One of the main effects of having stone floors in any home is that they create a powerful impression. More and more people are turning to natural stone floors to invest on. One of the key points that makes stone a popular choice is its ageless and timeless disposition when properly cared for. The greatest thing about stone and its usage looking into the past and the present day is in its versatility and the diverse applications to suit any indoor or outdoor coverings may it be facades, walls, floors, fireplaces, cadenzas, swimming pool surrounds, etc.. Natural stone comes in thousands of variations but they all fall under a few unique categories which should be understood prior to using them noting their strengths and limitations. Some notable stone categories are marble, limestone, travertine, granite, onyx, slate, quartz and sandstone.
Being the people’s choice, here are some tips that you might want to consider before investing on stone floors for your home.
Longevity
We’ve seen many ancient structures and monuments created in the Middle Ages and modern history all carved or made in solid stone standing majestically up till today. Having your home build in stone would suggest elegance and beauty but most importantly is on how long the surface will outlast. This alone will entice you in having stone floors as they can be timeless. Wood floors requires refinishing sooner or later. While engineered floors needs to be replaced after some years. Stone floors on the other hand if well cared for using the correct maintenance and care techniques may last you a lifetime.
Indoor and Outdoor Use
Stone floors when used both indoors and as outdoor pavers can create a perfect flow when a proper design is executed using the right materials and their appropriate finishes. Seeing your stone floors complimenting the rest of the decor is something spectacular to witness. It will indeed be a proud moment for you.
Stone For All Seasons
When the temperature goes high or low, the innate characteristic of natural stone to absorb and dissipate heat following its ambient temperature is apparent but will be on a slow pace retaining the colder or warmer temperatures for longer as compared to other floor substrates. This makes it ideal for use during Summer, Spring & Autumn. However in winter, it may be a little cold but with today’s underfloor heating technology, your stone floors can remain warm and toasty during these cold months.
Keeping Off Allergens
If you’re allergic to dust, you can trust your stone floor to keep allergens at bay. Allergens have nowhere to hide on these hard sealed surfaces as you can clean them more effectively as compared to very porous materials like wood surfaces, cork or carpet where dust can penetrate deeper into its fibres.
Increased Affordability
These days with many stone importers in Australia with materials arriving from Europe, Middle East & China, The prices of stone has become relatively competitive making it more affordable with the availability of a greater selection to choose from. You will be able to find low grade affordable stone but you will have to accept it for all its variations and defects. On the other hand, there are Grade A top class materials that will only be able to admire unfortunately.
Creating An Anti-Slip Environment
Polished stone surfaces can be slippery when wet. To counter this issue, different stone surface finishes have now been made popular. They are either honed, sawned, chiselled, flamed, etc.. and all these finishes make stone surfaces ideal to be used in a wet environment. This includes shower recesses and external pavers create a much slip resistant surface as required. Seeking professional advice on what stone and surface finish type is most appropriate and is tantamount.
Sealing The Surface
All stone surfaces are porous to an extent some being more that the other. It is pivotal to have its surface sealed using an appropriate sealer. With hundreds of sealers to choose from? Which would you go with? Sealing the surface well makes them impervious to absorption and helps protect it from inside out. All stone surfaces are best sealed with a penetrating sealer to allow breathability while preventing absorbing liquids from penetrating and causing potential stains. Stay away from topical sealers as they are inappropriate and causes more harm than good. Have a look at our time tested penetrating sealers from Germany.
Water Based Types Solvent Based Types
With over 20 years of collective experience in the natural stone industry, Stone Doctor Australia offers you free consultation. Should you need any assistance in stone floor installation or if you have any questions about choosing the right stone type for your home, feel free to call us at 03-9429-1223 or email us at admin@stonedoctor.com.au.
Download: The Advantages Of Using Stone As A Floor Covering