All the advancements in technology and materials still haven’t changed one simple fact about commercial and residential flooring installation. Natural stone floors are still one of the most durable options available. As a South Florida flooring company, the old floors we see in the best shape are typically still-beautiful stone. Hopefully this article will give you some natural stone flooring ideas to have installed in your space.
Stone Stays a Step Ahead
Even as our priorities change, natural stone flooring seems to stay ahead of them. You want a green product? Stone is one of the greenest flooring choices out there. It comes out of the earth ready-made. All we have to do is cut it.
If you want to avoid harmful toxins and off-gassing, natural stone looks great without any finishes or applications. Just as important, it’s durable without them, too.
If you want every piece to be unique from every other piece, then you’re set. That’s exactly how stone comes out of the earth. There are natural, and intriguing, variations that give your home a dynamic look.
There’s a movement to bring the outdoors in. This makes a lot of sense today. Nature is relaxing, yet we’re spending more time than ever before staying inside and staring at screens. Stone floors go a long way in making our indoor spaces feel natural and breathable.
Natural Stone Flooring Ideas That Add Value
Natural stone flooring ideas work well for high-traffic areas because you’re not going to scratch or dent stone. It resists collecting dust, allergens, and grit the same way commercial wool carpets and even hardwoods do. However, unlike hardwood, natural stone is a much better choice for bathrooms. It won’t absorb water or warp because of humidity or moisture. It’s easy to clean and maintain. On hot days, stone stays cool underfoot.
Now what about value? As a South Florida flooring company, we see all types of flooring. The flooring installation that lasts longest tends to be natural stone. Even better, stone helps retain and build value over time. Natural stone flooring has never gone out of style and its durability means that potential buyers won’t have to take the cost of re-flooring off the list price.
Despite the many benefits of natural stone flooring, there is some confusion about sealing stone.
Guidelines for Sealing Natural Stone
Should you seal your natural stone flooring? It’s one of the best commercial, home, and condo flooring options out there, but if you don’t know how to care for natural stone, you can cause expensive damage. So the quick answer is: Yes, you should!
Is there an absorption test for stone flooring?
Choose a stone that’s out of direct sunlight and pour a few drops of water on the surface. How long does it take for the water to soak in? If it disappears inside of a minute, your stone is somewhat porous. Sealer is a priority.
Is there stone that doesn’t need sealing?
A few. Granite counter tops often come pre-sealed, for instance. Resined stones won’t always need sealing either. (Resining means that stones have added strength and the flooring is much less porous.)
Does different flooring have different requirements?
Different stones require different amounts of sealer. Limestone is exceptionally absorbent. It needs a great deal of sealant. Marble is much less absorbent and will need less to become fully sealed, making it one of the more popular natural stone flooring ideas.
What about the finish?
Finish impacts absorbency as well. Polished surfaces are less absorbent; flamed or honed surfaces are more absorbent.
What other factors are at play?
Location exposes floors to very different conditions. Natural stone flooring in a bathroom must be sealed to a high degree. A kitchen floor should be sealed against oil and not just water. Stone flooring in a living room or dining room should have stain-resistant qualities.
How are sealers different?
There are strippable coatings, but these are rarely of use to stone floors. Permanent coatings are difficult to remove and aren’t made for stone either. Impregnators, or penetrating sealers, are the kind that are useful to stone floors. They get into pores and do their work below the surface of the stone.
Hydrophobic impregnators will repel water and most drinks. Oleophobic impregnators will repel oil as well.
Need help?
Implementing a sealer incorrectly on your natural stone flooring can cause problems that are difficult to reverse or resolve. It’s safer and more efficient to entrust your project to a stone flooring installation team – one who has experience sealing different natural stone commercial, home, and condo flooring options.