Stone Buying Guide
From Floor Coverings
Floor Shoppers Manual
What is stone flooring?
Stone flooring adds significant value to your home because of its quality, elegance and formal appearance. At the same time, it can create a warm, cozy atmosphere in places like bedrooms and dens. But is stone flooring the best option in every situation? Having the right information is all it takes to make a good decision regarding the purchase of stone flooring for your home. Stone flooring is made from real stone that is quarried from solid rock masses deep into the earth. It is gathered and sent to flooring manufacturers that will cut the stone into slabs and then form them into stone tiles. It is the one of the strongest and most durable flooring materials available.
Where can I install stone flooring in my home?
Some of the best places to put down stone flooring is in areas that require a water-resistant material, like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and outdoor patios. A few problems do exist with the use of stone flooring in the kitchen, however. One problem is that stone flooring is very sensitive to acids like lemon juice and vinegar. Spills of this nature can cause damage to the floor, so it is important to use a high quality sealer and to select a stone flooring type that is especially resistant to acid damage. Another problem with stone flooring is that when it gets wet, it can be very slippery. Adding a slip-resistant sealer or purchasing a stone flooring type that is textured will help alleviate this problem.
Is stone flooring ok for my childrens room?
Living rooms and bedrooms decorated with stone flooring create a certain element of warmth and at the same time add elegance and formality if this is desired. The use of Area Rugs bring the air to a more casual level and help to cushion the hardness of stone flooring. The only room where stone flooring is not recommended is a child’s bedroom or playroom. This is because, stone flooring is very hard and if a child were to slip and fall, they could be injured. Elderly members of the family might share the same concern, since they tend to be a little unstable when walking anyway.
Is stone flooring ok for my pets?
Stone flooring stands up to the wear that having pets may create and certain types also resist scratching. Other types do not and should not be used in areas where pets can cause a lot of damage. Otherwise, high traffic is no problem for stone flooring and it will likely last a lifetime. Stone flooring will not fade in the sunlight, but noise can be a problem. Choosing the appropriate sound proofing Foam underlayment will help to reduce the noise.
Stone flooring types.
When you shop for stone flooring, you will notice that there are several stone types to choose from. Types include, slate, sandstone, marble, granite, limestone, travertine, onyx, flagstone and manufactured stone. Each of these types come with their own range of colors. Stone floor finishes include polished, honed, acid-washed, saw-cut refined, flamed, split-faced, tumbled and brushed. Slate is a stone type made up of slate and quartz and is highly water and stain resistant. It does, however, have a tendency to flake if not sealed well. Sandstone is a type of quartz stone that has a textured surface. Marble is famous for its beautiful veined appearance. Its main problem is its susceptibility to scratches and sensitivity to acid. Granite is made up of a variety of minerals and quartz and is one of the hardest stone available. It is very scratch resistant. Limestone is mostly calcite which includes shells and coral and is sensitive to acid. Travertine flooring will be unique in every home it is placed, because no two stones are alike. It has a rugged texture of pits, waves and ridges. It is slippery when wet and is sensitive to acid. Onyx is a quartz stone that is available in rainbow colors. It is mostly used in formal settings. Flagstone is commonly used in walkways and patios and is a thinly cut quartz stone that stands up to the weather. Manufactured stone uses chips of stone in an epoxy resin or cement base. It is less expensive than natural stone.
Stone Flooring finishes
Certain stones will have a polished finish that makes them shiny and reflective. Other stones will have a matte finish called honed that is easy to maintain and resists scratching. Still others will have the rustic look of acid-washed finish. If a stone is saw-cut refined, it goes through a process to remove the saw cuts that were made when the stone was cut. Flamed is a process done to stone that makes it slip resistant by heating the stone to a very high temperature and then flash cooling it, giving it a rough texture. Split-faced is a uneven, coarse finish and brush finish possesses a slightly worn appearance. The tumbled finish is acquired in a very interesting way. The stone is actually tumbled in a machine similarly to the way clothes are tumbled in a dryer. This process rounds the edges of the stones and gives the stone a pitted and smooth surface.
Do I need an underlayment for stone flooring?
The first step to installing stone flooring is making sure that the sub-floor is clean and dry. Choosing an appropriate underlayment is also an important part of the process. Anti-fracture underlayment is a thin, flexible layer that prevents a concrete slab from causing a crack in the stone tiles. Cork underlayment is good for adding extra sound proofing and crack protection. Cement backerboard has a cement core that is surrounded by fiberglass. This underlayment provides the most water resistant protection. During the installation process, you will need to lay mortar directly onto the underlayment and then lay the stone tiles on top of the mortar. Grout fills in the gaps between stone tiles and the entire surface is covered with a protective sealer. Grout comes in colors to match or complement the stone flooring that you choose. Non-sanded grout is the most likely type of grout used in stone flooring.
Stone Flooring prices.
There are a few different things that will affect the price of stone flooring. Some types of stones are rarer than others and require more complicated strategies to quarry out of the rock. These will be more expensive and so will the stone tiles that are manufactured in countries that have higher production costs, like the US, Canada and Europe. However, these countries will likely produce a higher quality stone flooring than countries like Turkey, India, China and Brazil. Also, the more complicated the finish, the higher the price will be. Polished finish is the least expensive. If your stone flooring has been gauged, calibrated or rectified, it will also be more expensive. These processes involve the cut of the stone to certain thicknesses and dimensions.
Care and Maintenance
The care and maintenance of stone flooring involves regular sweeping, dust and damp mopping and using a cleaner that is recommended by the manufacturer. Be careful not to use acid cleaners on marble, limestone and travertine. The placement of floor mats at entryways will help to preserve the finish from damage related to high traffic.
