For more than 3 years, JuraLimestone GmbH has been actively participating in the construction market of the Russian Federation. Primarily, we focus on facade projects, although we can already boast two completed interior projects. These are: the shopping center "Pushkino-Park" in Pushkino, Moscow region, and the shopping center "Kalina-Mall" in Vladivostok.
It should be noted that the main headache comes from facade projects, as it is in them that the selection of stone is crucial; therefore, the facade stone for the exterior finishing of buildings must possess exceptional durability.
As we mentioned earlier, the durability of Jura Limestone depends on many factors, but the main ones include primarily the frost resistance of the stone. Jura marbleized limestone is a sedimentary rock that has been subjected to thermal effects. This heating to very high temperatures determines the degree of recrystallization of the limestone or, in other words, the level of its marbleization. Jura marble belongs to medium-strength rocks with a density of about 2500 kg/m³. However, this natural material has frost resistance even above 150 cycles and compressive strength up to 120 MPa.
What dangers may lie in the use of this stone? As is known, and we have written about it, Jura Limestone, as a sedimentary rock, is layered. A total of 25 layers are known, from which, based on long-term statistics, layers for external and internal use have been identified.
German manufacturers of Jura Limestone products clearly differentiate the blocks in their production and label them according to the layers. The difficulty lies in the fact that there are quite a few intermediary companies that, by purchasing blocks and processing them in their own facilities, hide the source of the raw material from the buyer of the finished product.
Clients who purchase material from stone exchanges in the PRC often encounter this issue. Blocks from all over the world are processed there, and it is difficult to determine the lineage of the finished products provided. Moreover, it is known that Chinese counterparts can sell you stone at a price that suits you. This is where the greatest danger lies: obtaining Jura Limestone of unknown origin and unclear selection.
Here is a typical example of the destruction of Jura Beige limestone cut from blocks of unknown origin.
🔍Here is an example of Jura Beige limestone material collected from different layers, with interlayer patterns and no selection.
🔍The selection of material also affects the durability of the stone, so it is necessary to realistically assess the output in square meters of slabs from 1 cubic meter of block. Long-term statistics maintained at Jura Limestone enterprises indicate that during the processing of a block at the quarry to the packaged product, about 42-47% of the material is sorted out. Many conscientious stone processors in Russia also account for a certain percentage of waste when purchasing blanks at the quarry.
Here is an example, in our opinion, of a complete lack of selection, as the supplier saved on the selection by purchasing blocks and installing a large part of the cut material on the facade.
🔍A rather simple explanation for this phenomenon comes to mind. After purchasing the blocks and bringing them to their production facility, a significant portion of the cost is attributed to logistics expenses. Consequently, the cost of each delivered and sorted m² of stone, transported over thousands of kilometers, needs to be factored into the final product. This calculation renders the entire project unprofitable, and therefore, in order to fulfill the stated commercial obligations, almost all of the stone ends up on the facade. In Germany, at the quarries and production facilities of Jura Limestone, all Jurassic limestone undergoes sorting and quality control.
The sorted material remains at the company and is sent for further processing into crushed stone. The quality of the supplied finished product in the form of slabs or products is a matter of the company's reputation. No one has yet figured out a way to look inside a stone block and accurately determine the amount of waste of a specific stone. After the block passes through a wire or band saw and slabs are obtained, the quality of the stone can be preliminarily assessed and defects can be sorted out. It is clear that this procedure incurs machine hours, and there is a temptation to lower the standard and send the client unsorted stone. Three years of our company's work in the Russian Federation market have shown that even sorting in Germany does not always meet the client's expectations.
It would be incompetent to claim that every project goes perfectly. It is important, in our opinion, to explain to partners the possibilities of the stone and its selection, to document agreements with photographs of slabs, and to accompany projects in real time directly in Russia.
Here is an example of the quality assessment of Jura Limestone and mosaics for the largest shopping and entertainment center in Vladivostok.
🔍Here is the result:
🔍We hope that our information will help you make the right decisions when choosing natural Jura Limestone and enjoy the elegance and nobility of this stone.