Walking into a home that contains the right stone floors for that home will change everything about that home. The stone floor will immediately have weight, temperature, and even memory. One moment it can feel like the floor is ancient like a cathedral but the next moment it can feel warm like the heart of an old Tuscan farmhouse.
Stone floor dont pretend to be anything other than stone. Because stone floors dont pretend to be anything other than stone, they will outlast the trends in flooring and even look better with age. To choose the right kind of stone floor for your home, you must have a good understanding of each of the stone floor varieties.
Stone floor varieties has differences beyond the color swatches of each stone. The differences include the hardness of the stone, the porosity of the stone, the maintenance needs of the stone, and the way that light plays on the stone. If you choose the right stone floor variety for your home, you will enjoy it for years.
If you do not choose the right stone floor variety, you will spend years either fighting the nature of the stone floor or wishing that you had chosen a different stone floor for your home. Each of the stone floor varieties listed have earn their place due to distinct reasons for which they have chosen to be placed into this list of the best stone floor varieties. Some of these reasons will be based off the performance of the stone while others will be based on the aesthetics of that stone floor variety.
The Best Stone Floor Varieties for Your Home
1. Marble
Marble is one of the stone varieties that has held as a quiet status symbol for thousands of years, and it still earns that reputation today. Marble is formed from limestone that has been subjected to heat and pressure over long periods of time. The minerals within the limestone create veins of different minerals within the stone that no two slabs of marble will ever share the same composition of veins.
People typically choose marble for powder rooms as well as formal entryways because of the way that it reflects the light within the space. Marble tends to stay cool in the summer which is a comfort for those who walk barefoot on the floor after enduring a long day. However, marble is a softer stone than others and may scratch more easy.
Additionally, marble etches more easily in the presence of acids such as lemon juice or red wine. For these reasons, marble may be better suited for areas of the home that are less likely to be exposed to liquids or foot traffic. Despite the need for more maintenance than others, the subtle patina that forms on marble over time is part of the attraction of the stone for many homeowners.
2. Granite
Granite is another stone variety that is known for its toughness as well as its visual appeal. Granite is a stone that is mined from igneous rocks that solidified from magma deep within the Earth. The hardness of granite makes it one of the hardest stones that are utilized for flooring varieties.
The toughness of granite allows it to handle heavy foot traffic, dropped pans, muddy boots, and more without sustaining damage to its visual appeal. In addition to its toughness, granite is also durable against water as the stone contains minerals that make it less susceptible to water absorption than other stones. Granite holds heat well, making it a popular choice for regions that experience cold climates and use radiant heat systems in their flooring.
The colors of granite range from deep charcoal colors with silver flecks to warm gold and rust tones. Additionally, because the colors of granite are darker than white stones such as marble or quartz, dirt on the granite is less visible than with other stones. Some darker granites have fissures within them that need to be accounted for during the installation of the flooring.
Still, granite remains a flooring variety that many people find difficult to beat.
3. Travertine
Travertine is another stone variety that has a completely different personality to the other flooring varieties. Travertine forms from mineral springs that deposit minerals in layers over centuries.
Travertine features earth tones such as beiges and terracotta tones that help the rooms to feel cozy and warm. Travertine features holes in the stone that were formed from the release of gases when travertine was formed. These holes give the stone its textured look that is loved by many individuals who own homes with travertine floors.
Travertine cannot be polished to a shine due to the potential highlighting of the holes within the stone. Travertine is ideal for use in bathrooms as well as for outdoor areas in the home. Travertine does not become slippery when wet like marble.
The natural variation in travertine also helps to disguise any water spots that may form on the stone. Travertine may require additional maintenance due to its porous nature and the presence of holes in the stone. However, travertine develops a patina over time that makes it look better after five year of installation than it did on the day that it was first installed.
For these reasons, people often choose travertine in homes with Mediterranean and Southwestern design elements.
4. Slate
Slate floors are another popular variety that have experienced staying power over time. Slate floor varieties are metamorphic rocks that often split into thin layers when split with force.
These thin layers of slate create floors that have deep tones such as charcoal, forest green, purple, and rust. The naturally textured look of slate floors provides excellent traction for individuals who are likely to be walking in the home with heavy boots or who have pets who may jump on the floor. Slate is ideal for entryways, mudrooms, or homes that have young children or pets.
Slate is less porous than other stones and is less likely to stain. However, because slate splits into different thicknesses of tiles, care must be taken during installation to even out the thickness of each tile. Slate floors have a grounded feel to them that few other flooring varieties achieve.
