Limestone
WHAT IS LIMESTONE
Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock composed
by millions of years of heat, wind and pressure to form rock beds in
oceans and rivers. Consequently, Limestone often captures fossilized
plants, animal life and seashells. Visually the material is quite
consistent, with little pattern or veining. It consists mainly of
calcite. This material can be either polished or honed (matt finish).
Limestone is more porous than marble, thus more likely to stain. Sealing
is vital. Suitable applications for Limestone are vanity bench tops,
fireplace surrounds and tabletops. We strongly recommend against using
Limestone for kitchen benchtops.
A typical grain size for the common type of carbonate (micrite) is between 2 and 8 microns.
Limestones are generally more porous than marbles so they are more
susceptible to staining. To reduce the possibility of staining, sealing
is often advocated; however this is only temporarily effective against
water-based and chemically neutral substances. Sealers will not prevent
the chemical reaction between the limestone and any acidic fluids and
etching will occur. Choosing a non-polished surface minimizes the effect
of etching.
