5 Types of Kid-Friendly Stone Flooring

Homeowners who are raising young children should not feel their flooring options are limited to vinyl, carpeting, and cork. While these materials are soft surfaces that lessen the painful impact of falls, they do not offer much in the way of aesthetics or durability. If you have young children running around the house, you need floors that are strong enough to withstand this high level of activity. When safety is a concern, consider mats, area rugs, or foam tiles for playrooms and other living spaces where children are bound to spend more time. As for the rest of the house, the following natural-stone options are ideal for their ease of maintenance, durability, and scratch-resistant properties. 1. Slate This metamorphic stone material is often chosen by commercial real estate developers for bathroom floors and cafeterias in office buildings, and these choices are based on various reasons. For instance, slate is durable and resists heavy traffic, and it also does not stain easily. However, like other types of stone, slate does need to be maintained properly. Two of the most important steps in natural-stone care are cleaning and sealing the stone regularly. 2. Quartzite One of the advantages of this metamorphic rock is that it is mined across the Americas, so you have a lot to choose from in terms of appearance. Quartzite is the geologic result of sandstone that has been heavily compressed over millions of years, which means it is heavy, durable, and resistant. Homeowners who like the appearance of limestone are better off installing quartzite if they have young children. 3. Feldspar Although feldspar is also a sandstone extracted from quartz deposits, the quartz content of feldspar flooring materials tends to be substantially less than quartzite. Depending on their mineral composition, feldspar floor tiles may have a beige or creamy appearance highlighted by crystalline specks. This stone is easy to clean and can be installed in high traffic areas due to its durability. Furthermore, it tends to be warmer to the touch than some other types of stone. 4. Granite Granite is perfect for homeowners who wish to give their homes the luxurious look of marble without having to spend quite as much money. There are many reasons granite is routinely chosen as a material for kitchen and bathroom counters. Granite is known to be extremely durable and virtually impervious to stains when sealed properly, which also makes it great for floors. Moreover, granite slabs and tiles can be finished with a seal that protects the stone without making the surface slippery. 5. Quartz Sandstone tiles with a high quartz content tend to have very interesting appearances and color combinations that capture the attention of children, but what is more important about this flooring material is that it has both antifungal and antimicrobial properties. When maintained properly, quartz floors can last a very long time, as they are known to withstand heavy impact and scratches. Caring for stone flooring often means also caring for grout. Make sure you have a safe-on-stone grout cleaner on-hand to deep clean any soiled grout you come across on your floors. If you have additional questions regarding how to care for stone floors properly, reach out to Granite Gold® today at 1-800-475-STONE.