Granite

Baltic Rot

Baltic Rot is a classic Precambrian coarse-grained granite from the Finnish quarrying area of Sippola/Ruotila in the Anjalankoski district near the port city of Kotka in southern Finland — a strongly red building granite with dramatically large red potassium feldspar megacrysts, black biotite mineral points and pale grey quartz accents. In the German market it is one of the most widely used red building granites ('very frequently used' — DNSA). Also carried internationally as Baltic Red, Baltik Rot, Karelia Red Granite and Finnish Baltic Red; used for external façades, paving, kerbs, stairs, bar counters, window sills, skirtings and prestige building applications with a warm red Scandinavian character.

Granite Finland Frostbeständig Säurebeständig 2.605 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs

Check the live stock Request an appointment

About Baltic Rot

Baltic Rot shows an exceptionally characteristic red coarse-grained Finnish granite character with a powerful traditional quality. The groundmass consists predominantly of strongly red to brick-red potassium feldspar megacrysts — these large red mineral points are the eponymous main element of the stone and shape the striking 'Baltic Red' character. Embedded in the red groundmass are black biotite and hornblende mineral points as well as pale grey to creamy quartz and plagioclase zones, which give the slab surface a balanced salt-and-pepper structure. The mineral structure is isotropic (without direction) with a coarse-grained crystalline quality — typical of rapakivi granites and similar Scandinavian plutonic rocks. The ratio of pale to dark lies at roughly 50–60 % red groundmass to 40–50 % grey and black mineral points. On a polished surface the stone develops a classic warm gloss with full depth — the red feldspar crystals intensify, the quartz zones shimmer subtly and the black biotite accents emerge plastically.

Geologically, Baltic Rot is a Precambrian granite from the Finnish granite complex of the Karelian province. The quarries lie specifically in Sippola and Ruotila in the Anjalankoski district, a region near the port city of Kotka in southern Finland (on the Gulf of Finland, around 130 km east of Helsinki). The Finnish granite provinces belong to the Baltic Shield — one of the oldest and largest Precambrian granite provinces in Europe (more than 1.5 billion years old). Petrographically a coarse-grained plutonic rock with rapakivi-like feldspar megacrysts. The DNSA dimension stone database lists the material under entry 1976 with the note 'very frequently used in Germany' — for decades Baltic Rot has been among the most widely used red building granites in the German and central European market. Several synonyms circulate in international trade: Baltic Red Granite (the English trade name), Baltik Rot (the German spelling variant), Karelia Red Granite (after the historic Karelian granite province), Finnish Baltic Red and Anjalankoski Red.

Technically, Baltic Rot shows sound values: bulk density 2,580–2,630 kg/m³ (the values show natural variability), compressive strength 176–179 MPa, flexural strength 10.9 MPa, water absorption 0.24 % (very low), Mohs hardness 6–7. Full frost and acid resistance confirmed as a silicate rock — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or sanitary cleaners leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone. Polished external stability is durable. Baltic Rot is therefore fully practical for the most demanding internal and external applications including prestige external façades with retained polish gloss.

At ROSSITTIS we carry Baltic Rot as a raw slab in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 mm thickness (from standard thicknesses to solid applications for stairs or paving), in tiles for floor and wall applications, as tread and riser, window sill, skirting and for project-specific cutting to size. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Compared with other classic Scandinavian red granites, Baltic Rot is a balanced, tradition-rich choice: Rosso Balmoral (a Finnish rapakivi granite from Vehmaa, south-west Finland) is more uniform with a clear rapakivi eye structure and is regarded as the more exclusive rapakivi classic; Vanga Red (a Swedish granite) is a stronger red with less quartz content; Baltic Brown (a Finnish granite from Ylämaa) shows characteristic 'eyes' with a greenish plagioclase rim and is among the most exclusive Finnish selections. Baltic Rot positions itself as the most attractively priced variant of the Finnish red granite family, with similarly good weather stability and a German market penetration proven over decades. For architectural projects with a warm Scandinavian character — external façades on residential and office buildings, traditional paving with a historic character, external stairs with high traffic loading, building applications with freeze-thaw and de-icing salt loading, bar counters in Mediterranean-Scandinavian inspired restaurants and building applications with high weather resistance — Baltic Rot is a reliable and expressive choice within the classic red Scandinavian granite range.

Technical data

Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.

Rohdichte 2.605 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 177,5 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 10,9 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,24 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Ja

Suitability by application

Finishes

Baltic Rot is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Politur ist die klassischste Veredelung im Hartgesteinsegment — eine spiegelglatte, hochglänzende Oberfläche mit höchstmöglicher Farbintensität und maximaler Tiefenwirkung der Mineralstruktur. Als säurebeständiges Silikatgestein ist polierter Granit pflegeleicht und für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und repräsentative Sichtflächen erste Wahl.

Geflammt + 1 x gebürstet

Die Oberfläche wird durch Hitze aufgeraut und einmal gebürstet, um scharfkantige Mineralreste zu glätten und loses Material zu entfernen. Etwas sanftere Haptik als rein geflammt, weiterhin rutschhemmend, Farbe weniger intensiv als poliert. Standardwahl für Außenbereiche, Terrassen und stark beanspruchte Bodenflächen.

