Natural stone tiles use various mineral ingredients from the mountain, which are the exact opposite of its synthetic counterpart. These substances, sandstone, marble, slate, granite, travertine, and limestone, have distinct features that will tell you which one best fits a particular part of the house. Most modern houses use natural stone tiles because of their ability to add elegance and opulence to its aesthetics. When you have plans to upgrade your flooring, walls, or countertops, it is advisable to learn essential facts of every tile type to maintain its condition over time.
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Types
Granite Tiles
This type is made of cooled and hardened volcanic lava or magma, which usually has dark specks of pink, white or grey hues. It is known for its durability and classical appearance, and so it is the much-preferred kind among the others. Furthermore, bathroom countertops, wet bars, kitchens, and fireplaces usually use this type of natural stone tile because of its ability to resist moisture.
Limestone Tile
The tile that uses tiny mineral substances that come from rivers and other water bodies is known as limestone. Common colours of a limestone tile are white, grey, beige, or off-white, making it easy to complement most house themes. Unfortunately, it is not scratch-resistant as well as it can easily be stained from juices or vinegar. Hence, contractors would only recommend them in shower walls, vanity surfaces, and fireplaces.
Marble Tile
The marble tile is known for its pure white colour that has thin veins of earthy hues. These blemishes are due to its minerals present during its formation. Marble tiles have compact features, making it easy to install on walls and floors in and out of the house.
Slate Tile
The substances of a slate tile originated from clay or volcanic ash and commonly have grey shades. But these are also available in unique colours like cyan, purple, or green. Interior designers strongly suggest using this type of natural stone tile on outside walls, floors, or roofing because of its easy maintenance features and can strongly resist water absorption.
Basalt Tile
Basalt tile can quickly be recognised by its deep grey, black, or brown shade since it’s made of volcanic rock. This tile that uses permeable natural stone is suitable for walls and floors around the pool area, fire pits, or garden pathways.
Bluestone Tile
Bluestone generally refers to sedimentary stones, like sandstone or limestone that are blue-gray in color. Bluestone is quarried in certain parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Canadian Appalachians.
Travertine Tile
Travertine is a terrestrial sedimentary rock, formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from geothermally heated hot-springs.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts.