Natural Stone Flooring
What Is natural stone flooring?
Natural stone is quarried from natural deposits or formations. The harvested blocks are cut to required thickness, and usually have one surface honed or polished. Each surface is essentially a cross section of the original material. Tiles and panels are cut in the factory, and then shipped.
Finishes
A honed finish is just short of a full polish and is a viable surface treatment for flooring. Less dense materials such as sandstones cannot always be polished and are routinely offered in a honed finish.
A polished surface is more popular. When polished, the true colors of the natural stone can be fully achieved, along with the of the pattern or veining. In addition to looking great, a polished surface is easier to maintain.
A polished surface doesn't change the nature of the stone, and cannot protect the stone from influences that may be encountered in the lifetime of the flooring.
What types of natural stone flooring are there?
- Aggregates
- Alabaster
- Bluestone
- Cultured Marble
- Dolomite
- Granite
- Flagstone
- Limestone
- Marble
- Onyx
- Quartzite
- Sandstone
- Serpentine
- Siliceous
- Slate
- Soapstone
- Terrazzo
- Travertine
How is natural stone flooring installed ?
With natural stone, installation over existing flooring ( if it is sturdy enough) can be risky, since the slightest defect in the under-layer can hurt. Therefore the old floor should be removed.
Stone tile requires an under-layer resistant to temperature and moisture changes. For natural stone, something such as cement board will ensure the quality of the installation.