Stone Tile Stores – Calgary & Edmonton Specialists

Stone. It’s beautiful, versatile and one of the oldest home building materials; however, every choice has it’s pros and cons. Today we’re examining the pros and cons of natural stone tile.

Pros

Stone tile has the advantage of being a natural, timeless option for flooring. It is more durable than wood and carpet when properly treated and, almost without fail, looks beautiful.

Most damage to natural stone tile is negligible, or it can be fixed. Because the material is solid stone, most chips and scuffs can be repaired with a bit of mineral oil and re-polishing. Compare a ceramic alternative that has a print on top of red or grey clay. If a ceramic tile is chipped deep enough to go through the print, that grey or red base will show through. The usual repair is replacing the entire tile.

Installing natural stone greatly adds to the perceived value of a home.

Stone tile is also a somewhat green product; it is a natural material that requires no chemical manufacturing processes or dangerous byproduct waste.

Cons

Installing stone tile requires some experience or professional skill. Stone tile requires the same firm and level setting bed as ceramic tile–only more so. Because stone is brittle and the minerals that make up its pattern are not perfectly “cemented” to each other, it is subject to fracture along the grain lines. Therefore, a level subfloor and good quality anti-fracture membrane is required to keep that beautiful stone looking good for decades.

Some types of stone, like marble, are porous enough that they can be stained by a spill. Stone tile needs to be properly sealed with a high quality sealer, such as our Dry Treat products–the best of which include a 25 year warranty when applied by a certified Dry Treat applicator. However, don’t be daunted by sealing stone tile. As you can see in the video below, the process is simple:

Care must also be taken when cleaning natural stone, as acidic cleaners have the potential to cause damage. Again, Dry Treat carries an excellent line-up of natural stone cleaners, formulated specifically for both deep and daily cleaning of natural stone tile.

Finally, the unique beauty of each tile can be a drawback since man has no control over mother nature creating a particular colour or shade. In other words, factors outside of our control can limit stock. However, many natural stone tiles are grouped together in dye lots by the manufacturer. Similar shades are grouped together and labeled as one dye lot, thus reducing the amount of variance in one selection. Consult with your sales representative to ensure your tile selection is from the same dye lot. Record the dye lot of the boxes you receive so, in the event of needing more, you know which dye lot to request.

Another way to avoid dye lot issues is to buy extra stone tiles. This ensures that you a) have enough tiles to sort through and pick your favourite patterns and shades to be at the centre of your install. Less desirable pieces can be installed under cabinets or in places that would have area rugs or furniture, and b) have extra tiles in the same dye lot to use for repairs or remodels down the road. Again, consult with your sales representative to determine how much extra you should order.

Your thoughts?

Give us a call to discuss the right materials for your project!