guide to use natural stone

1
Guide To Natural Stone Tile Flooring
2

• Natural stone refers to a variety of mountain
  born materials including Slate, Marble,
  Limestone, Travertine, Granite, and Sandstone.
  Each of these has slightly different properties.
  It's important to understand the characteristics
  of the type of stone flooring tile you are
  purchasing in order to determine whether it is
  appropriate for a specific location.

3

• As you shop for natural stone tiles, these are
  the factors that you should question retailers
  about.
• Absorption Rating
• Grade
• Coefficient of Friction
• Indoor vs. Outdoor Rating
• Oxidation

4
Absorption Rating

• The absorption rating refers to how porous a
  given material is. The more absorbent it is, the
  more susceptible it will be to stains, as well as
  cracking damage in freezing conditions.
• The 4 Levels of Absorption for Tile
• Non-vitreous
• Semi-vitreous
• Impervious
• Specific Tile Absorption Rates

5

• Semi-vitreous While these tiles are less
  absorbent, the more liquid they are exposed to,
  the more maintenance they will require.
• Vitreous This is the standard absorption level
  for flooring tiles and these materials are
  generally considered appropriate for most low to
  mid traffic indoor and outdoor applications.
• Impervious These materials are resistant to the
  absorption of liquids and thus will be easier to
  maintain. They are often used in high-traffic
  commercial applications.
• Specific Tile Absorption Rates In general,
  Sandstone is the most porous natural stone
  material, Travertine, Limestone, and Slate have
  medium absorbency, and Granite is relatively
  waterproof.

6
Grade

• Some retailers use a grading system to rate the
  quality of materials. This can refer to the size,
  shape, and thickness of the tile, as well as the
  condition of its surface Most grading systems
  have three levels of quality. Grade 1 refers to
  high quality, uniform materials. Grade 2 consists
  of materials with minor defects such as chips,
  scratches, or irregular surfaces. Grade 3
  materials have major flaws in size, shape,
  surface, or chipping, making them appropriate
  only as accent pieces, or in certain rustic
  decorative applications

.
.
7
Coefficient of Friction

• This measures how slippery various materials are.
  The higher the coefficient, the more traction a
  tile will have. This number is especially
  important in moist environments such as bathrooms
  and kitchens, as well as high traffic commercial
  areas. The Americans with Disabilities Act
  requires that flooring material has a minimum of
  a .6 dryness coefficient.

8
Indoor vs Outdoor Rating

• Some natural stone flooring materials are more
  suited to outdoor applications than others. Many
  of the factors above will determine whether a
  material should be used in an open air
  environment. Non-vitreous materials will be
  subject to staining through dirt and acid rain,
  as well as cracking when absorbed materials
  freeze and expand. Stones which have a low
  coefficient of friction will also pose a slipping
  hazard during rain and snow storms.

9
Oxidation

• Natural stone materials are formed beneath the
  earth over millions of years, and often contain a
  variety of disparate elements. Sometimes iron is
  present in these materials, which can manifest as
  bright red and amber hues in the surface of the
  stone. The problem in an outdoor environment is
  that those traces of iron can oxidize, a process
  more commonly known as rusting. This can cause
  the entire tile to degenerate over time.?

10
Benefits of Using Natural Stone Flooring

• Each piece of stone is a unique creation of the
  earth, making every flooring application one of a
  kind.
• The mountain born qualities of the stone can help
  to reconnect a space with the natural world.
• While there is some debate about the ecological
  impact of quarrying and transporting stone
  materials, the tiles themselves are natural,
  nonpolluting, eco-friendly pieces.
• Purchasing stones which were acquired locally can
  cut down on the environmental impact of
  transport.

11
Drawbacks of Using Natural Stone Flooring

• With the exception of Granite and some Slate,
  natural stone is quite porous and needs to be
  treated with a sealing agent periodically to
  protect its surfaces.
• Some polished materials such as marble can
  scratch easily.
• Some stones are also very brittle and will chip
  easily.
• When purchasing natural stone flooring materials
  it is important to do your research and
  understand the characteristics of the material
  you are purchasing. You want to find out whether
  it will be appropriate for your specific
  application and how much maintenance it will
  require. Ask your retailer multiple questions,
  and get to know the material as much as you can
  before you make a purchase.