Terrazzo is a composite substance, drenched in-home or precast, which is applied for floor and wall lines. It consists of parts of marble, quartz, granite, glass, or other suitable material issued with a cementitious adhesive, polymeric or a mixture of both.

Terrazzo is more valuable than marble and granite. You are not only using a mixture of two of the most costly elements. The method of connecting terrazzo tiles adds to the cost because it wants to be professionally fitted, unlike marble, granite or concrete.

Terrazzo is composed of marble chips implanted into a cement base,  coated with a confined sealer. Although marble is still the sum of supply for most purposes, Terrazzo can also be made from recycled glass and metallics. 

Whether Terrazzo Marble seems on the ground or as part of a graphic-design work, this item free-wheeling creation method gives way to many opportunities and ideas.

As a result, we get to enjoy a lot of diversity in Terrazzo marble in India. Also, they all share, in one way or another, the following qualities:

 1)   Speckling

2)   Dotting

3)   Textures

4)   Asymmetry

5)   Imperfection

6)   Contrast (colours, shapes, forms, sizes)

7)   Neutral colours as well as vibrant ones

8)   Patterning

9)   Geometric influences (lines, curves, circles, triangles)

10) Versatility

The beauty of this material—and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the written material or abstract illustrations or images of it—is that it goes with everything. A Terrazzo floor or wall goes with any piece of furniture you put in the room, just as a Terrazzo graphic pattern goes well in any presentation, brochure, business card, or layout for a website.

Now that we have a solid idea of what design features comprise this design trend, let’s dig deeper into all the visually inspiring examples of Terrazzo that abound across many disciplines.

Modern Uses of Terrazzo Marble

While tile is the most common material, designers see a surge in terrazzo countertops, backsplashes, wall tiling, furniture, lighting and decor.

Rather than just holding one everyday use, architects and homeowners are now willing to include as much or as little Terrazzo into their houses as they want.

Advantages of Terrazzo Marble

1)   Terrazzo durability is sustainable compared to most standard tile products, and it has long-lasting power.

2)   Terrazzo is known to maintain its lustre 20 years after installation.

3)   Provides a dense surface that offers excellent resistance to staining and abrasions.

4)   It’s also simple to wash and low maintenance.

5)   Terrazzo is also very eco-friendly.

What to Consider Before Installing Terrazzo

Because Terrazzo is not your basic, everyday tile, it’s essential to decide if it’s for you before you put it in your house.

Terrazzo offers nearly limitless design possibilities. By customizing colours and aggregate combinations, spaces become one-of-a-kind. Whether you are looking for intricate multi-colour designs or seamless one-colour designs, Terrazzo offers it all.

 

As an artist or designer, you should have a clear plan for your next design and must be looking for elements that will help you achieve that concept. Luxury Marble has not only endless options and is accessible in different tile and board sizes. 

It appears in an easy-to-install, regular width and has a strength that suggests you don’t have to surrender your creative vision to get a flooring that will reach up to the requirements of your project.

Luxury Marble in India is now as affordable as different flooring alternatives. The fact that vinyl is designed with readily accessible elements which indicate that composing it is not an expensive process and makes it a more cost-effective material.

The exact finish of marble countertops summons an air of style that can add a timeless ambience to any place. Luminous, luxurious marble makes a crisp light that soapstone, granite or human-made materials can’t replicate. Taking the traditional look of quartz countertops for your kitchen, bar or bathroom offers many benefits.

Benefits of Luxurious Marble 

1)   Affordability

Even though it looks stunningly fancy, marble can take less than other natural marble countertop elements. Although the value can vary depending upon the particular type and width wanted, marble is often less costly than granite or quartz.

2)   Persistence

Marble is a real stone, so it’s more immune to scratching, breaking and splitting than several other possible countertop elements. In spite of its stability, marble is more flexible than granite, so it’s likely to include attractive design details, such as fancy edges, during the invention method.

3)   Differentiation

Human-made countertop elements try to imitate the look of marble with only limited authority. Since the model was created from sedimentary dolomite or limestone stone within a natural method, each item is different in colour. The wide variety of colours and tones found in marble are determined by the region of origin, and the equivalent mix of metals in the primary limestone. 

