NATURAL STONE FLOORING – TYPES, PROS, CONS & MUCH MORE!

Are you looking for a flooring material to upgrade indoors as well as outdoors? Natural stone flooring is one of the perfect options among all. Coated with durability and richness of minerals, natural stone flooring has become today’s emerging choice. Be it about living room surface or patio flooring, stone flooring serves as a truly worth it option. Moreover, it is well-known for covering the kitchen, bathroom, foyer, backyard, front yard, pool deck areas, etc. 

Besides the applications areas, stone flooring comes in various types which makes it well-suited for each place. Let’s jump into the detail and get familiar with:

What is Natural Stone Flooring	Cons of Natural Stone Flooring
Types Available	Inspiring Remodeling Ideas
Pros of Natural Stone Flooring	Floor Cleaning tips

 

 

WHAT IS NATURAL STONE FLOORING?

Masonry floors cannot go alone. They always need a coating that acts as a protective cover and makes the area presentable. Likewise, natural stone flooring is a coating of durability, purity, and stiffness that can add a unique charm. Quarried from the lap of nature and dimensional cut as per the demand, natural stones prove a wise flooring choice. Be it a natural stone tile, irregular flagstone saw cut, or chiseled pavers, natural stone stands well at any phase.

Stone flooring is not only becoming a top trending option for residential projects. It is equally growing in the industrial as well as commercial sectors. So, if you are having any project that needs a floor makeover, consider natural stone products for a chic appeal.

TYPES AVAILABLE

It is vital to know about the types available to make your decision an easy process. Talking particularly about real stone flooring, you will get immense options when stepping out into the market. Have a look at the popular stone flooring types that will never let your construction project down:

SANDSTONE: 

Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock quarried deep from the earth’s crust. It is composed of clay, silicates, feldspar, and quartz. It is popular among the people because of its distinctive style. Mainly found in the warm & earthen hues. 

Sandy’s textures and mottled striations make it appealing. Sandstone flooring, being hard and stiff serves as an ideal option for laying near the pool decks and patio installations. Soft and calm hues can set a mood when applied to the backyard flooring.

LIMESTONE: 

Limestone is also a popular sedimentary rock with its own characteristics. It is composed of calcium carbonate and mineral calcite. Limestone flooring is a durable, real and beautiful option to develop a sophisticated view. 

Muted to dark tones give birth to a number of design options that creates a presentable environment. Although limestone is porous in texture and would recommend applying sealers for the best results. One can choose limestone flooring for front yard installations to leave a high impact on the viewers. 

TRAVERTINE:

Do you know?

Travertine belongs to the limestone family which came into formation by hot spring water. So, the sandy colors blend nicely with the design wherever applied. 

The only things that one needs to take care of while working with travertine are the use of sealers and mild cleaners. Its unique appearance and texture make it one of the best flooring options for both indoors and outdoors. 

QUARTZITE:

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that becomes hard with the process of excessive heating under the earth’s crust. Each piece of natural stone quartzite is recrystallized in the heat that brings a slight sprinkling touch to its surface. Mainly comes in gold, green and beige tones to enrich the interiors/ exteriors. Good compressive strength makes it an ideal floor covering choice. 

SLATESTONE:

By choosing stone flooring, you will get endless options. Slatestone is one of the other types available in the range of natural stone flooring. It is composed of fine grains, shales, and cleft texture. Slate being a metamorphic rock is well known for its durability, sustainability, and hardness. Slatestone flooring is available in single to multi-color with various design styles. 

GRANITE:

Granite flooring is one of the most popular choices for ages. It is igneous rock mainly composed of the minerals quartz, mica, and feldspar. Granite is a durable choice if you are planning any commercial or a driveway project. 

In fact, it is not only durable but equally appealing as well. Granite was usually supposed to come in blacks and greys. But with the advancement in the stone industry, granite flooring is also now available in Golds. Thus, make your project shine like gold with the application of granite flooring. 

BASALT

Basalt is extrusive igneous rock used for paving the indoor as well as outdoor surfaces. Being a solid rock, basalt flooring is well suited for heavy foot traffic areas. Be it about a pathway design or patio flooring, basalt magnifies everything with its charm. How don’t want the bold and dramatic look? Bring it home with basalt flooring installation and feel the essence of nature.  

PROS OF NATURAL STONE FLOORING

Not one or two, but there are endless benefits of using natural stone flooring for your construction project. From durability to longevity, appearance to functionality, and eco-friendly to sustainability, stone flooring carries everything. 

Durability to longevity

Talking first about the major aspect of the construction project i.e. a hard-wearing framework. It can only be possible if you have a strong base. Thus, nothing can provide a stiff base than natural stone products. 

Thinking of backyard renovation or a pool deck remodeling, stone flooring options by Stone Universe Inc leads to a durable choice. Being a natural stone supplier, SUI picks floor stone with high compressive strength and low bending rate. Not only these two, but flexural strength also plays a vital role in defining the durability factor.

It adds a lot to the physical strength of the construction area. This makes it best suitable for even heavy foot traffic places. If you opt for a durable material at the initial stage, it remains long-lasting for the years to come. 

Appearance to functionality

You cannot go with one when it’s about your dream project. Appearance and functionality both go sides by side – when it’s natural stone! Attractive in appearance and highly functional stone flooring are all that your renovation project demands.

