The Types of Natural Stone Flooring
The floors are the majority of our house… (unless you’re a hoarder, in which case most of your house consists of not-really-useful material). Anyway, it is important to choose the right floors for your home because it sets the mood. Your house can be as humble as slate or as elegant as polished marble. Natural stone tiles are a common favourite because they cover the entire spectrum of design. To better put it, here’s a list of natural stone flooring and the characters each is known for.
1. Granite If we were to put stone flooring to a durability test, granite would be labelled our grand winner. Of natural stones, granite is the hardest and densest. In fact, those who didn’t sleep through chemistry might still remember that granite is “disputably” the second hardest stone next to diamonds. Virtually impervious – that’s how most tile manufacturers describe it. You can place granite tiles almost everywhere, in bathrooms, kitchens, countertops… anywhere.
2. Marble Marble would be the Audrey Hepburn of floors – it’s beauty is elegant and ageless. (I meant for the comparison to Audrey to be a compliment…) Marble has graced the floors of ancient kings and emperors, and even today it continues to be sign of luxury and sophistication. However, thanks to the industrial revolution, it’s a lot cheaper than it used to be. Marble isn’t really recommended in the kitchen, in fact, any place where it would be susceptible to stains and spills. However, there are a few solutions like sealers that make marble less prone to stains.
3. Limestone Limestone is actually a younger marble. It is created through the accumulation of shells, corals and sediment. It’s also been subject to surface pitting and mineral striations which actually give it a distinct natural look. Limestone, like marble, is a little bit porous, which is why it’s also generally not recommended to go anywhere near your spaghetti sauce.
4. Slate Slate gets its character from its texture. Among its stone brothers and sisters, slate is the most textured and natural looking. It’s usually used in houses that go for a more “rustic” feel. If you wanted to bring the outdoors indoors, this is the best flooring for you. It’s also very much used on poolsides and decks because of its water resistant features. Slate also has a variety of colors from black to rich reds, rust and brown.
5. Travertine Travertine is a member of the limestone family. It’s got years of aesthetic experience as paths, walls and stairs all over Europe. The Colosseum in Rome has travertine as a majority of building material. Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs–hot springs in particular. Travertine can be used anywhere and is ideal for houses that would like to project a “creamy” feel. Whatever the design concept of your home, I’m sure there’s isn’t a stone tile that can enhance it’s beauty.