The rich and unique veining this gem is associated with issues from dirt trapped in the limestone when earth’s intense heat and stress changed it into sculpture.

4)   Heat Protection

Expert chefs and home cooks have long supported marble because it stays fresh, giving it ideal for rolling out bread. What’s not as well-known is that quartz countertops are heat tight as well. Quartz won’t pick fire or burn, but it’s wise to protect the finish by not putting a hot pan or pot on the outside without shelter.

5)   Longevity

Marble has been used as a building material for a very long time, so its ability to withstand the test of time is well documented. When it’s expertly installed and properly sealed and maintained, you can expect to enjoy the beauty of marble for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of adding the timeless appeal of marble countertops to your house, reach us to book a meeting with our expert staff.

 

Floor Tiles is one of the kinds of flooring that has arisen in the market, mainly because of its flexibility and versatility. It can be established in a variety of conditions with no worry of pressures such as water, stains and allergic fragrances. Floor Tiles Designs are popular among homeowners, as it offers exceptional value for your budget with enormous profits.

Floor Tiles are economically significant, comes in a mixture of shades, arrangements and designs. At the same interval, you can mix and match several colours or tiles randomly for a different look. Tile can be a vast flooring choice due to its versatility and durability among other floors types.

Tile flooring has many benefits. Most notable are two, i.e. Durability & Maintenance.

Here are the benefits of fitting tile floors in your home-

1)   Durability:  Tile flooring is extremely tough and challenging to break. A quality furnishings can last for 10- 20 years and more extended if kept with proper care. If any tile does break due to a critical impact, the method of following is almost unaffected. Tiles can resist damage and cut in high traffic areas; at the same time, it gives maximum strength for an aesthetical appeal by increasing the life of your tile flooring.

2)   It will last for years: Two tile options are recognised for their flexibility and long-lasting features

1. a)     Ceramic
2. b)     Porcelain

Any tile type you take can last for ages as long as it is suitably maintained. This includes proper lighting and careful washing with non- abrasive, non-acidic results.

3)   Cost-Effective

Ceramic tiles are very cost-effective: they’re one of the most affordable flooring surfaces available. When you factor the original cost of buying the tile and installing them with their durability and less costly, it becomes clear that tiles are worth every cent. Of course, this further depends on the type of tile you use: there are more expensive and high-end tiles in the market.

4)   Resale Value

Fixing tile in your house can also determine to be effective in the long run if you’re going to put your home on the market. There have been many instances where figuring a tile floor to an apartment remarkably enhanced its resale price. An attractive tile floor could add thousands of money to your home’s value.

5)   It needs less support: Tile flooring is easy to care for as it repels spots, smells and dust. It can be cleaned with a wet fabric or sponge and ordinary house cleaners. It will renew to look magnificent even in high traffic zones.

6)   It comes with a variety of opportunities:  You can find a large-scale range of choices in terms of value and form in tiles. It appears in all types of patterns, sizes and shapes. The variety of trends in tile flooring can produce a kind of beautiful results for your home. Pick the best one for your house that looks fresh even after years.

7)   It is environmentally beneficial: Since tiles have a strong and durable surface, it doesn’t lead to draw dust, pollen, dust or other allergens. Beautiful and varied tile collections at Classic Marble Company has primarily built an endless number of shades, sizes, forms, patterns and strategies that will add value and style to your house.

Both ceramic and porcelain tile are the long-lasting flooring products in the market today, and Classic Marble Company is the best Floor Tiles Supplier in India.

 

Most builders provide a primary kitchen platform or in some cases an underlying standard kitchen platform with some drawers.

Kalinga Stone is the best kitchen platform in India which manufacture, supply, export kitchen tiles. Also gives you the reasons to withdraw the policies proposed by the builders, which regularly has a slope due to lack of high accuracy work by the average construction operators in India. 

Below are the three essential reasons why not to get kitchen tiles for your new home.

Poor time utilization

You want the most significant value out of your new modular kitchen when you give a modular kitchen dealer an empty room to work in. The dilemma with an original platform is that when you install a new cabinet or pantry unit, you don’t get the best storage space. 

