Are you considering installing natural stone for your next home renovation? Have you encountered any worrisome tales that have made you hesitant? There are several untrue myths out there regarding stone and our goal is to educate you so you can make an informed decision. Here are just a few of the incorrect statements we hear everyday:

1. You Have to Seal it Constantly. False. This is the 21st century and gone are the days when sealers had to be reapplied every few months! Stone Source Intl offers Stain-Proof, an Australian sealant with a guarantee of 15 years when applied by certified applicators. It is fully penetrating and chemically changes the stone to physically repel water and stains. We have a large list of certified applicators, so come in and grab a business card!

2. Natural Stone is Difficult to Care for. This is untrue. If your tiles have been installed correctly, they will easily hold up again general wear. As long as your stone (and grout!) has been properly sealed with our Stain-Proof, it will repel water and nasty stains that threaten your beautiful new tile.

3. Stone can’t be Installed in Steam Showers. Yet another false claim. We recommend using a water-proofing membrane underneath your tile, but otherwise your stone is fully capable of being soaked and steamed.

4. Natural Stone can’t go Outside. False.. sort of. We don’t recommend exposing most stone such as our travertine, marble or limestone to the Canadian elements.

However, we do have several Indian and Brazilian slates which are dense and durable enough to withstand against the intense freeze and thaw.

5. Stone tiles are slippery. Both true and false. If you live with young children, an injury or any elderly, this could be a great concern for you. Most surfaces will be slippery when wet, unfortunately this is unavoidable. To prevent potential accidents, avoid selecting a polished tile which will have very little grip (especially for socked feet!). Instead, try picking a stone with a natural or honed finish. Keep in mind, grout has lots of traction. Therefore the smaller the tile, the more grip your floor will have.

6. Natural Stone is cold on the feet. Not if you install cozyfloor! Available at Stone Source Intl and more cost effective than competing brands, this easy install in-floor heating system is perfect for placing beneath your new stone tiles. It’s energy efficient, using the equivalent amount of energy as a running light bulb year round. That’s not only green but saves you hydro costs!

Hopefully this helps put your mind to ease and allows you to make a more educated decision on whether or not to use stone for your next home renovation. If you have any other questions which are not answered here, feel free to leave a comment or stop by our showroom any time!