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Stone and tile are becoming a more popular choice for flooring, and with good reason! While initial installation and material costs can be more expensive than carpeting, stone and tile are durable and low maintenance. The many shapes, sizes, and colors of tile allow you to create an almost infinite number of looks. Decorator's touches such as tile insets can make a room unique. Narrow rooms can be given the illusion of width by laying tiles diagonally. The concept of laying tile is simple, but it is strongly recommended that you hire a professional installer. A professional can ensure the proper installation and even and consistent seams, joints, and grouting. Stone can be naturally and irregularly shaped or cut to standard tile sizes to match your decorating scheme. Whether you choose stone or tile, be sure to seal the grout or mortar after installation, this makes cleaning and maintaining your new floor much easier. If the unfortunate occurrence of a broken or chipped tile or stone happens, a contractor can most likely replace that single piece without causing damage to the rest of your floor.

Tile and Stone Article Archive:

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Featured Tile and Stone Articles:

Tile and Stone Flooring

By Hal Major

Stone flooring is just what the name implies. It is made from quarried stone. Usually a large boulder of marble, granite, soapstone, and bluestone is sliced into thin pieces and the tile is then cut from the slices. Other stone floor materials include limestone and flag stone. A relatively new product on the market is stone tile. Stone tile is made from stone aggregate and mixed in polymer compound. It somewhat similar to the quartz countertops that are made with ground quartz and a polymer suspension. The stone tiles are a real affordable option for the homeowner on a budget and they look great.

Tile flooring is made from a clay compound and is fired in a kiln to attain its hardness. The texture, color, style, and shape is controlled by the manufacturer rather than by nature. Floor tile comes in either a glazed or unglazed variety. The glazed tile as a hard and smooth surface that is water and stain resistant. The color of glazed tile is only on the surface as it is added between the first and second firing. If the surface is chipped the white clay underneath shows through. Unglazed floor tile has the color mixed in with the clay and consistent throughout the tile. A chip unglazed tile is less noticeable than the glazed tile. However, unglazed tile is not water or stain resistant and must be coated with a sealer or wax.

Maintenance and Considerations of Floor Tile
Maintenance of stone and tile flooring is relatively easy. There are some stone and tile flooring that will require an occasional sealing against moisture and stains. Grout lines are a dirt catcher so a regular mopping is needed like any smooth flooring. Stone and tile floors are subject to staining even when sealed. If spills occur they need to be cleaned up immediately. Especially spills of foods or cleaners that can contain acids. Marble is especially prone to stains from foods and cleaners. Granite is the hardest of the stones but can still be damaged. The surface of a stone or tile floor in areas where water or spills occur, such as kitchens and bathrooms, should be a non-skid matte finish. Use a least a 12" x 12" sized tiles to reduce the number of grout lines that attract dirt. The larger the room the larger the tiles should be. Stone and tile floors are unforgiving when you drop something breakable on them. They are cold in the winter and therefore uncomfortable if you wear your bare feet around the house. Glazed tile is slippery when it is wet and extra caution is needed.