Neutrals carrying rich mineral properties give an exotic appeal to the area. It is equally suitable for both interiors & exteriors in the terms of functionality. It can resist weather conditions, climatic conditions, and normal wear and tear. So, what are you waiting for? Choose natural stone flooring and flow with the latest design trends. 

Eco-Friendly to Sustainability

Coming next to the green attribute, natural stone products fulfill the green attribute principle and become an eco-friendly choice. Comes from the lap of nature, it keeps the environment safe. It does not carry any added chemicals or synthetic sin its formation. Moreover, it brings you closer to nature by spreading natural essence all around. Advanced technology in the stone industry leads to high production at a lower cost which makes it a sustainable choice as well. 

CONS OF NATURAL STONE FLOORING

No doubt that natural stone flooring proves advantageous over other building materials, but it has some cons as no material is entirely perfect. Let’s discuss:

• Water can seep in between the layers of slate where water is subject to freeze/ thaw. Not all slatestones are freeze/thaw resistant. So, it is recommended to apply quality sealers when you want to install them in the frost areas.
• Not all the sandstones are equally harder and dense. Its compressive strength may vary depending upon the presence of calcite in it, which can make it a bit softer.
• Efflorescence can cause on the limestone with the passage of time which can lower its brightness and natural hue. 

Each coin has two sides. Keeping in view a number of natural stone flooring advantages, some of its negative aspects can be overlooked when you are not in the mood to compromise beauty and durability. 

INSPIRING REMODELING IDEAS

We are always there to inspire you in your dream construction project. The floor choice is an important aspect. These floor design ideas will inspire you to attain the best for your place. Whether you want to remodel entire coverings or just want a part renovation, have a look at one of the best picks:

CLASSY SANDSTONE – WITH VEINS

    

If you are a texture lover, this sandstone paver flooring will surely be going to catch your attention. The deep shades of orange, beige, and tan with violet flecks on the stone surface give an amazing appeal.

See, the way in which this classy sandstone paver brings out its unique characteristics. A multi-colored paver flooring, when paired with a nice seating arrangement gives a wow appeal. The contrast and boldness of rainbow pavers unhide even the muted elements of the scene. 

CHOOSE BOLD CONTRAST FOR YARD FLOORING

Exteriors are all about creating a bold style statement to make it captivating. What goes better than a solid tumbled black flooring? The charcoal and grey neutrals merged so well to bring an eye-catchy antique black. 

Filled with the hardness of limestone and bold in character, this natural stone flooring is the perfect inspiration for your upcoming project. Varied size natural stone pavers are installed in a defined pattern to give more volume to the landscaping design.

GO LIMITLESS WITH SLATESTONE FLOORING

Who doesn’t want to have an outdoor grilling station or patio to meet today’s landscaping style demand? Thus, make it presentable with slatestone flooring installation. 

Here, saw cut pavers of California gold were applied to the exterior flooring to make look smooth and stylish. Dark earthen tones with hints of gold, and blue creates a nice impact. Pavers with the non-tumbled finish and sawn edges adjust on the floor so beautifully completing the entire surroundings. 

CHOOSE BASALT FOR A MAGNIFICANT TOUCH

Opt for basalt stone flooring for a bold character. When you go for basalt, it open ups various rooms for design. It shows a fine contrast of bold and deep look without making it too gloomy. Easy to clean and simple to maintain, basalt flooring is one of the best choices for paving the floors. 

Every piece of basalt tells a story of durability and beauty for a long. Square rectangular pieces of paver jumbo pattern are used on the entire flooring. Thus, making it attractive in appeal and durable in nature.

SANDY BROWNS IN SANDSTONE

Sandstone flooring is well-known for its sandy and deserted tones. This landscaping design idea proves it true. Here, brown paver flooring is used to uplift the traditional backyard into a modern style statement. 

Browns with muted beige, grey, and tan somewhere on the sandstone surface pair up well to create a tempting design scheme. Grab this design idea to renovate your backyard or front yard flooring.

These are just a few inspirations that can make your mind opt for natural stone flooring. A lot more are there in our inspiration project gallery.  

FLOOR CLEANING TIPS

Natural stone flooring is never too tricky to manage. All you need to do is the proper and timely care of the stone. With regular cleaning, the stone floor becomes new, year after year. 

Let’s keep it simple. Routine cleaning with a duster and lukewarm water maintains the original beauty of stone for a long. Use a clean rag mop and a soft cloth for best results

For its makeover and extra preservation, good-quality sealers can be used. Sealers with a medium pH level are a good go option. Highly reactive acids can cause dullness to the floor stone. So, one should be particular while having those foods or drinks that contain acid.  

FINAL WORDS: 

When you are surrounded by a plethora of options to choose from for your dream place, it gives a nice feel. Plus open up various rooms to design the project in the way you want. Natural stone exudes luxury by creating a style statement that stands well to the test of time. Natural stone flooring is a popular choice among architects, contractors, interior designers, and even homeowners. The reason is the availability of good options, visual impact, and high rate of durability. 

Unfolding the pages of history, sandstone flooring symbioses stiffness. Whereas limestone and travertine flooring are the trademark of durability. Granite and basalt flooring set standards of longevity. All you need to do is having regular care of natural stone flooring by following do’s and don’ts.