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Stone Floors
A honed finish has a flat to low sheen and appears very smooth, although it may be porous. A polished finish creates a glossy surface that brings out the color of a stone. A polished surface is very smooth and not very porous but will wear with time. A flamed finish creates a rough surface developed through intense heat. The surface is very porous. A tumbled finish, created by tumbling pieces of stone, results in a slightly rough, worn texture. A sandblasted finish results from blasting stone with a pressurized flow of water and sand. It creates a textured surface with a matte gloss. A sawn finish shows the rough, circular path of a diamond-tipped saw blade. A bash-hammered finish is a textured surface created by a pounding action.
Water-jet options
You might see precut stone medallions, borders, or inlays when shopping for flooring. These look fabulous and will add a custom touch to your floor. New water-jet cutting techniques allow these special pieces to be crafted quickly and affordably. Usually designs are created first on computer. Then the design is used to guide the water jets through the stone cutting.
Care and cleaning
Dust-mop your stone floor frequently with a clean, untreated, dry dust mop, and it will last for many years. Dirt and grit do the most damage to a stone floor. Area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help keep abrasives to a minimum. Blot up spills immediately, and use a pH-neutral detergent or stone soap to clean your floor. Do not use vinegar or lemon juice.
Sealants
To protect against staining and acid damage, you should apply a sealant on porous stones and finishes. You can choose to seal minimally with a stone soap or more intently with a penetrating sealer and a hard wax. Whatever sealer you select, test its appearance on a sample of your stone before applying it to the floor.
Installation
The irregularity of natural stone calls for a thick cushion of mortar to compensate for varying thickness. If working with a wood subfloor, your contractor may want to protect it with felt and possibly a layer of wire mesh to prevent the mortar from cracking. Your contractor will likely work in sections, spreading the mortar in stages. The mortar should set for 24 hours. Then the joints will be filled with similar mortar. A sealer can be applied once the mortared joints have dried.
Water-jet options
You might see precut stone medallions, borders, or inlays when shopping for flooring. These look fabulous and will add a custom touch to your floor. New water-jet cutting techniques allow these special pieces to be crafted quickly and affordably. Usually designs are created first on computer. Then the design is used to guide the water jets through the stone cutting.
Care and cleaning
Dust-mop your stone floor frequently with a clean, untreated, dry dust mop, and it will last for many years. Dirt and grit do the most damage to a stone floor. Area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help keep abrasives to a minimum. Blot up spills immediately, and use a pH-neutral detergent or stone soap to clean your floor. Do not use vinegar or lemon juice.
Sealants
To protect against staining and acid damage, you should apply a sealant on porous stones and finishes. You can choose to seal minimally with a stone soap or more intently with a penetrating sealer and a hard wax. Whatever sealer you select, test its appearance on a sample of your stone before applying it to the floor.
Installation
The irregularity of natural stone calls for a thick cushion of mortar to compensate for varying thickness. If working with a wood subfloor, your contractor may want to protect it with felt and possibly a layer of wire mesh to prevent the mortar from cracking. Your contractor will likely work in sections, spreading the mortar in stages. The mortar should set for 24 hours. Then the joints will be filled with similar mortar. A sealer can be applied once the mortared joints have dried.
