Natural Stone Tile

If you are thinking abut tiling a room in your home such as your kitchen or bathroom, a great option is to use natural stone tile. They are relatively easy to clean, durable and fireproof at the same time. In fact, when you are looking for a flooring solution, stone tile is the way to go. With such flooring, you will have a cleaner and more beautiful home environment making it much more comfortable for you and your family.  And your home is sure to impress guests and visitors.

Natural stone tile is perfect for both home and office. Among the types that are getting huge orders are slate, travertine and limestone. Each type has a distinctive look, style and feature but all is natural and ideal for bathroom use. Bathrooms in the homes would look as exquisite as the bathrooms in luxurious hotels. All it takes is to use these tiles in a clever manner.

There is a variety of stone tile choices for your tile project at home. The primary thing you need to do is to pick out the type that is most appealing to you. Some of the choices for natural stone tiling are the following:

• Marble. Marble is one of the greatest and most attractive options, but rather expensive.
• Granite. As a natural stone tile, granite is a perfect combination of quality and utility besides being more affordable.
• Slate. Slate tiling is ideal if you are after durability and multi functionality. Slate is the perfect choice for those who are looking for something bold and beautiful.
• Travertine. Travertine, unlike the other three which are available in many various colors, is mainly neutral. In comparison with marble and granite, this stone is easily stainable.

The type of stone that occupies the top spot in terms of popularity is the majestic white marble. Its ability to transform the look and aura of any place makes it a very expensive flooring option. White marble reminds you of the royal dwelling of the ancient monarchy. The Taj Mahal in Asia is a classic example of the ingenious use of white marble and its magnificence.

When it comes to flooring materials, you have two choices – tiles manufactured from clay and stone tiles.  While clay made tiles are lighter, water and stain proof and more reasonably priced, stone tiles on the hand other hand is bulky, tough against moisture, dirt and dust but also more expensive. Flooring that is made of natural stones is beautiful and durable but being natural products they call for more planning when it comes to their use and installation. Yet many homeowners prefer stone flooring.

In making a purchase for natural stone tile, it would be sensible to go online. You can take a look at the many available options on the internet instead of going out hopping from one store to the next. You can even take advantage of the competitive prices and attractive deals being offered. When you opt to make an online purchase, you can get the tile that you fancy most; easily, quickly, and will go easy on your pocket too.

Most people consider the color of tiles as an indicator of quality, especially when it comes to Carrara marble tiles. It was said that the whiter the tile the higher the quality. But how would you know that it is actually pure white? Some tiles may look very white, especially under the lighting of the showroom but they may look different under a different lighting and it can sometimes reveal a yellowish tinge. That may not mean that it is inferior in quality, but take note that color is an important factor that should be considered when choosing tiles and the same goes when looking for natural stone tiles.

Important Factors to Consider

When shopping for a natural stone tile, you should remember that the veining color is important. Darker veining may indicate low quality and the same goes for indistinct veining. Learning to compare different pieces from various suppliers and the range of price can help you distinguish the quality of tiles. It can sometimes be determined by viewing a certain tile next to a tile that is actually of high quality, as you can easily see the difference.

The thickness of the tile is an indicator of quality as well. It is true that the thickness of the tile may affect the price, but remember that the physical size is a factor to consider as well, as larger tiles are also expensive to manufacture due to the required equipment. Another important factor that you should consider when purchasing a natural stone tile is the number of holes contained in it. Some tiles are filled with epoxy resin before polishing but it can still be visible if you are to inspect closely. This is an important factor because a tile filled with holes will likely to develop even more holes after being installed and this may affect the appearance of the area where the tiles are placed, as well as the durability of the tiles. The accuracy of the cutting of tiles is another important factor that should be considered. You have to know if the cuts are consistent to make sure that they will fit evenly to the surface after using grout. Low quality tiles often look like imperfect squares and this can make the grout joints have an uneven width. Of course, tiles with higher quality that has uneven edges are often designed as that to give the surface a rustic feel.

The Truth about a Natural Stone Tile

Unfortunately, no manufacturing standards are present that can help you assess the value of tiles, especially when you are making a purchase. To make sure that you are getting high quality tiles, opt for a reputable supplier or manufacturer. Make sure that you go for the one with a well-established business reputation and are experts with bricks and mortar so that you can see a wide variety of tiles for more options. Remember that the beauty of natural stone floor tiles rely on the texture and the color. If you want a smooth texture and a matte color, then you may opt for a porcelain tile or a ceramic tile instead of natural stone wall or floor tiles.