Care & fabrication

As a Finnish Precambrian granite, Baltic Rot is an exceptionally robust hard stone with low water absorption (0.24 %), full frost and acid resistance and sound mechanical strength. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, sanitary cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is considerably easier to maintain and is ideally suited to intensive everyday use.

For internal applications we recommend a silane- or polysiloxane-based sealer at first installation. On polished surfaces, renewal every 8–10 years is sufficient; on heavily used floor surfaces, stairs or external applications, check every 3–5 years.

Daily care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clear warm water is usually sufficient. Acidic cleaners are unproblematic in principle, but should nonetheless not be used, because they can attack the sealer. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For kitchen worktops, Baltic Rot is well suited: cut- and scratch-resistant (Mohs hardness 6–7), insensitive to heat (hot pots and pans can be set down directly for short periods, but prolonged heat exposure above 200 °C should still be avoided), acid-resistant and with good stain repellency. The warm red coarse-grained character suits classic traditional or Scandinavian rustic designer kitchens.

For external applications, Baltic Rot is particularly well qualified: the durable external polishability, the low water absorption (0.24 %) and the excellent frost resistance make the stone the first choice for demanding external façades in heavily weather-loaded positions — the stone has proved itself over decades on countless buildings in Germany and central Europe. Polished external façades retain their brilliance for years. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For paving, Baltic Rot is a tradition-rich choice — the high compressive strength, the low water absorption and the excellent freeze-thaw and de-icing salt resistance qualify the stone for city-centre paving, squares, kerbs and heavily frequented public external surfaces. For paving with vehicle traffic we recommend slab thicknesses of at least 30–60 mm.

For pool surrounds, external terraces and fountain surrounds, a slip-resistant textured finish is essential — polished external surfaces present a high risk of slipping when wet. In areas with frequent salt contact (de-icing salt, pool chlorine), refreshing the sealer every 3 years is entirely sufficient (less frequently needed with dense Scandinavian granites).

Frequently asked questions

What is Baltic Rot geologically?

Baltic Rot is a Precambrian granite from the Finnish granite complex of the Karelian province. The quarries lie in Sippola and Ruotila in the Anjalankoski district near the port city of Kotka in southern Finland. Petrographically a coarse-grained plutonic rock with rapakivi-like feldspar megacrysts. The stone is more than 1.5 billion years old and belongs to the Baltic Shield — one of the oldest granite provinces in Europe. DNSA lists the material under entry 1976.

What synonyms are there?

In international trade, Baltic Rot also runs under the designations Baltic Red Granite (the English trade name), Baltik Rot (the German spelling variant), Karelia Red Granite (after the historic Karelian granite province), Finnish Baltic Red and Anjalankoski Red. All designations refer to the same Finnish red granite from the Anjalankoski quarrying area.

Which technical values does Baltic Rot have?

Sound values: bulk density 2,580–2,605 kg/m³, compressive strength 179 MPa, flexural strength 10.9 MPa, water absorption 0.24 % (very low), Mohs hardness 6–7. Full frost and acid resistance confirmed as a silicate rock. DNSA confirms a durable outdoor polish — the polished surface retains its gloss outdoors for years. These values qualify Baltic Rot fully for demanding internal and external applications.

Why is Baltic Rot so popular in Germany?

DNSA describes Baltic Rot expressly as 'very frequently used in Germany'. Several factors explain the German market penetration: 1) The low water absorption and excellent freeze-thaw and de-icing salt resistance qualify the stone perfectly for central European climate conditions with long winters. 2) The durable outdoor polish property makes polished external façades with retained gloss possible. 3) Decades of proven performance in the market and good availability. 4) The attractive value for money compared with more exclusive Scandinavian selections such as Baltic Brown.

Baltic Rot or Rosso Balmoral?

Both are classic Finnish red granites, but they differ in character and market position. Rosso Balmoral (Vehmaa, south-west Finland) is a classic rapakivi granite with large, clearly bounded red feldspar eyes and is regarded as the more exclusive classic with a longer historic building tradition. Baltic Rot (Anjalankoski, southern Finland) is more attractively priced, with a powerful coarse-grained character, and has been proven as a German market classic for decades. For the highest heritage ambitions, Rosso Balmoral is the exclusive choice; for reliable building applications with outstanding technical quality, Baltic Rot is the economically attractive standard variant.

Is Baltic Rot suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Yes, well suited. With Mohs hardness 6–7, low water absorption (0.24 %), good compressive strength (179 MPa) and full acid resistance, the stone is cut-, scratch- and heat-resistant and does not absorb the acids in wine, lemon or vinegar. The warm red coarse-grained character suits classic traditional or Scandinavian rustic designer kitchens with a warm atmosphere.

Which finishes are available for Baltic Rot?

The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.

Is Baltic Rot suitable for paving?

Outstandingly suitable — and this is one of its most important applications. The high compressive strength, the low water absorption and the excellent freeze-thaw and de-icing salt resistance qualify the stone for city-centre paving, squares, kerbs and heavily frequented public external surfaces. Baltic Rot has been used in Germany and central Europe for classic paving applications for decades — the long-term weather stability has been proven over decades. For paving with vehicle traffic we recommend slab thicknesses of at least 30–60 mm.