Natural Stone Tile
Natural stone adds warmth and a rustic beauty to any room. We carry several different types of natural stone tiles and most come with decorative accent tiles as well. Although natural stone is beautiful, it’s not the lowest maintenance tile. It requires regular maintenance and can scratch or stain more easily than other types of tile. We recommend using it in rooms with less traffic that don’t take the abuse that a typical kitchen floor would see. Entryways and small guest bathrooms are usually fine. We offer granite, marble, travertine, and slate varieties. Because natural stone can stain, you want to get it sealed right after it is installed. Otherwise, even a glass of water could leave a permanent ring.
Granite Tiles
Granite is one of the hardest of the natural stones. It comes in many different colors and the minerals it contains are responsible for the specks and veins that give it a unique look. Because of its durability, granite can be used on floors, walls and even countertops. The colors vary greatly from piece to piece, so you must be careful when choosing so that you are completely satisfied with the look you get.
Marble Tile
Marble is a popular natural stone with unique variations in color and veining as a result of fissures being filled with minerals during its formation. It can be polished to a mirror-like finish or tumbled to create rounded edges. Marble makes an elegant and upscale statement. But, of all the natural stones, marble is the least durable. We would recommend marble tile in lower traffic areas. It’s perfect for focal points like fireplaces where you want a decorative look, but the tiles won’t take much abuse.
Travertine Tile
Travertine is a beautiful and popular natural stone that has a rustic beauty about it. It is characterized by variations in color and veining. It also has more of an irregular surface and edges. It lends a European feel because of its history of being used by builders in Italy for centuries. Depending on how it is cut, you can choose from unfilled and tumbled for a more rustic, aged look or honed and filled for a more tame and smoother surface.
Slate Tile
Slate is another natural stone that provides a fantastic aesthetic appeal. Because it is created from layer after layer of mud, clay and volcanic ash, it has a swirled look. It is available in blues, blacks, reds, dark grays and warm coppers, it is perfect for floors, walls or backsplashes.
If you like the look of natural stone tile, but you are planning to put it in a high traffic area, you may want to consider a look-alike. Manufacturers have gotten very good at replicating the look of granite, marble, travertine, and slate so you get the best of both worlds. The look you want with the durability you need.
