Agglomerate

Botticino Agglo IT

Botticino Agglo IT is an Italian-produced agglomerated marble building material in the macro-grain class, with large, clearly visible Botticino marble chips in cream-beige and sand tones, bound in a matched warm creamy polyester resin matrix. The polished slab shows a powerful, lively mosaic appearance with clearly recognisable marble fragments in the 8–25 mm size class – stylistically an allusion to the classic Italian Botticino marble from the quarrying district north of Brescia. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate the slabs into interior flooring, stairs, window sills, wall cladding, skirtings and made-to-measure interior components with a warm Mediterranean premium feel.

Industriell hergestelltes resin-gebundenes Marmor-Agglomerat aus italienischer Produktion (Kürzel „IT" = Italien) in der Macro-Korn-Klasse mit großformatigen Botticino-Marmor-Splittern (8–25 mm) aus dem Bergrevier östlich von Brescia – kein gewachsener Naturstein, sondern eine kontrolliert komponierte Mosaik-Tafel mit echten Naturmarmor-Bruchstücken.

Agglomerate Italy

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs

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About Botticino Agglo IT

Background. 'Botticino Agglo IT' denotes an industrially manufactured agglomerated marble of Italian production (the abbreviation 'IT' = Italy) based on large-format Botticino marble chips. Italy has for decades been the centre of industrial agglomerated marble production, with manufacturers such as Quarella, Santamargherita, Industria Marmi Alberti, Civet/CTX and other specialised large works in the Italian marble and ceramic district. The slabs are produced by the classic Bretonstone® process or comparable vacuum vibration compaction processes.

The natural marble aggregate. Botticino is one of the most tradition-rich Italian marbles, quarried since antiquity from the quarries on Monte Botticino and its surroundings east of Brescia in Lombardy. It is a biogenic calcite limestone from the Jurassic (about 200 million years old) with a characteristic warm cream-beige ground tone and fine white calcite veins. Botticino was used, among other things, for the Vittoriano national monument in Rome, Milan's central station and countless classic buildings. In agglomerated marble, broken Botticino pieces from quarry residues are recycled – a second life for the valuable natural material that makes sense both in design and in economic terms.

Material build-up and manufacture. A resin-bound agglomerated marble slab consists of large-format marble chips (in this grade typically 8–25 mm macro grain), which are laid out on a mould under vacuum with approximately 6–10 % polyester resin, mineral additives and warm creamy pigments, compacted with low-frequency vibration and polymerised in a curing oven. The end product is a highly compacted large slab with a lively, distinctly structured appearance – considerably more powerful than the quieter micro-grain grades.

The macro-grain effect. Unlike the micro-grain grades (for instance CTX BasicAgglo Micro Sivec, Beige Marfil Agglo IT), Botticino Agglo IT shows clearly recognisable individual marble chips with individual tonal gradations – from light beige through cream-yellow to a warm sand colour. From a middle distance the slab reads as a lively mosaic distinctly reminiscent of a classic Italian terrazzo; close up, one discovers the fine white veins grown into the individual marble fragments. The effect is warm, Mediterranean and expressive.

Format and fabrication. Italian agglomerated marbles are usually produced in a large format of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in the standard thicknesses of 2 and 3 cm. The slabs can be cut, profiled, calibrated and drilled with diamond tooling like a dense marble building stone. Because of the polyester binder: heat resistance is markedly lower than with pure natural stone – do not set hot pans or hairdryers down directly on the surface, and avoid sustained temperatures above roughly 80–90 °C. Direct UV exposure can yellow the resin over the long term – on a warm beige slab such tonal shifts are less visible than on white grades, but the material is nevertheless clearly intended for interior applications.

ROSSITTIS range. We carry Botticino Agglo IT as a polished large slab held in depth in stock. From it we fabricate interior floors in large format or tile format, stairs with treads and risers, window sills, wall and column cladding, skirtings and bespoke furniture tops. The warm Mediterranean mosaic appearance suits classic Italian living schemes, Mediterranean hotel foyers, prestige entrance areas and rooms with pale timber, bronze and matt wall colours. On large floor areas the macro-grain character comes into its own particularly powerfully.

Comparison. Compared with genuine Botticino marble, the agglomerate shows a livelier mosaic character with clearly separated fragments – the natural marble, by contrast, appears more closed, with flowing bands and individual veins. Botticino marble, as a calcite limestone, is acid-sensitive (wine, lemon, tomato leave etch marks); the agglomerate is somewhat more robust here thanks to the closed polyester matrix, though not fully acid-proof, because the marble chips themselves contain calcite. Compared with micro-grain beige agglomerates (Beige Marfil Agglo IT, CTX BasicAgglo Royal Beige), Botticino Agglo IT with its visible large chips is markedly livelier and more Mediterranean in character. Compared with engineered quartz of the same colour family (CTX BasicQuarz Cream Marfil), the acid and scratch resistance of the agglomerated marble is somewhat lower – the engineered quartz is better suited to the actual kitchen work surface, the agglomerated marble rather to walls, window sills, stairs and interior floors.

Honest assessment. Botticino Agglo IT is a warm, Mediterranean, expressive choice for interior surfaces where a lively material effect is wanted. Its strength lies in the unmistakable macro-grain mosaic appearance with genuine Botticino marble fragments and in its straightforward maintenance in interior fit-out. Anyone looking for a genuinely characterful, craft-based Mediterranean natural material should reach for real Botticino marble – anyone who needs the warm mosaic effect in large slabs with dependable repeatability for planning is very well served here.

