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A Guide to Natural Stone Floor Tiles

Natural stone floor tiles have a unique beauty and come in an enormous range of colours

and textures suitable for homes from the ultra-contemporary to rustic. But if you are

considering them for your home it is important to know a bit about them so that you choose

the right type.

Natural stone floor tiles have a unique beauty and come in a variety of colours and textures.

But if you are considering them for your home it is important to know a bit about them.

Natural stone has been used for flooring for thousands of years in public buildings, places of

worship, royal residences and grand houses because of its beauty and durability. Typical

examples of natural stone are limestone, granite, slate and marble and they are all carvedout of rock that has been quarried. Quarrying and then carving the stone is a labour-

intensive process that for thousands of years was done by hand. More recently

technological advances have meant that the process can be mechanised with the use of

advanced tools and the consequence of that is that natural stone tiles have become

substantially more affordable. Although there are still traditional craftsmen who cut and

polish the stone by hand.

Natural stone quarries, both ancient and modern, exist in many parts of the world from

Europe to India, Asia and North America.

How are Natural Stone Tiles Made?

Large sections of rock are first cut from the earth using either explosives or diamond cutting

equipment, depending on the type and hardness of the rock and its physical location. These

large blocks of rock are then cut into smaller slabs of varying thickness using high-speed

saws and the slabs are polished by machines to give different textural surfaces from rustic

to ultra-smooth. Each slab is then cut into a range of smaller sizes suitable for wall and floor

tiles using special water-cooled saws and given a final polish before being ready for the

consumer.

Why Choose Natural Stone?

Natural stone tiles come in a huge range of styles, colours and finishes from sleek,

contemporary limestone to classic marble or rustic slate so can suit any type of interior.

They are both beautiful and unique because, as a natural material, no two tiles will be

identical so your room can have an identity all of its own. The finish is particularly important

because it can create a very different look even with the same stone from the same quarry.Typical Natural Stone Types Used For Tiles

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Travertine is a type of limestone with a honeycomb structure and a lot of surface

indentations. These dents can be filled with resin for a smooth surface or left unfilled for a

textured surface. Colours range from pale creams to dark reddish browns.

Limestone is formed when seashells settle in sediment, which over time hardens to

sedimentary rock so fossilised shells are a typical feature. Colours range from cream to

golden brown.

Granite is an igneous rock so is a very hard stone making it extremely durable; it comes in

an enormous range of rich colours and is commonly used in the home for kitchen worktops

as well as flooring.

Marble is familiar to all of us from the ancient classical buildings of Rome and Greece and

the many famous Italian sculptures. It comes in a variety of different colours typically with

contrasting veining but the darker marbles are not suitable for wet areas because of their

porosity.

Slate is composed of clay, quartz and shale and has a rustic appearance due to its natural

layered look. Because it is water-resistant it is frequently used for floor tiles but is also used

for roof tiles and patio tiles.

Natural Stone Finishes

Polished for a glossy shine which may need regular maintenance to preserve the shine.

Honed for a matt or satin finish which is more resistant to scratching and needs littlemaintenance.

Acid-washed for anantique look which reveals the crystal structure within the stone and is

highly scratch-resistant..

Flamed for a rough texture which is perfect where a non-slip surface is requiredcreated

by using ablowtorch on the stone until the surface crystals explode.

Tumbled for a smooth but slightly pitted surface with uneven edges for a raw, natural finish

typically used for small tiles and decorative border tiles.

Brushed for a naturally worn look suitable for restoration work in old buildings created by

brushing the tile surface wil metal brushes.

Tile manufacturers now produce porcelain andceramic tileswith a natural stone effect and

also manufactured stone tiles made from natural stone chips suspended in cement or resin

but even the best qualityporcelain floor tilescant quite beat the unique look and feel of

natural stonefloor tiles.

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