Applications
Porphyry is highly prized for its durability as a paver, making it an ideal stone for walkways, driveways, courtyards, driveways and facades. Because it is freeze/thaw- and slip-resistant, porphyry is ideal for any type of outdoor flooring application.

Various sizes, shapes and thicknesses of porphyry are available, including cubes, binders, irregular slabs, ashlar stones, natural tiles and machined tiles. Porphyry cubes, or cobblestones, have perhaps been the most popular throughout the ages and are one of the most popular applications today.

Binders are a versatile product and are often used to mark the edge of paved areas, such as with flowerbeds and traffic islands. Binders also can be used to face low walls and steps. Irregular slabs, distinguished by their sizes and thicknesses, are generally used for paving external areas, such as squares and gardens.

Irregular slabs have a natural surface and rough-cut edges. Ashlar stones are typically used for facing supporting walls or as coverings for building facades. The front face can be sawn or shaped naturally. Natural tiles are used for paving and facing of both internal and external areas. They are ideal for squares, streets, sidewalks and historical centers. Finally, machined tiles present a stylish and refined finish and are most appropriate for elegant interior areas.

Porphyry is available in a number of finishes, including unpolished, polished, semi-polished, honed, flamed, sand blasted, bush hammered and antiqued.

Interesting Facts
Porphyry has long been prized for its beauty and perception as a stone of royalty. In ancient times, Egyptians were one of the first people to successfully quarry the stone, and Egyptian kings and queens were the exclusive benefactors of porphyry works and masterpieces.

In 300 A.D., the ancient Romans utilized the stone to decorate royal palace rooms for family members of the royal empire. Romans also used porphyry to build their roads. The highly durable stone can still be seen throughout Rome today, although in some places it is crumbling. However, the crumbling is not to any fault of the stone. After the fall of Rome, people scavenged for the prized stone, which was highly regarded for its strength and beauty, to use for their homes and town squares.

In the late 16th to early 17th centuries, it is said that King Louis XIV of France once had the world's largest collection of porphyry stone.