Stone floors can be an excellent option for you home when you want something different than wood and carpet. But, as with stone counters, there’s a lot of options and pros and cons when it comes to flooring materials. The three best options for stone floors are granite, marble, and slate and each comes with their own benefits and their own pitfalls depending on what you’re looking for in your stone flooring when it comes to longevity and maintenance.
Deciding on a stone flooring comes down to a few different items.
First, you’ll want to look at the absorption rating from non-vitreous to impervious. Next look at the grade which determines the uniformity of the materials and the flaws within them. Third look at the level of slipperiness of the material called the coefficient of friction which becomes important in flooring in order to make sure the material is safe.
Below are three options in stone flooring to consider.
Granite Floors
Granite flooring is heavy and sturdy. It can stand the test of time, even with potential heavy foot traffic. It’s highly resistant to stains, heat, acid, and erosion or stains from water. This makes it great for kitchens and bathrooms where these materials might be common. One thing to note, however, its friction coefficient causes it to be rather slippery when wet and the sturdiness of the stone can work against you if you fall onto such a hard surface.
Marble Floors
Like granite, marble flooring can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. You also have options between polished and honed marble giving you even more diversity. Marble tiles come in smaller sizes which can be important to note for your design ideas in the room where the marble will be used. Some people can’t resist the timeless elegance that marble floors display. Like granite it is sturdy and withstands a lot of traffic and punishment and unlike granite it tends to be less slippery, even when wet.
Slate Floors
This is probably the tile material you picture when you think of stone flooring. Natural slate is a unique and attractive material that is very durable and can even be a bonus on your energy bill thanks to the way it holds and disperses heat. But slate is also expensive, can be a bit of a headache to repair or replace, and requires sealing to have maintenance on potential stains. If you don’t mind the upkeep, slate floors are a showstopper and make you feel good about your floor investment. They come in a variety of solid and multicolored combinations that appeal to broad decorative styles.
Related Questions
What is the cost of stone flooring?
Generally speaking marble flooring starts at $5 and can get up to $50 per square foot. Slate is $2 to $20 per square foot. While granite is the most affordable at $2 to $10 per square foot depending on size and color. Prices vary depending on where you live and keep in mind the cost increases when you add in installation and labor. Getting a few different quotes is always a good idea.
Which stone floor is the best option?
This depends on where it’s going as well as your household. If you’ve got a lot of traffic you should plan for something sturdy but if you’ve got kids, you might not want something slippery. Also keep in mind which one will have a better impact on the value of your home.
Restoring Your Stone Floors
If you already have stone floors, then you know their worth and how functional they can be for every life and decorative style. Proper maintenance of all flooring ensures decades of beauty, but after years of wear and tear they may require some restoration. That’s when a professional stone and tile floor restoration service comes to your rescue.
Restore-A-Floor in Michigan are your go-to stone restoration service. We can restore your stone floors, no matter what the type, back to their original beauty so that you remember why you chose these floors in the first place.
We offer both polishing services and grinding and honing services to meet all of your stone restoration needs. This is a dust-free wet process and can be applied to floors, countertops, walls, and showers. As a #1 choice for stone and tile restoration services in Michigan, we understand what it takes and have multiple restorative options to suit any budget. Call and speak to a floor restoration specialist today, Free!