Stone is a unique natural material with beauty and durability, widely used in construction and finishing works. A natural stone floor looks stylish and respectable, emphasizing the refined taste and stable financial position of the homeowner. It is appropriate in any interior - whether it is a palace setting or laconic minimalism.
Scope of application
Flooring with natural stone is possible in any room, but it is not always advisable. In the bedroom, this cold coating will cause a lot of inconvenience, and it is not recommended to equip the stone floor in the nursery for safety reasons. Of course, you can put a soft and warm carpet on such a floor, but in this case it makes no sense to equip the floor with natural stone - this expensive material.
Such a coating is valued primarily for its beauty and monumentality. They are more suitable for the living room, kitchen, hallway. Performedsuch floors are made of granite, marble, onyx. The bathroom looks good with granite, travertine, sea pebbles, but stone with a rough surface is chosen here. A polished floor in a room with high humidity can be dangerous.
In the kitchen and hallway, you can choose a stone easier and cheaper, given the specifics of the premises. Granite tiles, sandstone or slate are suitable here. Choose color and texture taking into account the stylistic design of the room.
When choosing natural stone for flooring in a city apartment, you must consider its weight. Heavy material cannot be used here, this may exceed the permissible load on the logs (overlappings). Slab and other heavy floors can only be equipped in a private house with a reliable and strong foundation.
Stone floor benefits
This flooring can be combined with any interior and other materials (metal, wood, glass, fabrics). Among the advantages of natural stone flooring are:
- Strength. Such a floor is considered the most durable and durable. It will retain its beauty and brilliance for many years without requiring any repair. The physical and technical characteristics of the stone protect it from premature wear and damage.
- Wide scope. Natural stone floor can be equipped in apartments, private houses, public buildings with high traffic. This material covers the floor in shopping and exhibition centers, at stations.
- Various colorgamma and texture processing. This allows you to choose the material for almost any room.
Next - about the three most popular types of stones for flooring.
Granite
Granite floor is environmentally friendly with a natural level of radioactivity. In this it is fundamentally different from concrete and bulk. It is great for rooms where high humidity and there is a risk of mechanical damage. Granite has its own individual structure, color, grain size. All these distinguishing characteristics depend on the deposit of the stone.
Nowadays, granite flooring is the most durable. It will take several centuries to see traces of use or slight abrasions on it.
If sanded to a gloss or, conversely, to a matte finish, the floor will always remain that way - rough or shiny. The granite surface is not afraid of any reagents and acids, so washing and cleaning by any means will not bring negative damage to the coating.
Porcelain tile
Recently, porcelain stoneware has become popular. Floor cladding with this artificial finishing material is a kind of shield that protects them from negative environmental factors.
The main feature of porcelain stoneware is that outwardly it is identical to natural stone. It is very durable and wear resistant. In this regard, it is stronger than granite and marble, and second only to diamond. It is almost impossible to split it.
Fireproof stoneware, it does not burn at all. The structure is practicallyabsorbs moisture, tolerates low temperatures, and withstands chemical compounds.
Due to the dense structure, it does not absorb bacteria and does not let dirt through. Such a floor under natural stone is practiced in buildings with a huge traffic of people - airports, train stations, shopping centers, hotels.
Marble
Marble coating is natural, environmentally friendly, moisture resistant and wear resistant. Available in many colors for personalization. Ideal for rooms where the humidity is much higher than normal.
Marble materials are perfect for the kitchen, ordinary wet cleaning will not leave marks and odors. You can wash marble by any means, it copes well with chemical reagents, does not tarnish and does not collapse under their influence.
Despite the enormous number of advantages, marble has a significant drawback - the stone is very cold. Therefore, if there are children or animals in the house, there is a high probability of colds. In order for the marble floor to bring a touch of individual chic to the interior design and not hurt, you need to think about laying a warm floor under it.
Stone texture
When finishing a floor with natural stone, its texture is always taken into account, because not only the beauty of the coating, but also its practicality will depend on this. There are several types of natural stone textures:
- Polished. The smooth and mirror surface most clearly shows the pattern and color of the stone. also init reflects all the objects in the room. This visually increases the space of the room and is especially suitable for small apartments. However, such a floor has a significant drawback - it cannot be equipped in rooms where there is a lot of moisture. It is not suitable for the bathroom and kitchen, as it becomes slippery from the water.
- Matte. The front side of such slabs is velvety matte, the pattern of the stone is clearly visible. Grinding stone for the manufacture of tiles is carried out using a gentle method while maintaining all the decorative qualities. Such a floor does not slip from moisture on it, it can be equipped in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Such processing will not suit dark stones with a beautiful pattern, as after processing it loses its uniqueness.
- Sanded. On the rough front side of the tile, after hard grinding, the pattern of the stone is smoothed out and becomes indistinguishable. Polished tiles are used for finishing outdoor steps and paths in the suburban area.
- Artificially aged. Soft and porous marble is used for such processing, after which the material becomes more elegant and textured. Artificially aged tiles are used to create borders, rotundas.
Floor slab formats
Incorrectly selected tile size can visually distort the proportions of the room. Most common floor tile formats:
- Slabs. The most dimensional plates that are used only in spacious rooms. The large plate format allows you to fully enjoybeauty of natural material.
- Standard size. Each manufacturer has standard options, because this material is in great demand. Tiles are square and rectangular. They cost customers much less than custom-made decor.
- Mosaic. The smallest tile, it is used to create various panels and thematic patterns on the floor. It is not recommended to lay out the entire floor area with mosaics, this will visually hide the size of the room and look too colorful.
Tile laying materials
Natural stone floor tiles will retain their integrity for many years if a quality laying material is chosen for it:
- Cement. A widely available and inexpensive material that has high strength and durability. The advantage of this laying material is that it can be used to slightly level the base. Cement is used for laying slate and granite, as they do not absorb moisture from concrete.
- Glue. Before gluing the tiles, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base. It should be smooth, without cracks and chips. Special waterless epoxy compounds are used when laying porous stone - limestone, marble. Sometimes marble chips are used as a coating, which is held together with this resin. Epoxy floors made of natural stone look spectacular and unusual. With quality workmanship, they will last for many years.
Natural stone floor does not require painstakingcare. Many contaminants are removed with ordinary water. Do not use abrasive products for cleaning, the easiest way is to add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the water. Porous stones are treated with special water-repellent agents.
