Moleanos is a Portuguese limestone in a pale beige with a calm, finely mottled picture and a very broad tradition of use. At ROSSITTIS it is used for façades, stairs, window sills, wall surfaces and high-quality interior fit-outs whenever a warm, restrained natural stone is called for.
Limestone
Portugal
2.567 kg/m³
Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs
Other trade names: Alexandra Beige, Crema Fatima, Creme Royal, Gascogne, Moleanos Beige, Moleanos Cream, Pietra Zen, RO-02-040, Rochemaniere Beige
About Moleanos
Moleanos belongs to those Portuguese limestones that almost always work through calm. The colour lies between beige, cream and a slightly warm pale grey, joined by a fine, unobtrusive mottling. That is precisely what makes the stone so versatile. It does not look spectacular, but very architectural and resilient in its expression. For façades, stairs, window sills, wall claddings and interior floors that is a very coherent basis.
The stone comes from Portugal, above all from the area around Alcobaça and Moleanos, and has been established in the European market for years. Petrographically it is a limestone; in marketing it is nevertheless often listed alongside marble and other limestones, because it is used in a similar way in interior fit-out. Compared with Jura materials, Moleanos usually looks more homogeneous and paler; compared with French limestones, somewhat more matter-of-fact and more design-led.
Technically, Moleanos sits in the range of a usable but honest limestone. The bulk density is around 2,567 kg/m³, the compressive strength around 95.3 MPa, the flexural strength around 10.5 to 10.8 MPa and the water absorption 1.73 %. That makes the stone well suited to many applications, but it is not a carefree hard rock. Acid sensitivity remains an issue, and polished surfaces are not visually durable outdoors. For façades, stairs and high-quality interiors the material is nonetheless very convincing.
Honed is often the strongest finish for Moleanos, because the calm limestone character then looks particularly clean. Polished can work, but is rarely to the fore. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. At ROSSITTIS, Moleanos is available as a raw slab, in tiles, as window sill, tread and riser, wall cladding, wall coping and for further made-to-measure interior and exterior applications. Especially for larger, calm surfaces the material is very rewarding.
The honest assessment: Moleanos is not a care-free everyday kitchen stone and not a striking eye-catcher. Its strength lies in warmth, calm and reliability. Anyone looking for exactly that gets one of the most solid Portuguese limestones on the market.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
32 slabs in stock · plus 18 blocks
Thicknesses: 1–3 cm · Finishes: Polished, Satin-honed, Honed C220 and more · Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs
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
2.567 kg/m³
Druckfestigkeit
95,3 MPa
Biegezugfestigkeit
10,5 MPa
Wasseraufnahme
1,73 %
Säurebeständig
Nein
Finishes
Moleanos is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Polished
Polishing is the most classic finish for marble and limestone — a glossy surface with the highest possible colour intensity and a pronounced depth to the veining. Depending on the mineral composition, the effect can be matte-gloss in places. Acid-sensitive — wine, lemon and vinegar leave etch marks after prolonged contact.
Satin-honed
The surface is brushed — softer minerals are selectively removed, creating a subtle depth and a matte appearance. Strongly veined limestones in particular gain a characterful look and feel this way. The more matte finish conceals small etch marks better than a polish and stands up better to everyday use on heavily used interior surfaces.
Honed C220
A matt appearance created by fine honing with C220 grit — the level surface looks calm, with a somewhat more intense colour effect than C120; light honing marks are possible. More maintenance-intensive than polished, but more scratch-resistant and matt-elegant — a popular choice for modern floors and wall claddings.
Satin-honed, reverse honed C320
A slab usable on both sides: a satin face with a brushed matt character and pronounced veining, and a reverse honed to C320 with a level, fine matt surface. Two matter surface options on a single slab — flexible for demanding architecture with differing installation requirements.
Care & fabrication
Moleanos should be impregnated carefully after installation. With around 1.73 % water absorption the stone is more open than granite or quartzite and reacts correspondingly more strongly to moisture and staining agents.
For cleaning and care, pH-neutral natural stone cleaners are suitable. Acidic cleaners, limescale removers and aggressive special chemicals are unsuitable for this limestone.
Coffee, wine, oil and acidic foodstuffs should be removed promptly from horizontal surfaces. In kitchens and bathrooms in particular, disciplined routine care matters more than with a dense hard rock.
Outdoors, good drainage, appropriate finishes and proper construction detailing matter more than chemical care products.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moleanos suitable for the kitchen?
Only with the right expectations. With a bulk density of 2,567 kg/m³, a compressive strength of 95.3 MPa and a water absorption of 1.73 %, Moleanos is a usable limestone, but markedly more care-intensive than granite or quartzite.
Where does Moleanos come from?
Moleanos comes from Portugal, above all from the area around Moleanos and Alcobaça, and is one of the best-known Portuguese limestones.
Which finish suits Moleanos?
The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.
How do I care for Moleanos?
The stone should be impregnated and maintained with pH-neutral natural stone cleaners. Acidic cleaners are to be avoided.
Is Moleanos marble or limestone?
Petrographically, Moleanos is a limestone. In interior fit-out it is often used in a similar way to marble, but technically and in terms of care it should be thought of as a limestone.
What does Moleanos cost?
The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.
