The Benefits of Natural Stone

In building and renovating, there are a number of choices available for flooring and tiling; of all of the options available, however, natural stone has benefits that can’t be matched. There are the aesthetic benefits: stone is associated with quality, and has a beauty that speaks for itself. It is also easier to care for than other types of flooring; you can keep natural stone clean, and it doesn’t take wear as readily as some other forms of flooring.

Aesthetic Benefits of Natural Stone

Because natural stone is a naturally-occurring product, each piece is utterly unique. Whether you select tiles or slabs for your needs, you will notice that the flooring or tiling that you choose will have characteristics of other types of the same material, but will also be distinctive. For example, on a basic level, marble is graded based on the level of flaws and inclusions that are present in the stone. Interestingly, unlike precious gems where more inclusions can lead to a lower grade—or make the stones less valuable—perfectly flawless marble is less valuable than samples of the stone that have the complex whorls and flecks of other materials.

Natural stone of all kinds is associated in many people’s minds with quality; there is a reason that ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans made their grandest buildings and their finest sculptures out of marble, and why cathedrals everywhere in the world are made of fine stone; it lasts, and it lends a timeless quality to any space.

Practical Benefits of Natural Stone

Apart from the visual appeal of stone, there are many practical benefits as well. Stone floors can help keep the climate cooler in any home. This is especially beneficial if a home or business is in a state with hotter seasons. Cooling costs can be expensive, and including natural stone on floors and even on walls is a time-honored method for keeping the heat out. Since stone has insulating properties as well, it keeps temperatures in any building more regulated.

Stone floors are also very sturdy and durable. They are, after all, stone; it takes centuries for natural elements to erode stones like marble or granite—regular traffic and contact with the floors is much less damaging. Once stone flooring or wall tiling is done, you can rest assured that it will stay there, looking beautiful, for decades—with the proper care. There are buildings around the world with natural stone flooring that have been in place not just for decades, but for over a century—and the stone is still intact.

Also, you do not have to worry as much about stains with stone floors, since they’re stain resistant. Of course, there are some things that can stain or damage natural stone—particularly if it is not sealed. However, it is much harder to stain and much easier to clean natural stone floors than it is to take care of these issues on other flooring materials such as carpet or hardwood.

Whatever your need, natural stone floors provides a cost-effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing choice for flooring and wall tiling.