What Stone is Right for You?

There are a lot of questions that come up when people are thinking of adding natural stone to their homes; while some people have definite preferences for the type of stone they want to install, not everyone knows all of the unique and beautiful options that are available. The decision of what type of natural stone will work best for you depends on a few different factors: what you’ll be using it for, where the stone will be placed, and—of course—what level of maintenance you’re comfortable with, as a start. There are other considerations as well, including your own personal taste, but for practical purposes we will look at the first three.

What Do You Want to Use Natural Stone For?

There are as many natural stone products in the world as there are varieties of natural stone; so it should come as no surprise that some perform certain tasks better than others. While Antolini Precioustone slabs are beautiful and unique, they are not necessarily the best choice for all purposes. They make excellent backsplashes, and bring gorgeous contrast and texture to walls; they may not be as suitable for flooring, however. On the other hand, marble and travertine are both accepted as great flooring options—after all, they’ve been a major building material for centuries. Marble also works excellently for wall tiling and back splashes and even countertops. Because of the qualities of each stone, they tend to work better for certain applications—if you’re uncertain about your specific circumstance, it’s definitely worth consulting with an expert.

Where Are You Putting Your Natural Stone?

Indoor versus outdoor is the most common question that comes up in this category. Some stones perform exceptionally well for outdoor applications—for example, slate can be great outdoors. Others, because they are more porous or because of other peculiarities of their mineral makeup, are definitely better suited to indoor installation. For example, non-vitreous materials may stain easily, as well as having issues with cracking when absorbed materials freeze and expand. Certain forms of natural stone also include iron as part of their mineral makeup—which can, when exposed to the elements, turn into rust. Consider a few different possibilities for any area of your home where you’re looking to install natural stone and do your research to determine what the best option will be for the conditions your natural stone will be exposed to.

Maintenance and Your Natural Stone

While natural stone is much easier to maintain—by and large—than other forms of flooring, as well as other countertops and decorative touches, there is still some maintenance required. Because some forms of natural stone—such as marble—tend to be porous, they occasionally require sealing in order to prevent stains or damage. Other materials have a tendency to flake or chip easily, and some can be quite brittle. Keep this in mind as you’re making your decision: how much time and enthusiasm do you have for maintaining your natural stone to keep it looking its best? If you don’t want to spend a lot of time on it, consider going with materials that are nonporous and easy to maintain.