Devon Tiler and Tiles Specialists give a brief overview on the variety of tiling options available today.

Natural stones including marble, slate, and granite are some of the most naturally suitable materials for household tiling due to their high resistance to wear and traffic. Additionally, the stone tile floors, and countertops made from these natural stone materials are some of the most attractive options available for your flooring and other surface you wish to transform. The beautiful and endless patterns in granite and marble are formed over millions of years and give any floor a high sense of individuality and innovation. Alongside this, natural stone offers an elegant and luxurious look and feel to any home. The natural stone is quarried from massive deposits and cut into large blocks. These blocks are then cut to a standard thickness, with one side of the granite or marble honed and polished. This is what gives the stone such a beautiful and lasting effect.

Stone tile flooring: location, location, location

When you choose your stone tile flooring you should consider issues such as moisture levels, slip resistance, traffic, and even the hardness of the surface of your stone tile floor. All of these are more easily judged once you’ve decided where the installation will take place.

When choosing your ideal flooring surface, you must first consider how much traffic the space will get. In most cases, the higher the traffic, the harder the surface should be. Also, if your floor is for a kitchen or dining room, it is important to note that fragile items such as glassware or china are more likely to break if dropped, for example, on marble or granite, as opposed to wood flooring. Also, remember to consider moisture, and how much your stone tile floor is likely to sustain. Some types of stone tile flooring are more porous than others and therefore less resistant to moisture and more likely to crack over time.

The issue of slip resistance is important as well, particularly if your household is likely to see high traffic from young children or the elderly. A marble stone tile floor may not be the best choice if you are concerned with someone slipping in an area such as a bathroom, where footwear often consists of bedroom slippers and socks. In an area such as this, stone flooring such as slate tile may be more appropriate. Another alternative could be unglazed ceramic tile.