How-To

-Ideas for Great Floors, Sunset

For the most part, natural stone can be used anywhere that ceramic tile can be used. It can be left in its natural rough-hewn state or cut into geometric shapes, including mosaics. And thanks to new technologies, stone is now more competitively priced than ever before. Color and veining patterns are the major distinctions among natural stone. Limestone, marble, granite, slate, and terrazzo are the most common types of stone used for flooring. The one caveat is that the heavy weight of a masonry floor requires a well-supported subfloor.

Limestone
Limestone does not show much graining. It has a smooth, granular surface and varies in hardness. Although limestone is most often seen in creamy white or yellow tones, it also comes in black, gray, and brown. Limestone is more likely to stain than marble.

Marble
Marble, with its veining, is one of the most elegant stones, but susceptible to staining. Featuring one of the widest color ranges in natural stone, marble is available in black, cream, red, white, green, gold, gray, and pink. Some marbles are heavily veined, such as Nero Marquina with its ebony color and white veining, while others, such as Golden Spider, are lightly veined. Still others, such as Yellow Desert, look somewhat mottled, as if they were sponge finished. And there are also creamy soft classics, like Crema Marfil.

Slate
Slate, a fine-grained stone, tends to be thin and splits along natural grains and fissures, creating a rustic textured surface. Slate usually comes in black, gray, or green, but many interesting variations exist.

Granite
Granite is a close-grained rock with a mottled pattern often combining two or more colors and comes in hues from salt-and-pepper to rich rust tones to black. A very hard material, it is easier than marble to maintain. However, it is porous and will stain.

Terrazzo
Terrazzo, also known as agglomerate stone, is a man-made stone that features marble, granite, onyx, or glass chips anchored in a binder of cement or nonporous resin. Terrazzo can be poured in place or precast.

Flagstone
You might hear the term flagstone used in reference to stone paving. Flagstone is simply a generic term for flat slabs of paving stone, usually slate or limestone. These slabs often feature irregular edges and frequently are used outdoors for patios and pool decks, although many flooring designers are bringing this rustic look indoors to garden and sunrooms.

Surface finishes
Not only does a variety of natural stones exist, but there are six main types of surface finishes that you can choose from. More textured finishes are being favored today, as opposed to the high shine from past decades. Their gain can be attributed in part to better slip resistance, but it’s due mainly to their matte appearance.