Frequently asked questions

Natural Stones

• Is natural stone a good choice for flooring?

Yes. It's a terrific (not to mention beautiful) material to use in all areas of your home. Knowing the different types of stone, their finishes and applications will help you to make an informed decision on which stone is the best for your project.

• Can you explain the different finishes for stone?

There are many finishes and options available. Here are the most widely used:

• Polished - a high gloss surface; honed - smooth with squared edges.
• Tumbled - lightly tumbled to achieve rounded edges and a surface that is not as smooth as honed.
• Antique Tumbled - medium tumbled edges and surface to achieve a slightly rustic look. Cobbled or distressed - heavily tumbled edges and surface to achieve an aged or ancient look.
• Brushed - acid washed and wire brushed for a smooth textured surface.
• Flamed - blow torched for a rough textured surface.

• Does natural stone stain?

Yes. All natural stone can stain and etch (a dull spot on a polished or honed surface), including granites. Sealers do not prevent staining, as they are a moisture barrier only, yet they will help to give you a small amount of time to wipe up spills. It is nearly impossible to prevent staining or etching, but serious stains can be almost completely removed and any etching can be resurfaced if either is truly bothersome to you.

• What is travertine?

Travertine belongs to the larger family of stone called limestone also known as calcium carbonate. Marble is also a type of limestone that has had additional heat and pressure applied to it by the earth’s crust. Travertine is formed by minerals dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth’s surface by rivers, natural springs, or geysers.

• What colors does travertine come in?

Travertine comes in many different colors including ivory, beige, walnut, noce, and gold. The color of travertine is the result of iron compounds or other organic impurities.

• What does the finished surface of travertine look like?

Travertine can have four major finishes, polished (shiny), honed (matte), brushed and tumbled (textured surfaces). The type of finish given to the travertine will determine how shiny the surface will be. The polished and honed surfaces are flat and smooth, while the brushed and tumbled surfaces are flat and textured. The polished surface is the shiniest, while the tumbled surface reflects the least amount of light. The most common finish for travertine is honed.

• Where would I use travertine?

Travertine has been used in the construction of buildings for thousands of year. In today’s construction, travertine is used for flooring, cladding on buildings, showers, wall coverings and counter tops.

• What should I consider in using travertine?

Travertine is a natural stone product. Because the minerals that make up travertine are highly reactive with acidic solutions (e.g. Orange juice, vinegar), a major consideration is where the travertine will be installed and what it will be exposed to. Sealers will provide some protection to the stone no matter what the environment, but knowing what it will be exposed to will help you decide whether travertine is a good fit for your project.

• How do I obtain travertine or marble samples?

Samples are available from Loon Marble. We can send you up to three stone samples for $ 25.00 ($35.00 overnight delivery). Sample pieces are approximately 4” x 4”.

• What are the volumes shipped by Loon Marble?

Loon Marble ships both travertine and marble tiles in containers.

• What is the minimum pallet order for travertine / marble tile?

Pallets are shipped from warehouses in Turkey and require a minimum order of one container.

• How much does a pallet of travertine or marble tile contain?

Pallet volumes start at 333 sq ft. and go up to 359 sq ft., depending on the size and thickness of the tile.

• How much does a container hold?

Container volume starts at 5,000 sq ft. and goes up to 7,500 sq ft., depending on the size and thickness of the tile.

• I need a smaller amount of tile than your minimum – where do I go from here?

Please consult your local yellow pages for information on retailers that sell in smaller quantities. Look under "stone retailers" or "tile retailers."

• I would like to see the pallets before I buy them. Is this possible?

All products are inspected at the factory and then selaed in crates for shipment. Thus, we suggest reviewing the images on the website and then ordering a sample.

• How much breakage should I expect with an order?

It is not unusual to have 2% - 3% of the tile broken to some degree (e.g, chipped edges). Any amount up to 10% is still considered acceptable. These damaged tiles can be used for the cuts you will need to make. If breakage were above 10%, we would ask you to have it noted on the logistics receiving document and take pictures. Please make a claim with us within 10 days of receiving the order.

• What is limestone?

Limestone is a sandy sedimentary rock formed closer to the earth's surface and often captures fossilized plant and animal life. The composite of limestone is calcium carbonate (calcite) or the double carbonate of calcium and magnesium (dolomite). It also contains a variety of accessory minerals, silica, pyrite, iron oxides, clay minerals and bituminous matter from organic materials (plants and animals).

• What is slate?

Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock. Its main constituents are quartz, chlorite, mica & calcite. Slate is formed when ocean or riverbed sediments are compressed and heated by the earth's crust.

• Is your slate suitable for the floor?

Slate is a very durable and hardwearing product and is suitable for use on the floor. The "rusty", "California gold", and "raja multi" varieties of slate tile that are available in pallet quantities in Turkey are excellent colors for flooring.

• What do both sides of the slate look like?

The bottom of the slate tile has been machine-honed so it is a flat, smooth surface or a machine-ribbed finish, depending on the factory of origin. The top is a riven surface showing its natural, uneven split from the rock face.

• How much does the thickness of slate tile vary?

There can be up to 1/4" difference in the heights on the top surface of a slate tile. As with all natural slate the tile thicknesses may vary. 12"x12" tiles are usually between 3/8"-7/16"; 16"x16" and 24"x24" are usually between 1/2"-9/16". There will be some variations beyond this range, but the product is fairly consistent. Slate tile is usually installed with a medium-bed mortar, which allows for the variation on adjoining tile edges to be minimized. Please order an additional 10-15% to allow for waste, cuts, and thickness variation.

• Is there a Pei rating for slate tile?

The Pei refers to ratings set by the Porcelain Enamel Institute. These ratings were developed for the ceramic and porcelain tile industries. There is therefore no Pei rating for slate. However, slate is very hard and durable and can be used where a longwearing product is required.

• What slate does Loon Marble sell by the container?

Loon Marble sells a wide variety of slate flooring by container from Turkey, India and China. Our highly qualified logistics experts will oversee the ocean and ground shipment of your container order. Please take a look at the varieties of slate available by container on this website.

• How much slate tile does a container hold?

Container quantities of slate range from 5,000 sq. Ft. To 8,000 sq. Ft. Depending on the product and tile size. For example, a 20' container of 16" x 16" tiles of "rusty" slate holds 24 pallets, which equates to 6,500 sq. Ft. A Loon Marble sales representative will be happy to help you with the container quantities for different types of slate.

• Am I restricted to getting just one product in a container?

Container orders can comprise any combination of the colors, sizes, finishes and shapes that the factory produces. There is a minimum of one pallet per type.

• Do I have to be a contractor to purchase from Loon Marble?

The prices on our website are the prices we offer to anyone who can meet the minimum order requirements.

• Do you offer any further discounts?

The prices we show on our web site are our best prices up front. If you can reach our minimum purchase requirements, we will sell to you regardless of whether you are in business or a private homeowner.

• Can you tell me an exact date that the container will arrive?

Unfortunately, we cannot offer guarantees on container shipment time lines. At this time, most containers take 11-12 weeks from date of order. There is a chance that it could take longer because of factors beyond our control. For example, security measures undertaken by U.S. Customs and border protection could possibly delay a shipment.

• How are residential deliveries made?

The product would be delivered on a truck equipped with a lift-gate. The pallets would be lowered to the ground and pulled onto your driveway with a pallet-jack. A residential delivery is considered completed once the product is placed on the driveway.

• Which forms of payment do you accept?

We accept ILC (Irrevocable Letter of Credit) and wire transfers.