How to Find Right Stone Tile for Your Home
Get the pros and cons of slate, travertine, sandstone, marble and granite
Natural stone has been popular for use on floors for centuries and for very good reason. Stone tile brings the colours and texture of nature to our homes and adds a quality and warmth to a room that’s not possible with any other material.
Because natural stone comes out of the earth, there can be wild variations in its colour and quality, so be sure to do your homework when shopping for stone tile for your floor. Order enough material to complete the job in one shipment – that will minimise mismatched lots. As is the case with any flooring material, get a case or two extra. If you have to repair a floor later, the stone you want may not be available.
Let’s take a look at the most popular stone tile materials: Slate, travertine, sandstone, granite and marble. Which one would you choose?
Because natural stone comes out of the earth, there can be wild variations in its colour and quality, so be sure to do your homework when shopping for stone tile for your floor. Order enough material to complete the job in one shipment – that will minimise mismatched lots. As is the case with any flooring material, get a case or two extra. If you have to repair a floor later, the stone you want may not be available.
Let’s take a look at the most popular stone tile materials: Slate, travertine, sandstone, granite and marble. Which one would you choose?
The density of a given slate relates directly to its cost. The denser it is the more likely it is not to flake and fall apart.
Slate pros: Tends to be dark; highly resilient
Cons: Needs to be installed by someone who knows what he or she’s doing, be sure to figure installation into the final cost.
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways and kitchens
Check out these 5 kitchen tiles that rule the roost
Slate pros: Tends to be dark; highly resilient
Cons: Needs to be installed by someone who knows what he or she’s doing, be sure to figure installation into the final cost.
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways and kitchens
Check out these 5 kitchen tiles that rule the roost
Travertine
This is another commonly-encountered stone. It’s often sold as marble or limestone, even though it’s neither.
Travertine’s a sedimentary rock composed of calcite, and as such it’s a good bit softer than its limestone kin. It’s nearly impossible to keep a shine, but once it settles into its native, matte finish, few materials offer the warmth that travertine does.
This is another commonly-encountered stone. It’s often sold as marble or limestone, even though it’s neither.
Travertine’s a sedimentary rock composed of calcite, and as such it’s a good bit softer than its limestone kin. It’s nearly impossible to keep a shine, but once it settles into its native, matte finish, few materials offer the warmth that travertine does.
Travertine gets a lot of bad press for being a fragile material, but the Trevi Fountain in Rome is made from travertine, and it’s been there for 300 years. That says a thing or two about travertine’s longevity.
Travertine pros: Wildly variable patterns and colours, feels soft underfoot
Cons: Has a tendency to scratch and stain
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Travertine pros: Wildly variable patterns and colours, feels soft underfoot
Cons: Has a tendency to scratch and stain
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Marble
In ancient times, kings and caesars demanded marble floors, and in these more democratic times, you can too. Even though it’s another stone that’s prone to staining and scratching, marble has character.
It’s harder and more resilient than travertine but it does need some extra attention.
Wondering how to choose the right marble for your floor?
In ancient times, kings and caesars demanded marble floors, and in these more democratic times, you can too. Even though it’s another stone that’s prone to staining and scratching, marble has character.
It’s harder and more resilient than travertine but it does need some extra attention.
Wondering how to choose the right marble for your floor?
Marble benefits from professional sealing, and it’s better left with a honed finish.
Marble pros: Beautiful patterns and colours, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors. Prone to stains and scratches
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Marble pros: Beautiful patterns and colours, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors. Prone to stains and scratches
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Granite
Probably the hardest natural stone out there is granite. Nothing else will hold a shine or repel water the way granite will. However granite’s resilience is double-edged sword. Its shine and hardness make it an unforgiving surface despite its beauty.
Granite pros: Beautiful colours, highly resilient, can be used indoors or out
Cons: Can seem rather cold
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Take a look at these 5 popular granites for kitchen countertops
Probably the hardest natural stone out there is granite. Nothing else will hold a shine or repel water the way granite will. However granite’s resilience is double-edged sword. Its shine and hardness make it an unforgiving surface despite its beauty.
Granite pros: Beautiful colours, highly resilient, can be used indoors or out
Cons: Can seem rather cold
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Take a look at these 5 popular granites for kitchen countertops
Limestone
This is another calficerous stone and it’s similar to travertine. Unlike travertine however, limestone’s been hardened through time and tectonic action. That hardening makes it a better and more resilient material for use as flooring.
This is another calficerous stone and it’s similar to travertine. Unlike travertine however, limestone’s been hardened through time and tectonic action. That hardening makes it a better and more resilient material for use as flooring.
Limestone often keeps its striations as it forms, and it has a tendency to look like wood.
Limestone pros: Beautiful patterns and colours, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Limestone pros: Beautiful patterns and colours, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Sandstone is another metamorphic rock that lends itself to flooring The wild colour variations of other stones aren’t as prevalent with sandstone and it’s easier to find consistent tones with this material.
Sandstone pros: Extremely resilient
Cons: Minimal colour options
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Read more:
6 Stone Floors Best Suited for Indian Homes
Tell us:
What type of flooring have you used in your home? Why did you choose it? Tell us in the Comments below.
Sandstone pros: Extremely resilient
Cons: Minimal colour options
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Read more:
6 Stone Floors Best Suited for Indian Homes
Tell us:
What type of flooring have you used in your home? Why did you choose it? Tell us in the Comments below.
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This is probably the type of stone tile you’ll encounter most often. It’s a metamorphic rock that splits into thin sheets easily. Once it cleaves into sheets like that, it’s easy to turn it into tile.