Dekton

Using natural stone is a way to let your personality shine, whether you’re using it for a countertop, staircase surround, or flooring surface. Via colour, design, forms, and patterns, personality can be expressed in stone. Each stone has a personality of its own. Some represent stronger patterns, while others have more subtle and classic veining.

Modern Trends

Thanks to its aesthetic appeal, flexibility, sustainability, and ease of care, natural stone flooring is a choice for many homeowners. It can be used outdoors as well as indoors. With just a little bit of upkeep, the benefit of natural stone is that it will last a very long time. Since there are various categories that work well it is entirely possible to use any sort of natural stone on any project. For the correct application, the purpose is to find the right stone. Homeowners also prefer granite or quartzite for flooring since they tend to be acid-resistant and usually perform well in areas with heavy traffic. That’s not to suggest that the wear from use would not stand up to selected forms of marble or limestone. In reality, he notes that he has built white marble floors that are denser than granite.

Restoration projects also require the stone be matched or replaced, and in historic or older buildings they have worked to refinish stone. Marbles are still an option that is popular. Greys are very common and known as neutral, although in both contemporary and traditional applications, black and white combos are also popular. Another movement is towards larger sized pieces or slab-cut pieces. Mosaic inlays, with borders or patterns, have been increasingly requested, along with bookmatching which must be done in complete stone slabs. One explanation homeowners gravitate towards floor tiles of natural stone is that they appear to be customer-friendly and can be mixed and matched. If one happens to break due to an accident, they’re both quickly replaced.

Durability of Stone

Since natural stone floors appear to be in high-traffic areas, it is important for these types of installations to inform yourself on which types of stones are best. Natural stone can be textured, which, because it helps with slip resistance, is better for high traffic areas. Because of its hardness, granite is a popular choice for high traffic areas, but it also says that certain marble varieties can be a viable option. Ultimately it comes down to knowing what you want and ensuring that they know how to handle the stone. Finishes play a significant role: they are popular with honed, textured and polished finishes, and matte finishes may help make the surface of the stone less slippery. This is possible if the customer requires a high-polish finish, but this would entail more routine maintenance.

People who like the feeling of natural stone, since it will give the flooring a certain form of patina, welcome the wear on it. They won’t need to do anything in that situation, he says, because daily wear would achieve that goal. Natural stone flooring is not limited to areas of heavy traffic. Softer stones like limestone or travertine may be a good option for lower-traffic areas.

Some Disadvantages

Stone tiles may be cold and hard underfoot, and when determining where to lay them, this needs to be taken into account. Stone can adopt the ambient temperature in a south-facing room and heat with the sun, but if you have a north-facing room that has the chance to get cold, the best option might not be a stone floor. That said with a rug, you can soften the stone floor. If dropped on a solid stone floor, China and glass would almost certainly break. In bathrooms, some polished surfaces can be slippery, but textured tiles with non-slip finishes are available. Asking your tiling contractor is the best way to find out if a floor covering is appropriate for your space; if your chosen tile is not suitable, they will be able to recommend a similar alternative.

Integrating With Design

Sometimes, refreshing or removing flooring is money well spent to enhance the look and functionality of your home. Find an interior designer that can help you integrate your choice of floor with the interior design of your renovation. As well as other natural stone uses natural stone flooring synergises other materials in the home, such as wood. In the long run, taking the time to review the type of flooring you want would pay off as you don’t want to invest in flooring that is obsolete or doesn’t really express your character. It should take time to consider what kinds of natural stone floors really attract your attention and make your house feel at home.

Countertops made of natural stone, vinyl countertops, or some other form of countertop? That’s the question that many homeowners ask themselves as they build a new house or looking for a renovation contractor for their home.

When they first answer the question, most have an open mind. But they easily fall in love with natural stone countertops when presented with the truth, until they discover all the amazing benefits:

Aesthetics

Granite, marble and soapstone countertops transform a kitchen or bathroom from decent to great instantly. Although aesthetics can be subjective, since they look so fantastic, the concrete answer people have to natural stone countertops is often positive.

Lasting

Countertops of natural stone last for a lifetime. They are highly robust, need minimal maintenance and are able to withstand the spills, injuries and mishaps that often accompany everyday living. Granite, marble and soapstone are rarely harmed by hot cups of coffee, spilled wine and even sliced knives.

Unique patterns

No two granite, marble or soapstone slabs are exactly alike, meaning that by selecting them for your countertops, you can truly build a special kitchen or bathroom. To find a color and design pattern that suits the personality and character of any room, you can also work with a countertop manufacturer.

Natural value

Of all the countertop materials available to you, including natural stone, none can increase the overall value of your home. It is always attractive and always in style to have granite, marble and soapstone. In a way, they are timeless yet modern at the same time. The decision to buy on the basis of natural stone countertops alone has been taken by many homebuyers.

Versatility

Because each natural stone slab is cut specifically for your counters, you can integrate them into any design that you want. Your natural stone fabricator will cut your slab of granite , marble and soapstone to order, if you want a kitchen island that is shaped like a T or a round vanity in your wardrobe. With natural stone, you truly have the versatility to build the counters of your dreams.

Connect with us if you are wondering yourself whether to install natural stone or some other kind of countertop. Ask about the aesthetics, durability, value and versatility of natural stone, and then find a special slab right for you and your house.

When the weather starts to heat and we see indications of the awakening of the world again, most of our minds often turn to beginning again. Any grime that needs our consideration shows more sunshine. We have more strength with increased exposure to sunlight and water, much like animals coming out of dormancy. Just the criteria to push us into house cleaning!

