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Are there choices of styles and
patterns?
For stone flooring, Stonell has square tiles that can be laid
in a grid, diamond or brick bond patterns. Rectangular
tiles can be laid in grid, brick bond or herringbone
patterns. Aged stone comes in repeating patterns
of different sized stone that recreate the random feel
of Roman paving patterns. Honed limestones and travertines
can be cut into hexagonals and laid with insets to
design a Georgian style floor. Contemporary floors
suit large tiles. There are a huge variety of
designs to choose from and will certainly be a style
to suit all projects. Aged stone floors are perfect
when looking for a sympathetic material for period
homes or renovation projects. A tumbled, brushed
or chipped edge stone floor in a repeating pattern,
with different sized tiles mixed together, works particularly
well for that authentic antique look and complements
other natural materials such as original timber beams
and old wooden doors. Antiqued unfilled travertine
with a brushed surface and softened edges are ideal
for barn conversions, restoration developments and
listed buildings where a textured surface and rustic
style is required. |
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For
an eclectic look, aged stone can be mixed successfully
with minimalist furniture and accessories. Honed
limestone has a smooth matt surface and straight lines,
which lends itself to clean uncluttered modern rooms
or classical interiors. Download pattern examples
attached.
Why Choose Natural Stone
Flooring and Tiles?
Natural Stone is beautiful and will add a stunning
feature to any home. Stone is the only material
that improves with age, it lasts a lifetime and its
natural variation adds character. It is hardwearing,
very practical and gains its own patina over time. It
is worth investing in natural stone as it lasts for
years and will enhance the value of your home. It
is easy to clean, practical yet stylish. The
price of natural stone has decreased in recent years
making it a luxurious yet affordable floor covering. Natural
stone flooring comes in many styles and can suit
both a traditional and contemporary setting. It
is a very adaptable material that is at home in a
country cottage as well as an urban townhouse or
apartment. Ideal for hallways, kitchens, dining
rooms, conservatories and bathrooms and increasingly
being used in living areas and bedrooms. Stone
goes well with other natural materials such as wood
and works particularly well with under floor heating. Natural
stone flooring is unique as every tile is a one off
and this look cannot be recreated by man-made material. Fossils,
shells, crystal veins and tonal variation are all
marks of authenticity.
What is Limestone?
A limestone is a sedimentary rock. It is made
up of layers of calcium carbonate formed from the accumulation
of organic matter in shallow seas, which is then turned
to stone by millions of years of pressure. Limestone
comes in a variety of density and hardness and some
rare limestones are as tough as granite. For
flooring, ensure you buy a hard limestone. Selecting
a French Limestone from Stonell would be a good choice.
What is Travertine?
Travertine is also a sedimentary rock, which is made
up of layers of calcite formed from the accumulation
of organic matter in hot springs and spa areas. The
stone has a natural honeycomb structure, where water
has flowed through the material. It is a very
strong stone, which when cut into tiles exposes the
small holes on the surface. These holes can
be left unfilled to leave a natural texture or they
are pre-filled with a very hard resin and honed smooth. Small
holes may appear on the surface of the tiles over
time; this is part of the charm of this ancient stone. The
best quality travertines have a high density, which
means the holes in the honeycomb structure are smaller. There
are many colours of travertine from beige travertino
classico, golden travertine, red and yellows, silver,
blues and whites from Italy, Turkey, Iran and Mexico.
What is Marble?
Marble is a metamorphic rock and started its life as
limestone, which is then crystallised by immense
heat and pressure. Marble obtains its different
colours from the minerals and chemical elements in
the stone. The quality of marble can vary so
we import our marble directly from the quarry.
What
is Slate?
The stone industry describes slates as stones with
a riven texture, which is produced because the stone
splits naturally. In geological terms slate
is categorised as a metamorphic rock. Slate
naturally has a riven surface, where the stone splits
due to a natural cleavage. This textured surface
is great for grip. For ease of laying,
the best quality slates are calibrated, which means
they are flat on the underside.
What is Basalt?
Basalts are igneous rocks, which mean that they have
been formed from liquid magma which has solidified
after being ejected by an erupting volcano. Basalt,
like Granite, is a very hard stone. For ease
of maintenance, we recommend all stones used inside
should be protected with Lithofin Stainstop. Basalt
if generally very good value, but beware of buying
rejected stock too cheaply on the internet, as it
may not turn out to be quite the bargain you hoped
for.
What is Sandstone?
Sandstone is generally described as a sedimentary rock
consisting of grains of sand cemented together and
compressed over millions of years. Due to its
large grain size, textured surface for grip and high
porosity, this material is excellent for exterior
paving but generally not suited for interior use. York
stone is a type of sandstone and we offer similar
looks with thick riven Indian flagstones and sawn
pavers from Spain; all are excellent for pedestrian
areas, patios and terraces.
Is natural stone cold?
Stone is not inherently cold. On the contrary,
stone is wonderful at heat transference and retains
heat for long periods. If you have a well-insulated
house with modern central heating then a stone floor
will normally be a few degrees below the ambient temperature
of the room. The floor temperature will also
depend on what is underneath the floor (i.e. the subfloor)
and how well insulated it is. If you are laying
a natural stone floor onto a concrete screed it may
be worth considering the now affordable luxury of under
floor heating. For that added comfort, electric
under floor warming systems such as Devi radiates a
gentle heat across a stone floor as well as providing
warmth for bare feet.
How do I care for a stone
floor?
All natural stone is easy to keep clean, once it
is properly protected with Lithofin Stainstop. Your
tiler applies this protecting liquid at the installation
stage. Stonell recommends this silicone-based
sealant as it impregnates the stone and gives it
a protective layer which helps prevent staining when
saturated. Lithofin Stainstop does not change
the colour or appearance of the stone and will not
change the surface finish. The Stainstop will
also protect the grout. Any liquids will rest
on the top of the stone, ready to be quickly wiped
away with a paper towel or damp cloth. Once
the stone is protected thoroughly at the installation
stage, then ongoing maintenance is simple and easy. General
cleaning only requires sweeping the stone with a
soft broom and mopping with warm water and a stone
soap such as Lithofin Easycare. (Use a bucket
with two compartments, so that you rinse the mop
and remove the dirt rather than just spreading it
around.) To prolong the life of your stone
floor it is best to avoid the use of bleach, acidic
or abrasive cleaning products. Good entrance
matting will also reduce the amount of dirt and mud
walked into the house. Stonell's seven
showrooms can offer advice on treating and maintenance
of our stones.
Top Tim
Stone by it’s very nature is a varied material
so it is imperative that you see a selection of tiles
laid and grouted on the floor in order to get a true
idea of the colours, texture and overall effect. Remember
that you cannot judge the colour of a stone from a
photograph on a website as the colour on your screen
is dependent on how your computer is set up. Small
stone samples are a good starting point, but do not
make your final decision based on just seeing only
one piece of stone - as once laid, your stone floor
will be there for years to come.
Company Information
Stonell are natural stone
specialists with seven showrooms in the UK located in
London, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire,
Cambridgeshire and Kent. Stonell
imports natural stone tiles directly from quarries around
the world and offers over 200 products from stock which
it can deliver to anywhere in the UK (mainland) from
its warehouse in the south east within
5 working days.
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 For
complimentary samples email or call freephone
0800 083 2283 |
| For
Expert advice on stone flooring, please contact
your nearest showroom |
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