Natural Stone
Characteristics and Use of Stone Tiles
Whether installing a polished marble foyer or a rustic limestone living room floor it’s important to take each stone’s characteristics into account. Natural stones have needs and personality that should be considered along with their beauty and style.
Types of Stone
There are many different types of natural stone tiles available for residential use. While marble is one of the most commonly used and recognized, there are many options available.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock comprised primarily of calcite. It is hard enough to be given a high polish, and depending on what impurities may be present in its formation, can contain streaks of multiple colors. Depending on what impurities and minerals are present, marble’s porosity can vary, making some stones more susceptible to stains than others. Thassos marble, for instance, a pure white marble with a sparkling quartz like surface, is actually harder and more impervious to staining than Crema Marfil, a very soft, tan colored marble is. Green marble is not actually a marble at all, and is comprised primarily of serpentine, the mineral which gives it its green color. Green marble is much more impervious to staining than other marbles, although care should be taken when installing it in wet areas to prevent it from spalling, or flaking. Marble can be polished, honed with a matte surface and square edges, or tumbled for a rustic look.
Limestone
Limestone is sedimentary rock, comprised primarily of calcium carbonate. Most often characterized by the presence of small fossils in its surface, it comes primarily in tones of cream, gold, tan and grey and while most are honed or tumbled in some cases can handle a high polish. Limestone is a much softer stone than marble is, and can therefore stain more easily. Some limestones, such as Lagos Azul, do not handle being placed in wet areas well, and are better suited to dry applications.
Travertine
Travertine is a dense, banded limestone, with many pores and even holes made from water evaporating from the stone as it formed. These holes can be filled when the tile is formed, with an epoxy close in color to the stone, with grout during installation, or they can be left unfilled for a more rustic look. Mostly tan or brown in color, travertines can come in shades of gold or even red as well.
Slates and Quartzites
These are fined grained metamorphic rocks that split naturally into thin layers. Domestic slates, such as those found in Vermont, tend to be gray or green in color, and fairly uniform in their clefting. Slates found in China, Brazil and India tend to be more varied in color and texture. Slate can be purchased in gauged or ungauged tiles. These definitions mean that they are either uniform in thickness, or can vary in thickness from piece to piece or within one piece by as much as half an inch. Because of their variation in color and texture, slates tend to work well in high traffic areas such as kitchens and mudrooms, as they hide wear very well. All slate tiles do have tendency to spall, or flake, for the first three months after installation as they settle into their new home.
Applications and Care
Natural stone tiles can be used in nearly any application where tiles are installed, but some thought does need to be given to their care. Softer stones, such as limestone, may not do well in a kitchen setting, where the risk of being stained is greater. Light colored stones, such as Carrara marble, should be avoided on shower floors, to avoid discoloration. Try to take traffic and lifestyle into account when selecting where to place stones.
All natural stone needs to be sealed with an impregnating sealer prior to grouting, and should be washed with a stone cleaner or mild detergent. Stones used in wet areas, and those that have been exposed to harsh detergents, will benefit from periodic resealing. It should be noted that no sealer will fully protect stones from stains; they will merely allow extra time for spills and dirt to be cleaned up.
Natural stone tiles never look the same way twice, and change as the years go by. Utilizing them in the home will help to create a look that is just as unique.
A Natural Stone Shower
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