About Natural Stone Tiles
Stone floors are natural, beautiful, and always stylish. The naturally cool, hard surface is ideal for most climates and does not harbor dust or allergens. Before choosing a specific type of stone, arm yourself with knowledge to find the best fit.
The amount and size of pores in a stone, referred to as porosity, affects its strength and stain resistance. If you plan to install stone in a high-traffic area, such as a kitchen, mudroom, or family bath, you'll want to choose a hard, dense stone that is nonporous, such as granite or slate. Softer, more porous stones, such as marble, limestone, and travertine, require regular applications of sealants and frequent cleaning to prevent staining and pitting. Stone tiles have been used in home interiors for thousands of years. They are made by slicing boulders and slabs of rock into thin squares or rectangles. The appearance of stone varies from tile to tile due to veining, natural imperfections, and even fossils. Color palettes also vary by the type of stone and location of the quarry.
Stone Types
You can find natural stone in an incredible range of colors and patterns. As with gemstones, rare colors and patterns cost the most. Here are some characteristics of the popular varieties:- Granite with hundreds of available varieties, this in-demand stone can be flamed for slip-resistant texture in busy kitchens and bathrooms.
- Limestone is known for its natural, earthen appearance, limestone is formed from sedimentary materials, such as coral and shells. Unlike some stones, when limestone is cut from the same slab, it has little color variation from tile to tile. The stone can be sanded perfectly smooth for a soothing, refined look, or machine-tumbled for a worn look. If you use limestone in a room where acidic liquids might spill, consider sealing this porous material every few years.
- Marble this porous stone is a sophisticated choice for formal spaces but is easily scratched. Slabs or tiles come in many colors, based on where they were quarried. Some varieties of marble are harder and more stain-resistant than others.
- Slate a rustic classic available in geometric pieces and irregular shapes, slate is usually found in dark gray, soft red, and medium green.
- Travertine this crystallized, partially metamorphosed limestone is often mistaken for marble
Porcelanosa Natural Stone Tiles:
Stone is perhaps the most ancient construction material known to man and has been used for building and decoration since the pre-historic age.
With outstanding hardness and resistance, PORCELANOSA Group, through L’Antic Colonial, extracts and works stone from its original state to create a rich variety of tones and formats with multiple areas of application: flooring and Wall tiles, countertops, washbasins, bathtubs, etc.
To achieve an even better finish, L’Antic Colonial applies an advanced treatment to this natural material to protect it. Bioprot is an innovative nanotechnology treatment that is applied to stone to give it added antibacterial properties with a coating that is hygienic and safe for your home.
To see our complete floor and wall tile collections, click here to go to our Tile web site.
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