When natural stone is used for facades, bathroom walls, floors, pavements, stairs, cladding or roofing, its flexural strength needs to be considered.A newest of trend emerging here is using semi-precious stone in bathroom, especially as countertops. Amethyst, aragonite, durmortierite, agate, onyx and some kinds of quartz are popular. Thin panels of the material are used to form countertop surfaces that are backlit fir a dramatic and exotic effect. Another opulent stone application in bathrooms is mother-of-pearl.