Additionally, slate floors weather well outdoors and do not pose a slipping risk for the homeowners when it is raining outside. Slate also absorbs heat well which means that when paired with lighter-colored walls within the room, the contrast helps to balance the temperature within the home. Additionally, the way that slate both absorbs and reflects light throughout the day has become a quiet pleasure for homeowners who live in homes that feature slate floors.
Another stone that may be chosen for the flooring of homes is limestone. While it is a softer stone floor than others, limestone still has a geological history that is reflected in its flooring varieties. The composition of limestone features ancient marine fossils which become the small fragments of shells that show on the limestone floors.
5. Limestone
The color of limestone ranges from cream tones to beige and soft grays which make it a more versatile stone for homes of all design aesthetics. Whether the home is moddern or traditional, limestone will coordinate with the other décor in the home. The softness of limestone can be both an advantage and a disadvantage to the stone.
While limestone floors can be comfortable for those who walk barefoot in their homes, limestone is more easily etched at the presence of acids. For this reason, people do not often choose limestone as the flooring for kitchens in which acids from citrus fruits are likely to be present. Additionally, limestone can be cut into large tiles which minimizes the number of grout lines within the flooring.
6. Sandstone
Sandstone is less common for flooring within the interiors of homes. Sandstone is created from sand that has been compressed over millions of years. Sandstone features a naturally grainy texture within its floor varieties which adds visual interest to the interiors of homes.
Sandstone is available in colors ranging from pale gold tones to deep red colors. Due to its porous nature, sandstone was once considered less ideal for flooring selections. However, with the improvement of sealing techniques used on sandstone floors, sandstone is an ideal choice for homes that use radiant heat systems.
Additionally, because sandstone is available in various tones, the stone pairs well with timber beams or leather furnitures in the home. The porous nature of sandstone means that it can absorb oil or other liquids that contain color. For this reason, care must be taken with the sealing of sandstone floors so that the contents of the home do not permanently stain the color of the stone.
Despite its flaws, sandstone remains an earthy stone that many find authentic within the flooring world.
7. Quartzite
Quartzite is another popular stone that shares similarities to both marble and granite yet has features of both stones. Quartzite is often mistaken for marble, however, the hardness of quartzite ranges more closely to granite.
Quartzite is also formed from sandstone that has been subjected to heat and pressure which forms the durable yet natural stone that is often used in flooring. The most prized varieties of quartzite feature colors that are composed of soft grays and whites with flecks of gold or green minerals. Because quartzite is more resistant to etching than marble, people often use it in kitchens and for flooring selections.
However, because of the hardness and durability of quartzite, cutting tools wear down more quickly when installing floors with this stone. For this reason, quartzite floors are more common in higher-end homes and flooring projects. The advantage of using quartzite in flooring is that it allows individuals to use the elegance of marble without having to worry as much about staining the marble countertops or floors.
Additionally, people can polish quartzite stones to a shine that will last for decades. For these reasons, the popularity of quartzite flooring is increasing among those who are informed about the benefits of using the stone for flooring.
8. Terrazzo
Terrazzo flooring may be considered a composite flooring material as it is composed of stone chips that are set within cement.
However, terrazzo is also an ideal flooring choice for those who wish to use stone in their homes due to its unique characteristics. The chips within terrazzo may be composed of marble, granite, or quartz. Terrazzo features speckled flooring that can be subtle or bold depending upon the colors and sizes of the chips that are utilized in its creation.
Terrazzo can be poured into the flooring or come as pre-finished tiles that include no grout lines between the individual tiles of the floors. As a result, terrazzo is an ideal flooring material for the homes who wish to minimize the staining of the floors and those who have young children who may leave marks on the floor. The reflective qualities of terrazzo will add brightness to the interiors of the homes.
Terrazzo is the most customiziable flooring material because each home can select the types of stones to be used in the terrazzo floor, the color of the terrazzo, and even items to be embedded into the terrazzo during installation. The disadvantage to terrazzo is that should the flooring need to be renovated, the installer will need to remove the terrazzo which is a labor-intensive process. For these reasons, terrazzo remains one of the most versatile flooring choices in the flooring world.
Ultimately, this stone will spend more time with your family than most of your furniture will spend with your family. The stone will witness your child’s first steps, the stone will witness your friends celebrating their victories with wine in their glasses, the stone will witness family celebrations of the holidays, and the stone will witness quiet mornings for years or even for generations. Each of the varieties of stone listed above will solve a specific problem for your home, and each variety of stone celebrates a specific mood within the home.
By taking the time to interact with each of the stone samples in your own home, barefoot upon the stones, and by imagining the life and wear that the stones will experience while enduring within your home, you will find the perfect stone for your foundation.
