Natural stone is both beautiful and timeless, offering a high-quality look to many areas in the home. And, in addition to its natural beauty, stone offers great durability which is why it is often used where durability matters most: countertops, entrance ways, and outdoor areas.
Natural Stone Types
Today there are many types of natural stone flooring to choose from, each with their own advantages. Let's go through an overview of what to consider for each of the different natural stone flooring options!
Travertine
Travertine stone floors have a warm and natural look. Travertine is available in a wide variety of colors, and based on its natural formations, you can also find travertine in a number of unique patterns.
However, if you're looking for shinier floors, travertine may not be the option for you; travertine stone always looks matte. Travertine also has a tendency to scratch and stain, so it's important to consider the potential foot traffic for where you'd be installing this stone flooring.
For more details, check out our travertine guide.
Marble
As a stone flooring option, marble tiles tend to have lots of character, and they are available in a variety of beautiful patterns with which you can complement your home's aesthetic. Marble is a highly resilient natural stone. Its honed finish also makes marble easier to maintain than some other natural stone alternatives.
On the other hand, marble is one of the more sensitive natural stone flooring options - it absorbs water, and it can stain and scratch. As a result, marble requires professional sealing upon installation as well as significant attention to maintain.
For additional details, check out our marble tile guide.
Slate
If you're looking for a darker color palette in your natural stone flooring, slate might be the right choice for your home. Like marble, slate is also a highly resilient natural stone.
Keep in mind, however, that slate can be trickier to install. While you might be able to self-install slate in a small space, more complicated floor plans would require professional installation.
Granite
If you're still looking for a shiny floor option, you might want to check out granite. Granite also offers a colder look than some of the other warmer-looking natural stone options. Looks shiny. A colder look. Strong and resilient.
Granite is a tough, not very forgiving natural stone option. It also may not be the best choice for areas that may regularly get wet, as granite becomes slippery and does not hide water spots well.
Sandstone
Sandstone flooring is extremely resistant to weather and wear, making it a great natural stone option for interior and exterior. The coloring across a sandstone floor also tends to be more even than slate and with less variation in patterns.
The one downside to sandstone is that this flooring type tends to have a more limited color selection, largely composed of more neutral shades.
As you can see, there are many options to choose from when selecting a natural stone flooring for your home. Which one of these natural stone floors will you be choosing for your renovation?
