Eco-Friendly flooring

It’s easy to install and easy to maintain. Moldrup Flooring which uses Danish Technology is now available at your doorstep. Brought to Chennai from Malaysia, by Cosmo Granites Pvt. Ltd., Moldrup’s Timber options for the floor comes in various hues such as reddish brown, dark brown, attractive brown, teak brown and pink-yellow shades. Being a natural product, it is said to be non-allergic and suitable for varied climatic conditions. So, if eco-friendly flooring is what you want, contact Cosmo Square, 6, Ranjith Road, Kotturpuram, Chennai. Phone: 4472211, 4470829.

The Hindu, September 30, 1999.

Cosmo calling

A GRANITE Supermarket, Cosmo was started by three brothers who wanted to do something different and something that would keep them close to nature. Nothing synthetic would do.

They hit upon the idea of marketing Granite and Marble. Pooling their resources and applying their skills, the engineer of the family D.N. Choudary looks after the technical aspect of the firm, D.H. Sarath a Chartered Accountant by qualification handles the accounts and Public Relations, while D. Venkatesh looks after the day-to-day operations.

Their list of clients reads like something out of the Who’s Who in the corporate world of Chennai, and includes names like EID Parry, L&T, Microsoft And it goes on. Their tastefully done showroom displays samples of all the granite and marble they deal in, with little tags informing the viewer the name of each of the stones.

Articles of interest like garden lanterns, ashtrays, vases stand on granite or marble bases, giving the prospective buyer ideas of the versatility of the stone.

One wall of Cosmo has a kitchen cabinet set with granite counters and a granite sink, while the cabinets are made of what is called Agrowood - treated rubber wood, from Kerala.

This hardy wood can be used for flooring, doors, panels, mouldings, and skirtings.

If you’re building or interior decorating your home, Cosmo is one place you must visit.

The Hindu, September 27, 1999

Go Granite

An intrusive rock, Granite is formed beneath the earth’s surface and is composed mainly of three minerals- quartz and both alkali and plagioclase feldspar, a name for a group of minerals that form 60% of the earth’s crust. These are the three items that determine the colour of the granite. The grains of the minerals in Granite are so large that they can be seen easily, giving it a special allure that is rich, gritty and hardy all at the same time.

In India alone, nearly 60 types of granite are mined. They come from various parts of the country and can be distinguished according to the region the rocks come from. Bearing fascinating names like Galaxy, Hassan Green, Pearl, Forest Green and many other intriguing names, it is a truly versatile stone in terms of colour and variety.

A relatively modern stone, Granite is the rock of today. While Marble affords an elegant look, it takes a lot of hard work to keep its soft, lustrous glow constantly looking good. Granite on the other hand is relatively easy on the maintenance front. That doesn’t mean that it can be abused in any old way and it will take it all and quietly retain its luster. As far as possible deliberate abrasion should be avoided as it can make deep scratches on the polished surface.

During ancient times, people found little use for granite due to its hardness and it was inaccessible. What used to be painfully chiseled and scooped out is now made into slabs and transported to various parts of the world. Ancient archaeological remains have columns made of Granite. Guides at the remains go into great detail of how slaves were made to rub the palms of their hands against the columns to give them the smooth finish that still exists in mute testimony to the days they were and the abuse that was.

But with modern technology and the use of diamond cutting, granite became accessible and available in plenty from nature. Its varying colour and formations are due to the prevalent climatic conditions and the colour of the soil it is formed in. The granite found in Orissa is totally different from what is quarried in Rajesthan, and the granite available in Andhra is very unlike its counterpart in Nepal!

Used mainly in building exteriors, it has been brought indoors and used for flooring; kitchen counters, and imaginatively used as bases for a table or made into a table complete with the top and base.

In gardens, Granite lanterns and benches add to the elegance of the place.

A square foot of granite costs as much as marble, which again depends on the size of each slab.

A rectangular tile measuring two feet by one foot with a thickness of 10mm costs about Rs.50 onwards for one square foot.

If maintained right and not violently abused, granite is really cost effective as it does not crack easily, is hard, can tolerate a certain amount of friction, does not discolour and can last upto a hundred years and more with a little pampering every fifteen years or so. Not too much to ask for, is it?

-Ameeta Agnihotri