Natural stone is a popular choice amongst homeowners and designers across the world. Absolutely organic, durable, and highly aesthetically - stone has a certain charm that makes it a strong competitor against the other materials. And since it’s quite versatile, timeless, resilient, and sophisticated - it makes a great home décor statement!
From countertops to shower tiles, the stone is immensely gaining momentum with a wide array of shapes, sizes, textures, and combinations available. So, looking to incorporate authentic stone tiles in your home? Well, let’s have a look at these considerations when designing with stone tile!
Durability
A major advantage of choosing stone over other materials is surely hardness and durability. You can consider harder stones like granite and quartzite for high-traffic areas whereas softer stones like travertine and onyx for if you don't receive much traffic. The second important aspect is the heat resistance followed by porosity that takes into account that liquids don’t get soaked up easily.
Generally, all types of stones are porous but they require a sealer to maintain their aesthetics in the long run. This is important to note since such stones comparatively require more maintenance than the others!
Maintenance
Even though stone is considered as one of the strongest and durable materials, it can still be subjected to scratches and stains, if not taken care of. You must ensure to clean and wipe your natural stone tile regularly with high pH neutral cleaners. This is highly recommended as it will neither affect the sealing nor the coating.
Moreover, you should avoid cleaning surfaces with materials that either contain acid or bleach. To ensure a timeless aesthetic appeal of your stone, you must choose high-quality sealing that will extend the life of your stone and make it scratch and stain-resistant!
Sustainability
It is time to help the planet heal! Well, natural stones are quite sustainable as they are abundantly available in nature and are extremely strong and durable. And since they don’t contain any artificial ingredients like plastic - they can even be easily recycled! Looking into the future and the planet - it is necessary that we slowly transition into the world of sustainability!
Furthermore, you must know that most stones don’t contain any harmful materials or natural toxins - thus, making a perfect match in your kitchens and bathrooms. Lastly, ensure to choose eco-friendly sealers that have a low VOC count!
Aesthetics
No other material can beat the aesthetics and authenticity of a natural stone. They are available in a wide variety of colors, textures, patterns, and styles. Generally, stones like onyx and marble exhibit a bold pattern with interesting color variations. So, it is important that you consider the overall design and color scheme of your space before picking a stone tile.
It is recommended to pick larger-sized tiles to leave an everlasting impression. This will lower the count of grout lines while making your space look cohesive and luxe!
So, does this guide get you an inch closer to considering stone tile for your home? Well, get in touch with us to discuss the best option for your space!
