Looking for the greatest flooring material and that luxurious, high-quality aesthetic you see on home renovation shows? Natural stone should be at the top of your priority list. Natural stone flooring is well-known for its timeless beauty, durability, and long-term value. Stone tile flooring is ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, hallways, living rooms, and patios.
This essay will explain what natural stone flooring is, its types.
What is Natural Stone Flooring?
Natural stone flooring is tile that is carved straight from stone blocks generated by Mother Earth over millions of years, as opposed to man-made tile that is manufactured by mixing various minerals and chemicals, such as porcelain or ceramic tile.
For thousands of years, stone tile has been used. Marble, travertine, limestone, granite, quartzite, slate, and sandstone are the most prevalent varieties of natural stone flooring. Its ageless elegance is one of its numerous features. Natural stone homes and buildings are timeless, and tile boosts house value.
Natural stone flooring is frequently utilized to give the illusion of spaciousness. This is accomplished by utilising the same material for both the inside and outside parts. Its inherent characteristics allow it to catch and reflect light, giving it an airy and light appearance.
Types of Natural Stone Flooring
Looking for ideas for natural stone flooring? The best place to begin is by knowing about the many varieties available. The following sections provide extensive overviews of the best natural stone floor tiles. We’ll go into the features, pros and disadvantages, pricing, and cleaning afterwards.
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Marble
Marble flooring is well-known for its classic, luxurious appearance, dramatic veining, smooth texture, and high-gloss finish. It is available in a range of hues, with white marble being the most common.
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Granite
When it comes to durability, granite tile outperforms all others and is the best natural stone flooring for kitchens. It has a Mohs hardness rating of 7, making it tougher than marble.
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Travertine
Hot spring water bursts through limestone to make travertine. Its distinct personality and look make it an appealing flooring option.
Travertine tile is an excellent choice for flooring in bathrooms, shower stalls, corridors, living rooms, and laundry rooms.
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Quartzite
Quartzite is well-known as a material for ornamental tiles and wall veneers, but it has recently risen in popularity as a countertop material. It has the appearance of marble but the durability, performance, and minimal maintenance of granite.
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Slate
Another typical floor tile is slate. It is distinguished by its fine grain and distinct cleft texture. The appealing look and durability of slate tile are two main advantages.
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Limestone
Limestone tile is less common than marble or travertine, yet it is as beautiful and has its own distinct features. This sedimentary rock is composed of calcium carbonate in the mineral calcite, similar to marble. Because it occurs in shallow sea water, it contains petrified animals, corals, shells, and algae. That’s fantastic!
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Sandstone
Sandstone is a warm and earthy stone with a sandy ridged texture with rich red, tan, and brown tones that conjures the beach and desert. These are the most prevalent hues, however pink, grey, gold, black, and white are also popular.