not stain. Cobblestones of granite
make excellent driveways, while granite tiles with a matt finish
are particularly good for patios. Natural material are often
used in the hotel industry, because they are strong and durable
and last longer. It is also much easier to match colours with
natural products as they all go well together. Many homeowners
are unnecessarily worried about incorporating natural stones into
their homes, because of their absorbent and changeable qualities,
but it is these very qualities that make natural stone so special.
Natural stone grows on you and one can feel the difference between
an artificial product and natural stone.
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Tips to avoid spills on natural stone surfaces especially
in public places or places where there is high traffic
movement
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There are several procedures that building owners,
cleaning companies and others can take to minimize the
risk of accidents.
Pay attention to areas where water or spills occur.
Walk-off mats should be placed inside the entrance
of doors before and during wet and inclement weather.
Spilled food and drinks can create slippery conditions
on the floor and any spills should be cleaned up as
soon as they occur.
If the floor is maintained by stripping and waxing,
this procedure should be done at night or when there
is minimal traffic. Daily wet mopping should also be
performed at night or during off hours.
Always place wet floor signs in all areas where floor-cleaning
personnel are working, regardless of the time of day
or night. Floor cleaning personnel should warn people
who may walk across the floor that it might be slippery.
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Author : Joseph Pradeep Raj R
Picture : V Ganesan |
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3:54:17 AM 
