Editor - November 12, 2020Using 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.
