Lieurary Quarry, Westfield, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7QR
01955 467 000
sales@norsestone.co.uk
www.norsestone.co.uk/products
Based in the North of Scotland, surrounded by rugged landscapes and expansive skies, Norse Stone Ltd specialises in the extraction and production of Caithness flagstone products.
First used to build Stone Age tombs and Viking castles, the stone was named after the Scottish county it is most abundantly found in and boasts an impressive combination of strength, durability, flexibility and versatility. In 2015, Norse Stone Ltd opened their first quarry and built a production workshop on site, opening their second quarry soon after in 2017. Our quarries at Lieurary and Banniskirk lie on the ‘Spittal Beds’ which are known to contain the finest grade of Caithness flagstone both in durability and strength, ensuring Norse Stone’s products are made with only the highest quality material.
Using a combination of modern technology and traditional skills, every order is individually made using the optimum layer of stone. From a single hearth to a complete landscape design, a high-end kitchen worktop to roof tiles for a restoration project, Caithness flagstone can adapt to them all. Our production workshop houses a range of specialist stone machinery including bridge saws, polishers and CNC technology which allows our team to produce every product to our customer’s exact requirements whilst our specially designed paving line and slater machine maintains efficiency and accuracy. Our in-house services also extend to design, laser and sandblasting.
Behind our material and practices, Norse Stone believes in a grass root ethos within the company where everyone is an equal part of our highly skilled team. From those who have worked in quarries most of their working lives to others who are just starting, the combined knowledge and skills allows Norse Stone to continue to grow and improve.
Our products have been sent all over the UK and Europe including Holland, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Whilst our projects range from the restoration of historic buildings like Eilean Donan Castle to architectural contemporary new builds on the Isle of Harris. Norse Stone Ltd are passionate about the use of natural materials and are proud to be able to showcase the indigenous stone they quarry and products they create.
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Guide To Stone Finishes
With many domestic and commercial projects following the current trends and incorporating natural stone materials into their proposals, it can be difficult to tell what will be most well suited for each part of a design project. At Norse Stone, we are going to try to make that a bit easier for you!
You may have seen, heard or even experienced why we are so passionate about our local material, Caithness Flagstone, and know about its fantastic durability properties but did you know that not only can it be made to your dimensional requirements, but to your choice of surface and edge finish as well? In case you didn’t, we have put together a mini guide to the finishes available at Norse Stone and some of their most popular uses.
Let’s start with the most natural finish, Riven.
A slightly rough textured surface, it isn’t machined at all and instead the unprocessed finish is determined from extraction. This finish is mainly used for exterior projects including paving, wall coping, cladding, window sills, slates, lintels steps and garden features but is also commonly used
for hearths.
Weathered Riven has the same textural properties as standard Riven however instead of the well known dark grey Caithness flagstone you may be used to seeing, this stone comes in a variety of colours. Quarries, such as our Banniskirk site, have had stone left exposed to the elements for years causing the stone to oxidise and the colour to weather to create stunning brown/grey variations.
A Brushed Riven finish is machine brushed so that it has a slightly smoother surface than the stones natural texture but maintains the rustic appearance. Better suited to interior design projects, this finish lends itself well to flooring, hearths, fireplaces, steps and signage.
To achieve an Antique finish, the stone is machine smoothed and then brushed leaving just a slight texture behind. This finish is used predominantly for flooring, hearths, fireplaces, worktops and signage as well as memorials.
The last, but by no means least, surface texture is the High Polished finish. Machine polished to a high sheen, it is then sealed and enhanced making it the perfect show stopping interior finish. Used throughout the home, it is most popular for hearths, fireplaces, worktops, tableware, window sills, wet wall, tiles and shower trays.
Now for our most popular edge finishes starting with the Flamed Edge. This effect is accomplished with a straight sawn edge which has been flamed using extreme heat to blister the cut surface giving the edge a natural Riven appearance to match a Riven finished top. The edging effect is used primarily for building finishing materials including rustic hearths, steps, window sills and benches.
Another alternative option is our Natural Edge finish. Natural fractures in the quarry are prone to sources of calcite and minerals and with these fractures leaving stone exposed to many years of water filtration, they combine to alter the stone providing an edge effect with variety of colours. Alongside this, we also offer a wide range of profiled edging in matt, antique and polished finish to suit each individual specification.
Now that you know your Riven from your High Polished (and everything in between!), you can decide on the perfect finish for your Norse Stone product. If you do have any further questions on stone finishes, please get in touch with our team or request a sample and let us know which Caithness flagstone finish is your favourite!
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