Makers of chemical cleaners have persuaded millions of people over the past few decades that this annual rite of washing includes heavy-duty compounds that are harmful to human health and the environment. More individuals, however, have come to realise that a genuinely clean home rejects chemical contaminants, somewhat contrary to mainstream messages. Here’s what you need to learn this year to have a healthier, greener spring.

Improve air ventilation

Indoor air also has much more toxins than most outdoor air, even though you do not deliberately carry contaminants into your house. Our furniture, our water, and our cooking all put substances in the air that we don’t breathe better. It will clear the air and help you breathe easier by allowing fresh air into your home as soon as the weather permits. Consider adding several essential oils to your cleaning items if you want to add a genuinely new smell to your home. Or placed a bowl of baking soda on a counter with a couple of drops of your preferred essential oil to absorb odour and add fragrance. I greatly love the upbeat orange blossom and fruit scents. Consider installing window louvres to help facilitate greater ventilation to improve air quality over time.

Clearing the clutter

The colder months will test our tolerance for clutter with boots, jackets, caps, shawls, gloves and all the gear involved with winter. After the cold-weather togs have been put away, look about to see if there are other places more cluttered than you would like in your house. Maybe it’s messily pushed onto shelves with toys or books, or a wardrobe that’s become useless because it’s so filled with stuff. To get rid of stuff you don’t need, use, or want, pick an area whose clutter upsets you and tackle it with an eye. Another pleasant tradition of spring cleaning may be a ride to donate your discarded items to your nearest thrift shop. Then embrace your de-cluttered house and not have to tackle the mess with the extra time you would enjoy.

Use non-toxic cleaners

A perfect solution of vinegar and water can handle many cleaning tasks, such as floors, surfaces, and windows. Insert essential oils like lemon or orange for extra cleansing power plus a good fragrance. For most scrubbing programs, soap and baking soda helps. There’s also no lack of recipes made from non-toxic ingredients for homemade cleaners that you likely already have on hand. Pick nontoxic versions if you lack time and choose to buy pre-made cleaners. You will enjoy a crystal clean house without any of the harmful chemicals with plant-based cleaners intended for windows, furniture, or floors. These are suitable for timber, porcelain, and stainless steel washing. But there is extra work needed for some works. For example , a good scrubbing tool such made of recycled glass will benefit from baked-on oven grime. It helps to remove stuck-on goo from lacquer and glass cookware, glass stains, grout, and more, besides ovens and stove burners. You can easily use it on hot and cold areas as well. It is also fully chemical-free, and will not accumulate odor-causing microbes like sponges. With the hardest stains, a heavy-duty cleaner will also be useful. Despite being plant-based, they still handle stubborn stains on surfaces.

Using recycled materials and instruments

To accomplish your cleaning activities, you do not need rolls of paper towels. With rags made of garments that are no more wearable, most can be treated. Instead of depending on throwaways, use a mop with a reusable pad. For extracting muck from nooks and crannies, save old cleaning products. Try using newspaper to minimise the grime that builds up on walls, which you can recycle when you’re finished. Try reusable, biodegradable cloths rather than polyester sponges filled with a potent hormone disruptor recently removed from hand soaps. These absorbent cloths act like sponges and are so sturdy, they outlive fifteen rolls of paper towels. When they’re no longer helpful, they can be washed many times and then turned into compost, so much better for the environment than paper towels. They’ll even save you bucks.

Get rid of pests

When things heat up, ants come to our homes looking for food and other unwelcome houseguests. This can scare the resident into using additional items for toxic pest control. But these occurrences are typically localised and short-lived, and can be best handled by simply wiping the newly hatched insects with a damp paper towel or similar process. An alternative to hiring professional pest control services, is by concocting homemade nontoxic pest control solutions to get equipped for them. Diatomaceous soil is the first line of protection against insects in your house. Diatomaceous earth is wide spectrum, non-toxic, healthy around children and pets, and possibly the only insect protection your home would require. When all the delectable spring and summer fruits begin to arrive in your kitchen, a decorative wall fruit fly trap looks like a display but will help keep concentrations down. When these unwanted pests take a ride on it, an electric flea trap will help. When you pack up those winter wooled socks, don’t forget any moth deterrents! Placing with your clothes some cedar or teabags of honeysuckle, dried lemon peels, or cinnamon sticks may help make your favourite woollens less attractive to moths. If you have additional time, engage a false ceiling contractor to do regular maintenance every few years to ensure no pest is breeding inside.

Time for bonding

Nothing makes the job more overwhelming for a major cleaning project than having to go alone, so get everyone to participate in. Give children age-appropriate tasks and make a family tradition for spring-cleaning. Put some relaxing music on it and turn the job into a game. I was astounded some springs ago when my nephew enthusiastically took my brushes and vigorously scrubbed our grim porch floor for over an hour. She thought it was a blast to play in the water and asked pretty often if we should clean the porch again, even if it wasn’t dirty. My son and her two-year-old sister help collect buckets and go scrubbing every spring. With my helpers, the job goes easier, we have pleasure bonding, and we could see that children feel a sense of accomplishment in assisting with a household task. Then we organise the furnishings and sit down to enjoy our work together. And very young children really love cleaning the windows and woodwork, even finding the chores a delight. Other tasks that kids can assist with are sweeping and vacuuming. More demanding cleaning activities can be offered to older children, such as cleaning bathtubs and rearranging through items in the house.