Stone flooring is gorgeous, organic, and always in style. The smooth, cool surface is dust- and allergy-free and perfect for warm regions. Get the information you need to determine which kind of stone is appropriate for your house before settling on a particular one.
A stone’s porosity—the quantity and size of its pores—affects how strong and stain-resistant it is. Nonporous stone, like granite or slate, is the best option for natural stone flooring if you’re installing stone in a high-traffic area like a kitchen, mudroom, or family bath.
Stones that are softer and more porous, including marble, limestone, and travertine, need to be cleaned and sealed more frequently to avoid pitting and discoloration.
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Best Guide To Natural Stone Flooring Ideas For Your Home
Stone Types
Natural stone comes in an amazing variety of hues and patterns. Similar to jewels, the most expensive colors and designs are scarce.
The following are some traits of the widely used varieties:
Granite
This popular stone comes in hundreds of variants and can be flamed to create a non-slip texture in busy bathrooms and kitchens.
Limestone
Limestone, which has an earthy, natural look, is created by sedimentary elements like shells and coral. Limestone has less color variation from tile to tile when cut from the same slab than other stones.
The stone can be machine-tumbled for a weathered appearance or precisely smoothed for a delicate, elegant appearance. If you use limestone in a place where acidic liquids could spill, you might want to encapsulate this porous material every few years.
Marble
Although it is readily chipped, this porous stone is a classy option for formal interiors. Depending on the quarried location, slabs or tiles can have a wide variety of colors.
Marble comes in a variety of hardness and stain resistance. Find out from your dealer whether the marble you’re thinking about would make a nice natural stone floor for the purpose you have in mind.
Slate
Slate is a rustic classic that comes in geometric pieces and irregular shapes. Its typical colors are medium green, soft red, and dark gray.
Travertine
This partially metamorphosed, crystalline limestone is frequently confused with marble.
Stone Tiles
For millennia, stone tiles have been incorporated into residential interior design. Rock slabs and boulders are cut into thin squares or rectangles to create them. Because of veining, natural flaws, and even fossils, the appearance of stone differs from tile to tile. The kind of stone and the quarry’s location also affect color schemes.
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