About Natural Stone Flooring
Natural stone is the oldest building material known to mankind. From the pyramids of ancient Egypt in Africa to the monumental temples of Greeks and Romans in Europe and Indians and Chinese in Asia, natural stone has been a great constant throughout the history of architecture worldwide. Today, just like centuries ago, it’s strong and solid properties transmit richness and beauty making any space seem timeless. There is a certain simplicity yet elegance associated with natural stone that suits and grounds any place.
How is natural stone flooring made?
Understanding how natural stone flooring is made can be a real help when trying to choose the right material for your home or office area.
A big part of the natural stone manufacturing process is already concluded by the mother nature by the time blocks of stone are cut from earth. Once the blocks are liberated they are transporting to a processing plant where they are cut into slabs. This process can take up to 2 days depending on the weight and size of the block. The finishes are applied with a special polishing machine and vary from rough to mirrored. In the next step slabs’ thickness is adjusted and fitted for specific installations. During this process, a machine shapes the edges and cuts excess stone. Before being packed and shipped to storage it’s polished once more with a finer machine.
Manufactured stone is another kind of stone flooring popular on the market today.
Because of its structure, it’s often referred to as ‘agglomerate stone’.
Such stone contains natural stone chips that are held together by a binding material, such as cement, polyester or epoxy resins. Most popular synthetic stones are made from quartz.
In its appearance agglomerate stone closely resembles natural stone but is more economical. It’s good at resisting scratches and needs no sealing since unlike natural stone it contains no pores. Thanks to its composite nature manufacture it’s more flexible than natural stones and less prone to chipping or cracking.
How to maintain natural stone flooring
Natural stone floor is a beautiful addition to any home and office. It’s also a great investment for the future if you know how to care for it right and maintain it’s fresh look. Knowing how much care a type of floor demands can determine your choice in the first place or help you extend your floor’s life by years. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces.
Follow these simple care and maintenance tips and you will be able to enjoy its beauty for years to come.
DOs
- Dust mop your natural stone flooring regularly
- Use just mild detergent or stone soap to clean the surface of your floor
- Wipe up liquid spills right away
- Use walk-off mats with non-slip backing at the entrances
- Move heavy objects with extra care
- Use leg covers for your furniture
DON'Ts
- Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice or other acid cleaners
- Don’t use bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub and tile cleaners that contain acid
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners (including soft as well as dry cleansers)
- Don’t mix bleach and ammonia or any other chemicals unless you are following the floor manufacturer or a flooring specialist’s direct instructions
- Don’t use worn vacuum cleaners with metal or plastic attachments on the wheels that may leave scratches on your floor’s surface
