What is Carrara marble & what are the differences between its grades?
How does Carrara marble get its name and where is it found?
Originally quarried from the Apennine Mountains that dominate the northwest part of Italy, the Carrara marble originates from the city of Carrara in the Tuscany region, where the stone has been harvested for more than two thousand years.
There are currently about 270 operating quarries in all. Of these, more than half are in Carrara or its vicinity, approximately fifty are in Massa, and most are scattered amongst the villages in Massa comune (council). The marble industry employs more than 6,000 men and boys, and it provides all the livelihood for a population of about 75,000 in the Carrara area.
A study by experts has revealed a substantial amount of top-quality marble yet to be excavated under the mountains of marble in this region, indicating that Carrara will supply the present level of demand for its marble for centuries to come.
As a result of the strict guidelines and certifications, Carrara based quarries are now required to comply with multiple government regulations. These guidelines also result in eco-friendly manufacturing procedures such as eliminating the need for high levels of energy consumption as a result of improved technology.
*If you are a private client, contractor, architect, or designer, we can deliver to you wherever you are. All you need to do is find a stone fabricator or manufacturer in your area where we can deliver our product.
What’s the difference between Carrara marble C and Cd grade?
White Carrara marble (or bianco carrara) comes in different shades of white, each of which can be differentiated by a grading scale; two of the most widely used grades are CD and C.
As a general rule, Carrara marble with a C grade has a light-colored background and a light vein pattern, whereas marble with a CD grade has a grey background and a darker vein pattern.
Because of its white coloring, carrara C grade marble is more expensive than CD grade marble, which is more suitable for projects that have a more limited budget.
Depending on the grade, thickness, color of the background and the pattern of the veins, tiles and slabs can vary greatly in price.In general, a polished slab of 20mm thick can cost between €70m2 (CD quality) and €180m2 (higher quality C), so the price can change dramatically as a result of the factors included above.
Private clients, designers and contractors who need their product cut-to-size usually have a wide range of costs to consider, including the manufacture needed, as well as the amount of waste (offcuts) created
Today, White Carrara C (or Bianco Carrara) has fast become the preferred stone choice among architects and designers. It can cover floors in residential buildings, or be used for kitchen countertops and fireplaces.
White Carrara marble tiles, both C and CD grade, can be found in a broad array of applications from hallways to bedrooms and lounges to bathrooms. They can also be used as special design elements for kitchen splashbacks, fireplace walls and shower areas.
The primary application of marble slabs relates to staircases, kitchen benchtops, bathroom vanities, and, more recently, the cladding of bathroom floors and walls.
In order to preserve the beauty and long lifespan of carrara marble, regular maintenance is a must. Cleaning the stone with warm water and PH-neutral soap or detergent is by far the safest and least abrasive method.
It is best to avoid using acidic cleaners such as vinegar and bleach which can negatively affect the stone and often result in irreversible damage.
*If you are a private client, contractor, architect, or designer, we can deliver to you wherever you are. All you need to do is find a stone fabricator or manufacturer in your area where we can deliver our product.
Features of Carrara Marble Tiles and Slabs
1-Dimensions: Because each stone carries its own unique characteristics, sizes may vary based on availability.
- Slabs Average dimensions vary between 3000 / 2500 mm in length and 1500 / 1900 mm in height.
- Tiles Fixed dimensions 600 x 600 – 600 x 300 – 300 x 300 – 400 x 400 mm
2-Thickness:
- slabs 20 or 30mm thick
- tiles 10 or 20mm thick
3-Surface finish:
- honed – polished- bush hammered – brushed – sand blasted
