Where do you learn about Carrara marble from?

Our studio is located in the Omnistone natural stone warehouse owned by Federico Corsi, who in turn learned from his grandfather, father, relatives and many friends. His family has lived in Carrara for centuries and works in the stone industry. Now, sharing the common passion that brought Federico and Damian – our creator together, all this knowledge is passed on to us. Every day a handful of information is given to us, the whole of which is enormous. We are not able to take it all at once, but systematically learn everything step by step. Probably we will not have enough life to learn more about Carrara marble

How many varieties of Carrara marble are there?

The materials that are generally referred to as “Carrara Marbles” come from a large region in northwest Tuscany that belongs to the Apuan Alps mountain range. This one, in turn, consists of five mining areas: Carrara, Massa, Lunigiana, Garfagnana and Versilia. The Carrara area is where mining activity was started by the ancient Romans as early as the 1st century B.C., and its mining capacity is three times the total output from the other four areas. For this reason, Carrara is so famous that all materials extracted from the Apuan Alps around the world are called “Carrara marbles”. Mining areas are divided into marble basins. The Carrara area consists of four basins: Pescina-Boccanaglia, Torano, Fantiscritti-Miseglia and Colonnata. Each basin has “active quarries” (currently in operation) and “inactive quarries” (those in which the mining process has been stopped). For example, the Fantiscritti-Miseglia basin has 30 active quarries and the Colonnata basin 29. Considering that one quarry produces several varieties of marble, you can quickly understand that the deposits of the Apuan Alps form hundreds of types of stone.

I have come across materials that differ significantly from each other and are sold under the same name as, for example, Bianco Carrara or Calacatta. When asking the seller for an explanation, I received some unclear information that only deepened my misunderstanding. Can you explain this topic?

Names such as Bianco Carrara, Bianco Venato, Statuario, Calacatta, Arabescato, Paonazzo, Bardiglio and the like are terms for the main varieties of marble mined in the Apuan Alps. Each variety has several or more than a dozen subtypes, the name of which is formed by combining the name of the main variety with another term, sometimes referring to a characteristic of the material, other times to the name of the quarry or place of origin, or both. If you want to learn how to identify different varieties and their subtypes, we will be happy to help you and we are sure that this will be a much easier task for you than you expected. Confusion arises when natural stone sellers, ignoring or misinterpreting the real names and their meanings, incorrectly label the imported Carrara marble varieties. For example, some companies use the term “Bianco Carrara” or only “Carrara” to describe all the Carrara marble they offer. This is a big mistake that has led to many misunderstandings over the years.

Can you help me choose the material that will best suit my project?

Definitely yes. Our team adjusts the approach to the individual needs of each client. Just explain the design details (flooring, wall cladding, kitchen countertop, bathroom countertop, bar counter, coffee or dining table, fireplace, etc.) and the expected combination of colors and patterns. We will propose a range of marbles suitable for a specific implementation from a technical point of view and meeting the visual assumptions.

Is Carrara marble a durable material?

Carrara marble is an extremely durable material, much more durable than most man-made materials. Natural stone lovers visiting Italy are impressed to see pieces made of Carrara marble installed centuries ago that still look great. From time immemorial, the Carrara masonry masters have been teaching their customers that both the selection of the right material for the implementation and the correct assembly are of key importance. In other words, it is very important to analyze the place where the material will be installed, then select the type of marble that will best withstand the potential impacts of stone deterioration and hire qualified installers. In addition, after years of use, marble surfaces can be restored to a new condition, using the services of professional companies dealing with stone renovation, care and re-polishing.

Is Carrara Marble maintenance complicated?

Proper cleaning procedures are a few simple steps. Additionally, by following the basic rules about what you can and shouldn’t do with a marble surface, your stone will stay like new for many years to come. It is worth mentioning at this point that there are many products available on the market that effectively protect marble against potentially harmful substances. The best thing about marble is that even if you did everything wrong, a professional stone care company will be able to rebuild cavities, cracks, scratches, stains, dull spots and polish the entire surface again.

I have heard that using Carrara marble in finishing your property is a profitable investment. What does this mean exactly?

Real estate experts know that Carrara marble is timeless, resistant to passing fashion trends, and has for centuries been considered a universal symbol of luxury and wealth, while most man-made materials lose their style and fall out of fashion over time. They also know that Carrara marble will last much longer than other flooring and covering materials. For these reasons, the use of Carrara marble is considered a wise and thoughtful investment that adds lasting value to any property.