Finishes

Botticino Agglo IT is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Höchstmöglicher Glanz mit ausgeprägter Farbintensität — die ebene, pflegeleichteste Oberfläche im Agglomerat-Segment. Die spiegelglatte Veredelung bringt die Verbundwerkstoff-Komposition voll zur Geltung. Eine repräsentative Wahl für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und gestaltete Sichtflächen im Innenausbau.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. For everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH cleaner are sufficient. Soapy marble or building stone cleaners and mild all-purpose cleaners without acid are suitable. Take up spills – red wine, coffee, tea, juices or oil – promptly, because the resin-bound marble aggregate can draw pigment locally.

Do not use. Limescale and bathroom cleaners, anti-limescale sprays, acetic and citric acid, drain cleaners, WC cleaners, concrete and rust removers, highly concentrated all-purpose cleaners and chlorine-based bleaches are out of the question – they attack both the marble chips (carbonate reacts with acid) and the polyester resin and lead to dull patches or tonal shifts. Solvent-based products (acetone, petrol, thinners, cellulose cleaners) should likewise be avoided – they can dissolve the binder.

Sealing. A classic natural stone sealer is not strictly necessary – the polyester matrix largely closes the slab. In areas with an increased risk of staining we nevertheless recommend a light, non-film-forming silane-polysiloxane-based stone sealer as additional protection – on a macro-grain slab with visible individual marble chips this is particularly sensible, because the chip edges can form the finest microchannels.

Kitchen. Polished surfaces tolerate brief kitchen use, but are not thermally resilient: trivets for hot pans, pots and baking trays are mandatory; keep permanent heat sources (oven, dishwasher) away by design. Use chopping boards – the material is hard, but polyester resin can become dull over time where knives have scored it. Wipe off grease and acid marks (tomato, lemon, wine) immediately. For the actual kitchen work surface with daily acid exposure we recommend alternative materials (CTX BasicQuarz, engineered quartz or porcelain).

Bathroom. Well usable in the bathroom (vanity top, wall cladding). Consistently avoid acidic care products and limescale-dissolving sprays, because on calcite/marble aggregates they leave visible shadows. In the shower area the material should be used with caution because of the marble chips and the polyester bond – daily drying off is mandatory.

Floor and stairs. The classic domain of Botticino Agglo IT is large-format interior floors, stairs and entrance areas. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. Dirt-trapping mats at the entrance markedly reduce the amount of abrasive particles brought in.

Outdoors and frost. Not suitable for external construction. UV radiation yellows the resin over the long term, and freeze-thaw cycling can lead to micro-defects. It is also not recommended permanently in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

Scratches and repair. Surface scratches on the polished variant can be re-polished by a stonemason; deeper damage can be made good with pigmented polyester filler and matched precisely in colour. Since the material is industrially mixed, colour-accurate repairs are usually readily possible; on the macro-grain slab with clearly visible individual chips, visually matching the chip pattern is sensitive – a trial piece is sensible.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Botticino Agglo IT?

It is a resin-bound agglomerated marble of Italian production (the abbreviation 'IT' = Italy) in the macro-grain class with large-format Botticino marble chips (8–25 mm). The chips are compacted into large slabs with approximately 6–10 % polyester resin and warm beige pigments in a vacuum compaction process. The end product is not a naturally grown natural stone but an industrial building material with a classic Botticino mosaic feel.

What does the name 'Botticino' refer to?

Botticino is one of the most tradition-rich Italian marbles, quarried since antiquity from the quarries on Monte Botticino east of Brescia in Lombardy. It is a biogenic calcite limestone from the Jurassic with a characteristic warm cream-beige ground tone and fine white veins – used, among other things, for the Vittoriano in Rome, Milan's central station and many classic buildings.

What does 'macro grain' mean with agglomerated marble?

Agglomerated marbles are produced in several grain size classes: micro (≈ 0.5–2 mm), standard (≈ 3–7 mm) and macro (8–25 mm). Botticino Agglo IT is a macro-grain grade with clearly visible individual marble chips – considerably livelier than the quieter micro-grain grades, with a clear mosaic character.

How does Botticino Agglo IT differ from genuine Botticino marble?

Natural stone Botticino shows a more closed, banded character with flowing tonal gradations and individual veins. The agglomerate shows clearly separated fragments of the original natural marble substance and reads as a mosaic – both materials derive from the same limestone, but with a different character of bonding. Both react to acids, the agglomerate somewhat more robustly because of the polyester bond.

Which slab formats and thicknesses are usual?

Italian agglomerated marbles are produced in a standard format of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in thicknesses of 2 and 3 cm. From these we fabricate interior floors, stairs, window sills, wall cladding, skirtings and bespoke furniture tops.

Is Botticino Agglo IT suitable for kitchen worktops?

With qualifications. As with all agglomerated marbles, the carbonate chips react to strong acids (wine, lemon, vinegar, cola, tomato) and the polyester resin to direct heat above 80–90 °C. With trivets, chopping boards and a silane sealer, use on bar counters is practicable; for the actual kitchen work surface we recommend more acid-proof alternatives (CTX BasicQuarz, engineered quartz or porcelain).

Is the material suitable for external surfaces?

No. Polyester binders yellow under UV radiation, and the data sheet shows no frost resistance. Botticino Agglo IT is conceived as an interior material and is particularly suited to interior floors, stairs and entrance areas.

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, neutral to slightly alkaline stone care products and mild all-purpose cleaners without acid. Out of the question are acetic, citric and hydrochloric acid, limescale cleaners, anti-limescale sprays, concrete and rust removers, chlorine-based bleaches and solvents such as acetone or thinners.