Before You Buy Natural Stone

If you cherish individuality as much as you cherish the earth, then a natural stone floor is for you. A natural stone floor is impressive. The unique markings, coloring and sizes of each individual stone can be arranged for rooms of grandeur or for the relaxing aura of the outdoors. Rarely, if ever, are there two identical pieces. Nature's cycles define the splendor and personality of each natural stone. It will define the appearance, the hardness and the porousness. If you decide on installing a natural stone floor, you will be walking on a floor that has taken centuries to create. Every day you will be able to marvel at the exquisite designs of nature.

Nature defines the strength and qualities of natural stone, but today factories define the size of the stones. Once the large stones are mined from the earth, they are rolled off to factories where modern machines cut each stone into its uniquely designed slab. Once the slabs are cut, tiles are made. Some common sizes are 12”x12” or 16”x16”, and you'll find “bull nose” stones and stones with a 90-degree edge. Machinery ensures that sizes will match, but nature holds the charm of the individual stone's markings into place. Each stone will have veining, color variations and crystallization patterns that differ. Therefore, the stones you view in our showroom are just a sampling – the actual markings on the stone that arrives in your home is a historically unique design that belongs only to you. Modern factories are able to manipulate selections to create an appealing, well-blended work of art that is yours alone.

Natural stone adds depth and dimension to a room. The shape and size of each stone varies in a degree that is greater than that of ceramic tile. Stones are not perfectly smooth or even, and there will be naturally differing indents and curvatures on each stone. You can add to your remodeling and interior decorating plans by creating a lighting scheme that accents the stone's moving slopes, shadows and crystallization. If you are adding a natural stone floor to more than one room, the color and stone will not have an identical match, but the completed design will cascade beautifully from one room to another.

When you are choosing a floor covering material for a room, the first thing to consider is the demands of the room. Kitchens typically require a tough, durable floor. In this case, you would choose a harder stone rather than a more porous soft stone. The same would hold true for a living room that is full of activity, eating and drinking. However a natural stone floor in a bedroom with a lesser degree of activity would not suffer from installing a more porous soft stone.

Types of Stone Floors

The hardness and softness of a stone generally refers to its scratch resistance. Diamond has the highest scratch resistance, but a stunning diamond floor is most likely limited to dreams. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Talc is the softest mineral. An old school phrase for remembering the official hardness scale is a “diamond can scratch anything, and anything can scratch talc.” Natural stone floors fall somewhere in the middle.

Granite is the hardest stone, and its hardness rating is closest to the diamond. Granite is created from quartz, feldspar and mica and is an igneous rock, formed from hot liquid rock. Quartz has power and beauty. It can scratch steel, but it gives granite its unique crystallization properties. Quartz is made from silicon dioxide which is a chemical used to make glass, and it is one of the most easily found minerals on the earth. It also grows (very slowly) over time. Natural crystal can be clear, white, rose, smoky, amethyst (purple), rose or citrine (yellow). However white quartz is the most commonly found. Feldspar is a softer mineral used in pottery applications, and mica adds glitter and metallic properties. Granite is wonderful for busy kitchens, hallways and bathrooms.

Marble is a grand choice for a natural stone floor. Its derivative from Latin and Greek is simply a white, glistening stone that shines. Marble's nobility and grandeur has remained for centuries. Despite its upscale stature, marble is simply a metamorphic rock created from limestone. Limestone is a rock created by years of sediments (chiefly from calcium carbonate). However, when it is crystalline and pressured it turns to marble. The pressure changes the color variations and veining patterns that create its exquisite flowing design. Although hard, marble is more porous than granite, and is ideal for sitting rooms, libraries, studies and fireplaces. Its charm and grace will be comfortably welcome anywhere in your home and marble makes a stunning appearance in any room designed for entertaining.

Travertine is formed in water, and is a hard white limestone with semi-crystalline properties. In travertine you'll find earthy colors and an uneven surface with cavities and holes that can filled or left for a pleasing textured surface.

There are many other stones used in natural stone floor plans. Slate is a layered simple fine-grained rock infused with color. A stone floor can give your room the neutral element it needs to balance your color scheme, it can energize your room with color and natural beauty, or it can add the splendor of a posh sophistication. Visiting one of our Chicago area showrooms will help you see the breadth and depth of natural stone floor coverings. If you are considering a stone floor, feel free to ask us any questions that can help you with your decision. We want you to make the decision that is best for your home and we are here to help you create the home that reflects your unique style.