Humans have been building with stones for thousands of years. Stones are remarkably versatile and available in various colours, shapes, sizes, and textures. Their incredible durability, superior artistic quality, and low maintenance requirements make them ideal for floors, walls, roofs, and everything in between.
According to Natural Stone Ireland, some of the most popular types of stones used in modern construction include marble, limestone, basalt, quartzite, slate, sandstone, granite, gneiss, and laterite. The different characteristics of different kinds of stone, including porosity, heat endurance thresholds, compression strength, and frost resistance, will influence its application in construction.
For instance, granite, basalt, and sandstone do well in major construction projects like bridges and dams, while quartzite, marble, and travertine work better for interior construction. To give you a broad overview of the unique qualities of stone and its applications, the following is a rundown of the most popular types of stone used in modern construction.
1. Granite
Granite is one of the most popular stones used in construction. It’s comprised of both orthoclase and quartz, along with mica, tourmaline, hornblende, and other minerals. Granite is also one of the hardest types of stone around and is ideal for areas in your home that take some beating from the elements.
Granite is also luxurious and aesthetically pleasing, which makes it a great option to use inside luxury homes. It has stain-resistant properties, and it won’t chip easily. The only problem with granite is that it has poor fire resistance.
2. Marble
Marble is a durable and timeless material that has been in use for ages for its elegant and veining appearance. It forms when limestone is subjected to high heat or pressure. Marble usually contains other minerals like graphite, quartz, and iron oxides, giving it a wide range of colours and hues.
Due to its beautiful appearance, marble is often used for decoration purposes in modern construction and in building monuments, sculptures, table tops, interior decorations, and other novelties.
3. Basalt
Basalt, also known as traps, is formed from volcanic igneous rocks that are created when lava erupts from volcanoes. It’s naturally hard and heavy and contains some light-coloured minerals like quartz and feldspar.
It has a high compressive strength and is often used to make building blocks, cobblestones, rail track ballasts, road stones, and statues. It’s also used as an aggregate in the production of concrete. It offers ample resistance to weather and is impervious to moisture but difficult to dress in fine shapes.
4. Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains of rock, mineral, or organic material that are bound together by a cementing material. The impurities contained in the rock mean that sandstone is available in any colour.
Sandstone is naturally tough and weather-resistant and is usually used to clad interior walls and facades, as well as a paving material, swimming pool edges, and patio tables. It’s also often used in masonry works, bridge piers, and river walls and is ideal for stone capping, which enhances the durability and appearance of architectural structures. Due to its high quartz content, sandstone may be crushed and used as a source of silica for glass manufacture.
5. Limestone
Limestone is mostly made of calcium carbonate, which gives it a soft quality compared to other stones on this list. Its softness makes it easy to work with, though it’s not suitable for most building construction work. It’s often mixed with small amounts of silica, alumina, and magnesia.
In modern construction, limestone is used in architectural applications as decorative trim, walls, and veneer. Limestone is also used for roofing, flooring, pavements, and as a base material for cement.
6. Quartzite
Not to be confused with quartz, which is a mixture of quartz and polymer resins, quartzite is a natural stone formed when sandstone is subjected to high pressure and temperature. The main characteristics of quartzite are its crystalline structure and granular texture. However, quartzite is hard and brittle, so it’s not very workable, especially in construction.
Still, it’s one of the most popular stones used in the construction of roofing tiles, countertops, flooring, and stair steps, primarily due to its granite-like durability and marble-like appearance.
7. Slate
Slate is a homogenous, fine-grained, and foliated sedimentary rock formed when sedimentary rock is subjected to high pressure. It’s often made up of clay, mica, and quartz minerals. It has an elegant appearance and high durability, which makes it a popular choice in construction. It’s also strong, weather resistant, and has low water absorption.
In modern construction, slate is commonly used for roofing, cladding, sills, paving, walling, and landscaping. Internally, it’s used for wall and floor tiles, worktops, hearts, and fire surrounds.
Final thoughts
There are many more stone products on the market that are not included on this list. However, the popular options outlined above should give you a good insight into the types of stones you can expect to find and use in your construction project.
Each type of stone has its distinct benefits and drawbacks. The right kind of stone for your project will depend on your budget, location, and the look you’re going for. Consider working with a professional to help you pick the most suitable options.
