Styles and Types of Stone Tile
Natural stone has an almost endless variety of colors, textures and therefore, visual impressions.
There are two basic types of stone used in the building industry:
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Natural stone such as marble, granite, or limestone.
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Agglomerates (or manufactured stones) that consist of natural stone chips suspended in a bonding, man-made material.
Natural Stone
Natural stone can be grouped into three classes.
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Igneous rock is formed when molten rock (called lava or magma) cools and hardens. Granite is an example of an igneous rock.
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Sedimentary rock is formed from biological deposits that have undergone consolidation and crystallization. Limestone and sandstone fall into this category.
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Metamorphic rock is created when other kinds of rocks are changed by great heat and pressure inside the earth. Marble, slate and quartzite are examples of metamorphic rocks.
There are numerous types of granite. Here's a quick summary of some of the most common.
Granite
Granite is an igneous stone that is extremely hard, dense and resistant to scratches and acid etching. It is an ideal stone for use in flooring and in food preparation areas. Of all natural stone, granite is second only to diamond in hardness and density.
Granite resists staining and scratching better than any other natural stone, making it an ideal choice for your kitchen. In fact, granite is durable enough for almost any application you can think of. It's beautiful in foyers, bathrooms, libraries, or as an accent with other natural stones.
Mother Nature produces granite in a hundreds of colors such as rich browns, vibrant golds, warm creams and cooler blues, greens, grays and decadent black.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary stone that is primarily composed of loose grains of quartz sand that are rough in texture. A number of varieties are available.
Limestone
Limestone is another sedimentary stone. It' formed from calcite and sediment and comes in many earthen colors.
Limestone has a subtle, casual look and is actually a "young" marble. It is created by the accumulation of organic materials such as shells and coral that gives it a unique, natural look.
A porous stone, limestone comes in a diverse range of neutral colors from ivory to soft grays to golden browns.
Marble
Marble is crystallized limestone that is not as hard as granite. It is a metamorphic stone that can be polished. Marble is characteristically soft and easily scratched or etched by acids.
Marble has a legendary elegance. It was used throughout the ancient world because it was soft enough to be worked with tools but hard enough to last through the ages.
Once considered the domain of the rich and famous, marble can be used in many applications throughout your home.
Marble comes in countless different color variations and usually displays a prominent veining pattern with luxurious swirls and patches of contrasting color that make marble famous. Sophisticated grays and whites to a wide range of earth tones in both light and dark colors are the most popular colors.
Travertine
Travertine is a crystallized, partially metamorphosed limestone, which because of its structure, can be filled and honed, and is dense enough to be a type of marble.
A member of the limestone family, Travertine shares some similar characteristics such as being soft and porous.
Travertine is formed with many small cavities and holes that can be filled in with cement or resin, or left unfilled for a textured surface.
The surface can be polished creating different looks from honed to highly polished. The filled-in areas remain dull which creates an interesting contrast.
Travertine can also be tumbled for a rustic, old world look.
Travertine can be used in flooring in numerous rooms in your home and can also make for a wonderful backsplash. Like most natural stones, the colors of travertine are generally earthy and warm, and are at home in both warm and cool environments.
Slate
Slate is a metamorphic stone that has a sheet-like structure. It is composed of clay, quartz and shale. Slate is a highly versatile stone that gives a natural, rustic and colorful appearance to any room.
Slate can be used for interiors as well as exteriors, making it the perfect product to bring the outdoors inside your home. And because it's water resistant, it's ideal for patios and pool surrounds.
All slate has a natural "clefting" along the surface that gives this stone its unique textural, layered look. However, slate is also available with a smooth surface.
Slate colors range from rich reds, oranges and golds to mauve, lavender, green, blue, black, rust and brown.
Manufactured Stone
Agglomerate Stone is a manufactured stone made from natural stone chips suspended in a binder such as cement, epoxy resins or polyester.
The most well known agglomerated stone is poured-in-place terrazzo, used in building for thousands of years.
Today, some of the most popular manufactured stone products are quartz products.
Stone Finishes
Polished
A polished surface creates a beautiful glossy shine from the natural reflection of the stone's crystals.
The mirror-like shine is accomplished by using progressively finer polishing heads during the polishing process, similar to the way that sandpaper smooths hardwood furniture. The finer the sandpaper, the smoother the surface.
The polish may last a long time or may be unstable depending on the type of stone.
Granite, marble and limestone are frequently polished, and require varying degrees of maintenance to preserve the shine.
Honed
A honed surface provides a flat, matte, or satin finish creating a more informal and softer look. This finish is created by stopping short of the last stage of polishing.
A honed finish shows fewer scratches, and requires very little maintenance.
Marble, limestone, and slate would be your best choices for a honed finish.
Acid-Washed
An acid-washed finish is shiny with small etching marks (pits in the surface). This finish shows fewer scratches and is much more rustic in appearance than a honed finish.
Most stones can be acid-washed but the most common are marble and limestone.
Acid washing is also a way to soften the shine of granite.
Saw-Cut Refined
Saw-cut refined offers you a matte finish. After initial cutting, the stone is processed to remove the heaviest saw marks but not enough to achieve a honed finish.
Flamed
A flamed finish is achieved by heating the surface of the stone to extreme temperatures, followed by rapid cooling.
The surface of the stone pops and chips leaving a rough, unrefined texture.
This process is usually done with granite. Flamed granite has a highly textured surface, making it ideal for areas where slip resistance might be a concern, such as in in and around a shower.
Split-Faced
A split-faced finish gives you a rough texture, but one not as abrasive as flamed.
This finish is typically achieved by hand cutting and chiseling at the quarry, exposing the natural cleft of the stone. Split-faced finish is primarily done on slate.
Tumbled
Tumbled delivers a smooth or slightly pitted surface, and broken, rounded edges and corners.
There are several methods used to achieve the tumbled look.
3/8" thick tiles can be tumbled in a machine to achieve the desired look, or 3cm tiles can be tumbled and then split, creating two tiles that are tumbled on one side.
Marble and limestone are your primary candidates for a tumbled finish.
Brushed
A brushed finished stone features a worn-down look achieved by brushing the surface of the stone, simulating natural wear over time.
Sizes
In general, natural stone floor tile sizes are 12" x 12", 13" x 13", 16" x 16", and 18" x 18". Larger sizes are also available for some stone types.
Natural stone is also available in mosaics which are comprised of pieces 3" or smaller and are often attached to a mesh backing.
Edges
There are two types of edges for natural stone floor tile.
