5 Great Options for Natural-Stone Flooring

Natural stone is the best choice of material for homeowners who wish to upgrade their floors and boost the value of their properties. In the United States, homeowners have a quite a few types of natural-stone floor tiles to choose from. Making the right choice is a matter of considering interior décor preferences, cost, and expected use and foot traffic. With the above in mind, here are the top five choices for natural-stone flooring.

1. Marble As the king of natural-stone flooring, marble is the best choice for homeowners who want to make a classic and elegant statement. Marble tends to be an expensive flooring material, but the look of polished marble floors, particularly creamy varieties such as Carrara, is certainly worth the investment. Homeowners who install marble floors must be prepared to maintain them, just like any other type of natural stone. Fortunately, the availability of a stone-safe cleaner such as Granite Gold Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner® makes this an easy task.

2. Granite This type of stone is often used for kitchen and bathroom countertops, but it is highly recommended as a flooring material in living spaces where heavy foot traffic is expected. Granite is heavier and more durable than marble. It is also less porous, which means it is not as prone to staining. Whereas the most attractive marble colors tend to be lighter, granite looks better with darker tones, especially those that feature red and green veining.

3. Sandstone Builders in ancient Rome used sandstone mostly for decorative interior wall applications. When they used it as a flooring material, it was usually for ceremonial spaces that did not get a lot of foot traffic. Sandstone is a delicate stone that requires even more care and maintenance than marble. As for its look, sandstone is perfect for homes featuring Southwestern and Spanish Colonial styles of architecture.

4. Flagstone In the past, flagstone was mostly used for outdoor flooring applications such as swimming pools, sunrooms, and garden paths. Now that the rustic look has become popular in terms of interior decoration, more homeowners choose flagstone for kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and dens. One of the aesthetic advantages of flagstone is that it is often available in uneven tiles, which means it can be arranged in mosaic styles to make eye-catching floor surfaces. Flagstone looks better with a honed and unpolished look. It is easy to maintain and is generally affordable.

5. Limestone The builders of the Egyptian pyramids used limestone to cover their magnificent structures. However, sealant technology would not be available until thousands of years later, which resulted in heavy damage and erosion. Limestone is very durable but also very porous, which means homeowners must be prepared to frequently clean and seal their floor tiles. Some lighter variations of limestone look very similar to marble.

If you’d like to learn more about how to clean granite and natural-stone floors, reach out to Granite Gold® today. All of our stone care products are safe to use on granite, marble, limestone, and all other types of natural stone. Give us a call today at 1-800-475-STONE to speak to one of our knowledgeable representatives.