Limestone has long been used in construction, particularly in Europe and North America, but has made its way into mainstream American homes on countertops and surrounds. This is a calcium carbonate-based sedimentary rock which occurs naturally in the earth.
Used in many landmarks around the world, including the Great Pyramid, limestone was given the nickname “Limestone City.” Its use peaked in the 19th and early 20th century when it was used to make train stations, banks, and even facades for skyscrapers.
Limestone has two types of textures: very fine and coarse, and there are many different classifications of limestone.
Types of Limestone
Check out the many various forms of limestone.
- Travertine: This is actually a limestone that is formed by evaporation, resulting in the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as flowstone. Travertine is often used in home renovation projects for countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, and other surfaces, similar to limestone.
- Tufa: This is a type of limestone rock occurring near bodies of water featuring a high concentration of minerals that have been dissolved, especially calcium carbonate. Tufa is mostly used in construction and art.
- Chalk: This white or gray material issoft, fine-grained, and tends to pulverize easily. It is comprised of the shells of tiny sea creatures and is a type of soft limestone.
- Coquina: This isformed on beaches from shell fragments. They are bonded together and feature small silt or clay-size particles. It’s often used asaquifers for public and private water supplies, as well as in construction.
- Oolitic Limestone: Comprised ofcalcium carbonate oolites (layers of tiny grains), this type of limestone starts off as a small, white spherical seed that joins with many other sand-sized oolites to form a kind of rock.
- Fossiliferous Limestone: This islimestone that contains fossilized shells and skeletal remains, including coral.
- Lithographic Limestone: Thisis solid rock with a fine and consistent grain size, usually found in thin river beds and caves.
Uses of Limestone
Limestone is mostly used in the following fields:
- Construction and architecture: Sculptures, floor tiles, stairs, window sills
- Steel: Used to eliminate impurities in the manufacturing process.
- Agriculture: Used to counteract soil acidity while liberating phosphates.
- Textiles, paint, paper, glass, rubber, plastics.
Often considered one of the more beautiful natural stones in the world, limestone comes in many shapes and sizes. This versatility is one reason why so many homeowners incorporate it into their kitchens and baths. From new countertops to vanities, limestone is a beautiful, long-lasting choice for any renovation project.
Contact Granite Guy
Ready to transform the look and feel of your home with the addition of limestone? Our custom fabricators in Metro Boston can help you with that. Contact us at 508-460-7900 for a free quote and consultation.