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Your Floor: How to Find Right Stone Tile
Get the Pros and Cons of Slate, Travertine, Sandstone, Marble and Granite
Natural stone has been popular for use on floors for centuries and for very good reason. Stone tile brings the colors and texture of nature to our homes and adds a quality and warmth to a room that's not possible with any other material.
Because natural stone comes out of the earth, there can be wild variations in its color and quality, so be sure to do your homework when shopping for stone tile for your floor. Order enough material to complete the job in one shipment — that will minimize mismatched lots. As is the case with any flooring material, get a case or two extra. If you have to repair a floor later, the stone you want may not be available.
Let's take a look at the most popular stone tile materials: slate, travertine, sandstone, granite and marble. Which one would you choose?
Because natural stone comes out of the earth, there can be wild variations in its color and quality, so be sure to do your homework when shopping for stone tile for your floor. Order enough material to complete the job in one shipment — that will minimize mismatched lots. As is the case with any flooring material, get a case or two extra. If you have to repair a floor later, the stone you want may not be available.
Let's take a look at the most popular stone tile materials: slate, travertine, sandstone, granite and marble. Which one would you choose?
Slate is probably the type of stone tile you'll encounter most often. It's a metamorphic rock that splits into thin sheets easily. Once it cleaves into sheets like that, it's easy to turn it into tile.
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| The density of a given slate relates directly to its cost. The denser it is the more likely it is not to flake and fall apart.
Slate pros: Tends to be dark; highly resilient Cons: Needs to be installed by someone who knows what he or she's doing, be sure to figure installation into the final cost. Cost: $5-$20 per square foot Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways and kitchens Browse photos of slate in home designs |
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Travertine is another commonly-encountered stone. It's often sold as marble or limestone, even though it's neither.
Travertine's a sedimentary rock composed of calcite, and as such it's a good bit softer than its limestone kin. It's nearly impossible to keep a shine, but once it settles into its native, matte finish, few materials offer the warmth that travertine does.
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| Travertine gets a lot of bad press for being a fragile material, but the Trevi Fountain in Rome is made from travertine, and it's been there for 300 years. That says a thing or two about travertine's longevity. Travertine pros: Wildly variable patterns and colors, feels soft underfoot Cons: Has a tendency to scratch and stain Cost: $5- $40 per square foot Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths Browse photos of travertine tile in design |
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Marble. In ancient times, kings and caesars demanded marble floors, and in these more democratic times, you can too. Even though it's another stone that's prone to staining and scratching, marble has character.
It's harder and more resilient than travertine but it does need some extra attention.
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Marble benefits from professional sealing, and it's better left with a honed finish.
Marble pros: Beautiful patterns and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors. Prone to stains and scratches
Cost: $5-$50 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Browse photos of marble in design
Marble pros: Beautiful patterns and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors. Prone to stains and scratches
Cost: $5-$50 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Browse photos of marble in design
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Granite. Probably the hardest natural stone out there is granite. Nothing else will hold a shine or repel water the way granite will. However granite's resilience is double-edged sword. Its shine and hardness make it an unforgiving surface despite its beauty.
Granite pros: Beautiful colors, highly resilient, can be used indoors or out
Cons: Can seem rather cold
Cost: $3-$15 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Granite pros: Beautiful colors, highly resilient, can be used indoors or out
Cons: Can seem rather cold
Cost: $3-$15 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
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Limestone is another calficerous stone and it's similar to travertine. Unlike travertine however, limestone's been hardened through time and tectonic action. That hardening makes it a better and more resilient material for use as flooring.
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Limestone often keeps its striations as it forms, and it has a tendency to look like wood.
Limestone pros: Beautiful patterns and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Cost: $4-$40 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Limestone pros: Beautiful patterns and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Cost: $4-$40 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
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Sandstone is another metamorphic rock that lends itself to flooring The wild color variations of other stones aren't as prevalent with sandstone and it's easier to find consistent tones with this material.
Sandstone pros: Extremely resilient
Cons: Minimal color options
Cost: $10-$40 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
More: How to Shop for Ceramic Tile
Sandstone pros: Extremely resilient
Cons: Minimal color options
Cost: $10-$40 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
More: How to Shop for Ceramic Tile
Ideabook updated on April 17, 2012.
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Laura: These folks have a showroom in Macon and they are Walker Zanger dealers, among many others: http://www.traditionsintile.com/Default.aspx
What's your take on porcelain tile made to look like stone (or wood), for that matter? I like the look but am too lazy to seal. :-)
What would be the best type of flooring for a home with 3 large dogs?
Stacey: Thanks for the referrals.
Mrswonderful: Without seeing the space you're talking about I can't venture a guess. Your best bet would be to go to a tile showroom in your area and make an appointment to have someone come out to see your space. It's what they do and most of them are very good at it. It won't cost you any more than it would if you did it all yourself and in fact, you'd probably save money that way.
I do not think we are tougher on flooring than anyone else but accidents happen ...although none of the doggie variety. I am thinking that we should be considering another stone product? Please clarify for us.
Thank you.
Natural stone is a long-lasting material but one thing it isn't is pristine-looking after its been lived on. It's softer than ceramic imitations and I have to disclaim that it stains and scratches. And it does. However, those minor blemishes that can happen only add to its character, they don't make it look dirty or bad.
If you take care of your stone floors properly they will look great for as long as you're in your home. But you have to take care of them properly. Never use acidic or abrasive cleaners on them and always wipe up spills immediately. Those two steps alone will prevent anything unsightly from happening.
Another important thing to do is to have your installer seal it with a high-quality sealer and then stick to a regular schedule of applying the sealer.
Also, never drag a heavy object like a refrigerator over a travertine floor. Use a heavy-duty hand truck to move heavy appliances and be sure to life things like sofas when you move them.
If you're kind to your floors they'll be kind back. Travertine's not so tough to live with. really. People have been walking on travertine for millennia.
However, if you're not sure, look at some ceramic alternatives. You'll be surprised how much they look like stone. Another way to figure out of you're making the right decision is to bring a piece of the stone you want to use home and then put it through its paces. See if the things that it's likely to run across in your home will stain it.
Look at all of your options and then make a decision.
Thanks!
Any boady needs to Natural stone tiles very low rate , I can give to them. Please contact to me
Thanks so much for sharing our Solid Ovals floor. Here's a shot with a guest: http://bit.ly/nTnWSk
Thanks for posting this! I really do learn so much here. I am in the midst of sealer discussions for my walls and floors. Of course I have some New Ravenna mosaic and this is a great thread of practical info. I also have a shower of solid Bianco Antico and am considering honed Calacatta counter tops that I was concerned about. A thousand thanks!
Thanks, Stacey