Things to Consider When Purchasing Natural Stone

A natural stone floor offers allure and durability, making it a popular choice for many residential and commerical spaces. Natural stone occurs in the natural world, making it more desirable than man-made flooring materials. People opt for natural stone flooring if they are not afraid of spending that extra few dollars a square foot for a material that endures traffic. Will the floor be prone to spills? Will the floor see at lot of dirt and dust? If your answer is "yes" to these questions, natural stone floors are for you. 

Here are a few other things to consider when buying natural stone flooring:

Your Varied Options

Natural stone comes in a variety of materials: Limestone, granite, travertine, and marble are a few of the many natural stone options you have to work with. 

Limestone: This sedimentary stone consist of organic material like sediments and shells. Most limestone is natural colored and porous (unless treated). 

Granite: Granite is formed from quartz, feldspar, and mica which are fuzed together by a natural heating and cooling process. Granite can come in many colors and can be fabricated to many textures. Granite has beautiful speckling and veining, making it a popular option for floors of all kind.

Marble: This type of stone is formed through calcium carbonate deposits. Marble has the appearance of a changed its structure to a crystalline, sugary texture. The flooring has intricate veins and swirls, giving off a high-class look.

Travertine: Travertine is a heated form of limestone. Travertine is available in natural hues; and often many stones have a crystal venining to them.

Natural Stone is Unique

Because it occurs naturally on the earth, no two stones are completely alike. Crystallization and metamorphosis occur to create a multi-stone composite that results in a completely original and unique look each and every time. The uniqueness of each natural stone tile is part of what adds to its allure.

Maintenance

Natural stone is easy to clean, but cleaning measures are quite specific. A dust mop should be used regularly to pick up any dirt or debris. Rough sand and dirt can lead to scratches on your natural stone floor. Spills should be cleaned up immediately, as some types of stones are porous and can soak up liquids. Depending on the type of finish and the type of stone, a sealer can be applied in order to protect the flooring from spills.

It's not uncommon for natural stone to last up to 20 years. With proper care and proper installation, you can enjoy your floor for decades. Replacing natural stone tiles can be tricky, however chipping is a bit easier. Simply regrout areas that are chipped with the same color grout used on the first installation, leveling the chipped area with the rest of the surface.