The geological name of pietra dolomia is Dolomia Cristallina del Serla – from Monte Serla, Sarlkofel, West of lake Dobbiaco (BZ). It’s a dolomitic block of young, medium and often also old age. The rock is made of marine environment organogenic stone. The stone is characterised by a dolomitic-calcareous composition double calcium and magnesium CaMg (CO3)₂ carbonate, a solid, crystalline, saccharoidal and compact structure with isotropic physical properties. Its resistance to compression (1.000-1.800 Kg/cm2) places it among resistant and very resistant stones.
Pietra Dolomia Agglomerate
The cultivation of the cave allows us to use, optimise and enhance all the extracted material in a sustainable circular economical project where there are no leftovers. This is how Pietra Dolomia agglomerate originates. A building material essentially composed by fragments of natural stone mixed with bonding materials with natural origin is defined as agglomerate. The blocks resulting from this process undergo further processes that cut them into tiles or plates of different sizes and heights. It’s a versatile product largely used in the construction business, characterised by numerous advantages such as its easy retrieval, its great mechanical characteristics and restrained costs.
Finishings
Coating
Coating is used to close the typical pores of Pietra Dolomia®. This technique can be carried out with different types of stucco (concrete, mastic or resin) depending on the effect requested by the client and from the final usage of the product. Our technicians have developed a specific plaster that perfectly recreates the typical hues and gradations of Dolomia stone, making this technique imperceptible to the human eye. Coating is the first step of a cycle that guarantees maximum water repellency to our products. According to the desired result and to the type of usage, the technique can be followed by further finishes such as calibration or polishing to remove any unevenness of the surface.
Bush-hammering
The bush-hammering technique is one of the oldest working methods of stone. It is accomplished with tools characterised by crammed pyramidal heads that shape the rock’s surface. It is quite an invasive technique in which the material undergoes severe stress, that is why it is not possible to bush hammer plates that are thinner than 3 cm. From a chromatic point of view it softens differences while the typical scratches of the surface diminish its slipperiness making these works particularly suitable for both internal and external floorings, either of a fixed size or palladian. A great result is achieved though particular techniques such as portals, intrados and pillars.
Convoluting
The convolution process consists in cutting the stone plates previously moulded into regular parallelepiped shapes (strips). The result is a voluntarily irregular external surface that maintains the shape and beauty of natural stone, giving it a highly tactile effect. The imperfect external surface is contrasted with an internal side characterised by a perfectly smooth finish that enables an easy laying on flat and vertical surfaces with glue, like a normal tile. The thickness of the final elements goes from a minimum of 2,0 cm to a maximum of 3,2 cm, the lengths can be set to a maximum of 60 cm while the standard heights suggested are between 8-12 cm and 15 cm but different heights can be achieved based on the client’s request.
Splitting
This process is similar to the one of convolution and gives the plates an irregular shape used for “opus incertum” works. The result is a strongly irregular external surface that preserves the shape and beauty of the natural stone, giving it a highly tactile effect. The imperfect external surface is contrasted with an internal side characterised by a perfectly smooth finish that enables an easy laying on flat and vertical surfaces with glue. Starting from the solid stone, elements for corners can be created too, avoiding unaesthetic joints at the end of the process. A key element of the process is the mastery of the layer who will further refine the stone’s edges giving it a harmonic and natural effect. Depending on the desired effect the application can be carried out open (with flight) or closed (without flight).
Brushing
This technique is used to give the stone a lived-in effect. Brushing consists in aging the stone’s surface with abrasive brushes that mainly operate on the smoothest spots. The result is an irregular surface, either shiny or matte.
Micro bush-hammering
This process is the same as the bush-hammering technique with the use of less invasive tools that give the material an homogeneous and smooth effect.
Sandblasting
The sandblasting process consists in pitching the stone’s surface with abrasive mixture at a high pressure. This technique can be applied to all types of surfaces, concave, convex, flat and curved, slightly lightening the colour. The process gives the surface a soft and elegant appearance.
Piano sega
It’s the term used to define the surface of the plates achieved by cutting blocks that still show the cut signs of the disk or blade. The plates then undergo further processes that in some cases, such as indoor floorings, can also be done in place (sanding/polishing).
Calibration and sanding
These techniques are applied in sequence to remove the unevennesses of the surface – calibration – and to achieve a smooth effect – polishing. The polishing treatment can be carried out with machines or by hand.
Rolling
The rolling process is carried out with a specific machinery made of a notched roll of variable grain that spins around the stone’s surface at a high speed. This technique affects the lines’ surface that can have different definitions or depths. The striped effect is appreciated for both indoor and outdoor anti-slip floorings.
Agglomerate finishings
Bush-hammering
Brushing
Shiny polishing
Matte polishing
Special Finishes
Aging
The aging technique is a widely appreciated rustic finish that recreates a specific aesthetic effect. The unevenness of the edges and surfaces reminds or the effect of aging, of the consumption given by usage and of the illusion of manual working techniques rather than the natural state of the stone.
Striping
Raking light and side light is the best condition to appreciate the sequence of flanked grooves, created with diamond discs or a wide range of tools with a variable profile. This technique is mainly used for outdoor floorings
Trimming
Trimming is a technique that can be carried out either by hand or machine. This process gives stone a very rustic effect. Unique engravings can be created through the trimming technique.
Tumbling
This technique is carried out with machines that use slightly abrasive water mixtures that consume the stone through rolling, collision and other mechanical movements. The actual residues of the stone contribute to artificial usury.
