First, remember that typical natural stone floor tile sizes are 12”x12”, 13”x13”, 16”x16”, and 18”x18.”

There are two basic types of stone. Natural stone, such as marble, granite or limestone, basalt,slate and Agglomerates, manufactured stones that consist of natural stone chips suspended in a manufactured material.

Now, let’s look at some of the most popular natural stone types:

Granite is one of the hardest and densest stones, second only to diamond.

Made up mostly of quartz and feldspar, it resists staining and scratching.

It’s ideal in foyers, bathrooms, libraries, or as an accent with other stones.

Marble comes in many color variations and usually displays a prominent veining pattern with luxurious swirls and patches of contrasting color.

It’s durable and wearable enough for many flooring areas in your home.

Limestone is a “young” marble and is created by the accumulation of organic materials such as shells and coral that give it a unique, natural look.

Its range of colors makes limestone a versatile design option for flooring.

Travertine is formed with many small cavities and holes that can be filled in with cement or resin, or left unfilled for a beautiful textured surface.

The surface is then polished to a rough or highly polished finish.

Slate has a natural “clefting” along the surface that gives it a unique textural, layered look. This stone is made up of clay and shale, which is very dense.

Slate is water resistant, which also makes it ideal for exterior applications.

Natural stone is fabricated with a particular type of surface finish. Some of these are: polished, honed, acid-washed, saw-cut refined, flamed, split-faced, tumbled and brushed.

The beauty of natural stone is that no two pieces are ever the same

Veining and crystallization may be abundant in one, yet non-existent in another, but it only adds to the elegance and magic of natural stone.

Also be aware that irregular markings are not cracks or imperfections, but rather a natural part of the stone’s beauty.

Additionally, if you select a combination of natural stone products for different areas of your home, they will not match.

And even after the tiles are polished you may see small chips or pits in their surface.

Being a natural product, natural stone tiles will vary more in thickness, squareness and length compared to man-made ceramic tile.

As a result, once your natural stone tile is installed, it will not be a perfectly smooth surface from tile to tile.

Natural stone also varies in hardness, which is the scratch resistance of a mineral.

This is important when picking a stone. Be sure to consider what types of activities will be taking place where the stone is installed.

Now, about grout. Natural stone tile grout lines are typically filled with un-sanded grout and are usually much thinner than ceramic tile installations.

Remember that grout will outline each tile creating a visual picture frame.

If you want the grout to be less noticeable, select a grout that is close in color to the stone.

It’s also recommended that stone flooring be sealed.

Finally, be calculating! The stone “cost per square foot” is just one component of the entire project cost.

We will be happy to calculate the total cost, including furniture removal, demolition and disposal of the old floor covering, subfloor preparation, product delivery, installation, materials required to complete the installation.

Natural stone flooring is a timeless surface that brings value to any home.