Natural Stone Flooring Differences By Brent Davis At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Stone floors are attractive, unique and the fastest growing type of flooring in the home building and remodeling industry. However, while the floors look easy to clean and care for, natural stone cleaning is challenging and depends on the type of stone. Each type of stone floor is comprised of different materials and requires a different type of stone floor care.

• Travertine. Known for its unique appearance, this crystalline limestone is comprised of mostly calcium carbonate. This stone is susceptible to light abrasion and etching.

• Marble. All stone floors may be called marble but the flooring is actually a unique substance comprised of calcite or dolomite crystals. While marble is great for floors, it is also used as an ornamental stone. Like the travertine, marble is susceptible to light abrasion and etching.

• Slate. Despite its lackluster name, slate is actually available in a variety of colors. This crystalline rock is derived from shale. The good thing about slate is that it does not show wear easily. However, it is susceptible to light abrasion.

• Cantera. This is a beautiful stone formed from volcanic ash. You can find this stone in many colors, often used as a decorative accent. The key to keeping this stone from damage is sealing it.

• Sandstone. Because it contains iron among its mix of components, this stone often has a red or brownish color. This stone is popular in a tiled form. To increase its luster and make it easier to take care of, a topical sealer can be applied.

• Limestone. Composed of mostly calcium carbonate, this stone is normally white. However iron oxide can be added making the stone brown, yellow or red. Add carbon to make the stone blue, black or gray. This stone can be honed or polished. It is susceptible to light abrasion and some acid etching.

• Granite. This stone is believed to have been formed from molten rock under pressure and is composed of quartz, feldspars and some mica. Granite can be found in a variety of colors and is one of the sturdiest stones available, usually avoiding light abrasion or damage from acids.

• Terrazzo. Colorful, smooth and hard, this stone is comprised of marble chips set in cement or epoxy resin. This stone is less susceptible to light abrasion or acid spills.

• Onyx. This is known as one of the most beautiful stones available. Polished to a high gloss to highlight it s green, white, yellow, brown and black hues, onyx can also be one of the most difficult stones to protect. This calcite stone is very susceptible to light abrasions and acid wear.

• Quartzite. Comprised mostly of silica with some calcium carbonate and quartz, quartzite is harder and more dense than slate. Not susceptible to light abrasions or acids, the stone is sometimes tiled.

If you have natural stone you don’t know the difference between honing and sealing, find a company that specializes in natural stone floor care. If you try to take care of your floors yourself, you could cause permanent damage.

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