May 24, 2006 | Recommend this Article »

Stone for well-being

A matter of the right surface and finish

When choosing the right material for wellness areas, the suitability of the individual natural stones is less important than expected in many cases. The decisive technical factor is the choice of the right surface and finish and the use of the right laying materials. Once the materials are laid to »suit the wellness need«, they must also be permanently and correctly cleaned and cared for.

The reaction of the stone to contact with water and humidity is the most important decision criteria for the wellness area. According to the Mapei test, some sandstones, certain types of slate and the magmatic, eruptive stone porphyry react sensitively to moisture in terms of deformation.

Materials that react extremely sensitively to water include Verde Alpi, the green serpentine from the Aosta Valley, the red serpentine Rosso Levanto from the Ligurian coast of Italy and Verde Oriental from Greece.
Mapei also tested susceptibility to discolouration as well as deformation. The well-known stones »Onega Braun« and »Nero Assoluto« came off badly here. »Kashmir White« is also only acceptable for wet areas if a yellow discolouration does not pose a problem. This discolouration is caused by rust in the garnets contained in the stone due to the effect of moisture.

Oils, salts, fat, honey and other essences are used in wellness areas. These should not leave any permanent traces when dropped onto the stone. Natural stone used in wellness areas should therefore be impregnated against water and fat, preferably with colour depth. Open-pore stones like travertine, tuff and shell limestone may not only cause problems due to their capability of absorbing water.

The choice of the right colour also plays a major role. Stones in sand and earth colours appear warmer than anthracite stones. An example of the choice of materials for showers: A cold-looking, grey marble with white veins can be used in a men’s sauna, but an ochre marble with red veins is more suitable for a ladies’ shower.