Hard-Wearing Floors - Making The Most of Stone and Marble
The main characteristics of stone and marble floors is their great strength, resistance and durability. These two materials allow us to create very different decorative results.
Best of all, they’re very well-suited to both classical and more rustic-style interiors, as well as contemporary designs. So, if you’re thinking about replacing the floors in your home, this is the article for you.
Stone and marble
Both materials are highly recommended by designers, from both a functional and an aesthetic point of view. If you’re interested in giving your home a makeover, don’t hesitate to use one of these fantastic materials.
Stone – a versatile material
Elegance and durability. These are the qualities that define stone flooring. While it can be rather expensive and difficult to install, once in place, it will last a lifetime.
Stone is a heavy material, which means that it has to be installed on hard, highly resistant surfaces such as concrete, and fixed with cement or glue cement.
For best results, the concrete has to be completely dry and well-leveled. Stone flooring is generally only used on the ground floor – be sure to keep this in mind when choosing your flooring materials.
Due to its great resistance and durability, stone is very well-suited to entrance halls, foyers, and any rooms which lead out onto outdoor areas such as the patio or yard. However, some types of stone can also work well in kitchens and bathrooms.
Keep in mind that while stone floors can be great in the summer, in the winter, they can be a little on the chilly side. You’ll need to counter this by incorporating rugs or carpets.
Stone floors – a huge variety to choose from
Stone is usually sold as tiles or slabs. These can have a variety of different finishes (matte, glossy, serrated), as well as an array of different colors, shapes, and sizes.
Although this material is more commonly associated with classical or rustic style interiors, it can also look great in more contemporary homes, where it can be used to create effective and aesthetic combinations.
A word of advice – if you want to give your floors a touch of elegance, try using regular or geometric stone tiles. If you’re looking for a more rustic effect, go for irregular flagstone tiles instead.
Don’t underestimate the value of the original stone flooring usually found in old country houses. Due to its hefty price-tag, this is a luxury that’s hard to come by in modern homes.
Marble – aesthetically beautiful flooring
Marble is one of the most elegant and classical materials on the market and never goes out of style. Synonymous with luxury, marble floors are perfectly suited to the world’s most spectacular historical buildings.
Its great beauty and durability are marble’s unique selling points. However, it can be susceptible to scratches and, although it is waterproof, it’s also highly porous, and will stain easily.
For this reason, we don’t recommend using marble in kitchens. That said, it can work well in bathrooms, as it won’t be affected by the humidity.
You should also be aware that depending on the finish, marble can be a little slippery. Think carefully about where you’re going to use it to avoid any potential accidents.
If you’re on a tight budget, we’d advise you to think twice before choosing marble flooring. Its high price-tag is one of the main drawbacks of this luxury material.
Types of marble
Visually speaking, marble is characterized by the distinctive veins of color running through it. It can be categorized according to quality, allowing you to identify the more fragile varieties. This is an important aspect to keep in mind when choosing your flooring.
Marbles categorized as type A or type B are generally stronger and more resistant, while type C and D marbles are more delicate. Each type comes in a wide range of colors, from pink to red, green, brown, and black.
When it comes to setting your budget, keep in mind that marble can be found in large, expensive sheets, or as slightly cheaper tiles.
And finally, we’d like to share one last piece of advice – if you want your rooms to look bigger, try using lighter shades of marble. Give it a try, and see just how amazing it looks.
Stone and marble are both great options if you’re looking for a way to give your home a brand new look.