Natural stone has been a popular choice within home flooring and wall tile options for centuries, and for very good reason.
Stone tiles bring a natural aesthetic to a space, and bring natural colours and textures indoors. Natural stone offers a unique aesthetic to a room, and a warmth that no other material can simulate.
Natural stone, as it is a natural material, offers a huge range of colours, quality and texture to interior tiling options. When choosing the ideal tile to suit your home’s décor and style, it is so important to be aware of the different natural stones that are available and the quality finish they can provide.
Here are a few examples of the most popular natural stone choices for tiling, and a little information to make sure you choose the best suited tile for your home.
Slate
Slate is probably the most common of stone tiles, and will be the tile material you come across most on a daily basis. Slate is a metamorphic rock that splits into thin sheets easily, making tiles a sturdy and reliable option for any home or commercial setting.
Slate is often the darkest of natural stone colour palettes, so is highly resilient and can create a sophisticated and clean aesthetic to any surrounding. Slate wall tiles are most suited to living spaces, entryways, hallways and kitchens and provide a timeless elegance to any home.
Marble
Marble is possibly the natural stone tile with the most character and traditional value. In ancient times, kings and Caesars would demand marble floors in their homes – marble offers a sense of luxury and can encourage spaces to appear larger.
Marble can be prone to staining or scratching, so will require more care than other stone tiles, but if looked after well is the perfect option for any traditional or modern home. Marble is often more resilient than travertine, and benefits from professional sealing.
Marble provides beautiful patterns and colours, creating unique and stunning depths to a floor or wall. Marble absorbs water though, so be careful if using marble tiles outside.
Travertine
Travertine is another commonly-encountered stone that is used in a lot of home and commercial settings. Travertine is a sedimentary rock composed of calcite, and is a softer alternative to limestone. Travertine offers a matte finish, so if you desire a gloss appearance, travertine is probably not the option for your home.
Travertine, when settled into its matte quality, can offer a warmth, depth and texture to a flooring or wall option like no other tile. Travertine is a little more fragile than other natural materials, but many monuments are made of travertine due to its versatility and the longevity of life it offers. Travertine, a softer hued alternative to slate, offers variable and unique patterns to a décor and has a soft finish.
Granite
Granite is probably the hardest and most resistant of available natural stone materials. Granite is a glossy and highly water-repellent option for any tiled area. Granite requires quite a lot of care to keep the high quality shine and beautiful surface quality it offers, and any scratches or marks can be prominent on its appearance.
Granite tiles are available in a beautiful range of colours to suit any interior style, and due to its high resilience they can be used both indoors and out. During the winter months, granite tiles may be a little colder to walk on, but their appearance and quality of design make up for it.
Here at Tile Mart, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality wall and floor tiling options to suit all home and commercial interior and exteriors. Our comprehensive ranges showcase all natural stone, artistic, mosaic and wooden tile options for any décor design. For further information or advice please get in contact with our friendly team on 01772 258 998 today!
