What is Natural Stone?
Natural stone is one of the most popular and enduring flooring options, but many customers may have the question what is natural stone? Whether you are planning an indoor or outdoor project, such as a kitchen or a patio, it is helpful to know exactly what natural stone is and how it can be used to enhance your space. This blog will cover the question of ‘what is natural stone’, along with what this means when planning your next project or renovation using natural stone tiles or natural stone paving.
Material
Limestone is a sedimentary stone, that can be formed over millions of years. The layers of sediment contain traces of fossils and other elements such as calcite, which adds to the natural character of limestone and provides a unique texture with every tile having a one-of-a-kind combination of fossils.
Clermont Gris Aged Tumbled Limestone Pavers
Marble provides a different look and feel to most other materials, being a metamorphic stone created by other types of rock compressing together. This creates a natural stone tile featuring many unique patterns and colours, often in the form of rich veining or mottling. Some variations include classic Carrara marble, which features a subtle off-white background with cool grey or warmer veining. There are also more impactful marble options, such as striking red, emerald or black hues.
Parisian Chequerboard Marble Tiles
Carrara Bianco Marble Tiles
Slate is another metamorphic natural stone, again meaning that it is very dense and hardwearing from where it has been formed under compression. Natural slate tiles usually appear in grey and black tones, with a characterful and rustic ‘riven’ surface texture.
Brazilian Black Slate Tiles
Brazilian Grey Slate Tiles
Variation
One of the main attractions of natural stone is the natural variation. A noticeable way in which natural stone can vary is in shade. Some stones, such as sandstone, can feature quite a swing between shades, whilst limestone, slate and marble often feature a subtler array of hues. If opting for a beige toned stone, then the Dijon limestone shows this variation nicely, with subtle shifts from slightly darker and warmer, to paler pastel honey tones. Equally, the Farrow Grey limestone shows a timeless and charming tonal variation from cooler and darker greys to warmer and lighter greys. This creates that quintessential flagstone look wherever the natural stone is used.
Dijon Tumbled Limestone Tiles
Farrow Grey Tumbled Limestone Tiles
Another way in which natural stones can vary is the unique characteristics in the tile. This can include perfectly preserved fossils, as well as veining, pitting, and flecks of sediment. All of this means that each tile is going to be completely individual compared to both the other tiles in your project, and even all other natural stone tiles produced, providing a charming one of a kind floor. Often customers want to showcase more characterful and interesting tiles by placing them in prominent parts of the space, letting the natural beauty of the tiles take centre stage.
Carrara Viola Marble Tiles
Bayeux Beige Worn Antique Limestone Tiles
Finish
Another important part of natural stone is the types of finish on offer. The right one for you may depend on the style of project you are working on. A popular natural stone finish you may come across is ‘tumbled’, whereby each tile is tumbled in a large machine to create rustic and aged edges, perfect for country kitchens and gardens alike. Some natural stone tiles may feature a rustic finish applied to the surface also. An example of this finish can be seen in the Sorrento Aged-Tumbled limestone, where the edges and surface of the tile feature a more rustic array of texture than the regular tumbled finish, suiting traditional spaces. Brushed natural stone is also a popular option for contemporary homes and gardens, featuring straight cut edges and a smoother surface.
Dijon Brushed Limestone Tiles
Sorrento Aged Tumbled Limestone Tiles
Cleaning & Maintenance
Many have a misconception that natural stone is difficult to look after, but with a few key steps, natural stone is a hardwearing material that requires simple maintenance. A natural stone is naturally porous, and so even with very dense stones, it is still important to apply a suitable sealant. This is especially imperative with indoor areas that see regular footfall or food and drink spillage.
The cleaning process once sealed is often just as easy as with other types of flooring. We recommend occasional hoovering with a soft brush attachment and mopping using a dilution of cleaner that is safe for use on natural stone, such as Lithofin Wash and Clean. We advise against any harsh acidic cleaning products such as bleach as this can damage the stone over time. To help prevent stains seeping past the sealant, it is always advisable to mop up spillages as and when they occur. You can also dilute acidic spillages such as red wine before wiping to minimise the chance of staining. Read further on how to clean natural stone tiles here.
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We hope this post proves helpful in understanding ‘what is natural stone’, as well as the different types of stone available, its characteristics and how to look after natural stone tiles.
As ever, we recommend a visit to one of our UK tile showrooms to see the beauty of limestone, marble, and slate in person. If you are unable to visit a showroom, you can order up to 4 free hand samples, or 8 hand samples for £5, as well as larger samples for a small charge – all delivered to your door. please feel free to contact us where our friendly and knowledgeable team can offer further advice or answer any questions you might have.