The pre-existing upright that holds the floor takes a meaningful measure of time, which could oppositely have been used to optimize warehouse space.

Agree on a quality product

Due to variation like civil work, the height of the platform can vary significantly between its two ends.  Thereby making it difficult for you to place the complete modular kitchen no matter how much you consume. 

As a result, you are incapable of providing your regular 2 kg bags which generally have a length of 8 inches to 8.5 inches.

In such cases, people end up having no option but to keep their 2 kg boxes in the back drawer where you lose storage place in the upper part of the bottom drawer thus having irregular space utilization even in your new modular pantry.

Additional payment 

The sum of money you pay on getting a new home does not create a wholly equipped kitchen. In different words, you will still have to spend on getting your kitchen because it is an exclusive active section of your home. Then why opt for the company to give you a platform? 

To get a fully modular kitchen, you will have to cut the actual platform. That means you’ll be needlessly spending extra funds!

While there is always the possibility of working in for a Semi-Modular kitchen to release on the cost for the modular kitchen and not having a platform which provides you with the option of taking a perfectly designed modular kitchen.  

Such finishing is not matching from a semi-modular kitchen no matter how much you use on the tools and elements.

Remember it. You don’t get a bottle cap and then search for a bottle that will fit the hat, correct? Correspondingly, arranging a platform, then making a modular pantry around it is the incorrect way to go around it. 

Because for the most modern modular kitchen platforms are installed on the body of the kitchen, we take into attention all your demands.  

Furthermore, we provide ergonomically planned kitchens with the proper length to allow enough space in all the drawers to optimize space in the kitchen.

Kalinga Stone is one of the leading modular kitchen manufacturers also we have been providing cutting-edge modular kitchen design. Our team of well-trained modular kitchen planners can help you in making your ideal pantry to reality.

So, later when your associates and family plan on purchasing a new house, keep in mind to tell the maker “not” to provide a stage for your kitchen. Buying a new home without a step will not only save your money but will help you to select the best modular kitchen of your choice!

 

White Marble tiles are also used for both interior and exterior flooring applications. It is extensively used for all types of commercial buildings and residential spaces. It is also used for high-quality daily use products such as bathtubs, washbasins and souvenirs such as statues.

White Marble texture has always been the best choice for a luxurious appealing look. White Marble is available in many grades and shades depending upon the price tag. You cannot say that all marble floor tile fantastic and better than original material. It ultimately depends upon the designer and the homeowner who want to turn the standard floor into the upgraded and luxury floor using marble floor tile.

White marble tiles are riddled with gorgeous black and grey veining; with delicate lines swishing this way and that across the surface of the tile; adding character. Use marble designs to refresh and revitalise a kitchen, bathroom, living area or hallway. We have options for both wall and floor spaces so that you can transform any interior area from ceiling to floor. While natural Marble has obvious appeal, it does require treatment and maintenance. For a zero-maintenance alternative, browse our selection of marble effect tiles.

There are five reasons which surely let you decide on white marble tiles for flooring.

Luxury with A Twist: As we know that Marble is a natural stone, and it is easily stainable by chemicals and even waters. Marble has to be sealed to prevent water seeping inside, which makes it slippery. In this scenario, marble floor tile comes in, they not only stop slippery and staining; even also available in plenty of designs.

Sleek and Glossy: Marble floor tiles are so smooth and glossy; we can deny accepting this truth. Using marble tiles, you can predict the beautiful look with natural stone. You can get make amazing and attractive look as you want with less wastage. These kinds of tiles are available in size up to 60 cm by 120 cm.

Contemporary Stone Looks: Nowadays grey colour is mostly liked by the people because it gives the modern and urban look to the interior. You don’t have to replace it every couple of years because these sandy grey marbles have that quality to retain beauty for long.

Lighted Appeal: Tiles are natural and come in honed flame brushed texture to enhance realistic beauty to your walls and floor. When a spotlight appears in a spot of this floor and walls, it gives unbelievable looks.

Stormy and Dramatic: The progressive style does not only change the perception of tiles being used, and even it accentuates dramatic stormy veining of the “marble” as well.

Pros of White Marble Tiles

 1)   Look and feel unrivalled by any other material

2)    No two slabs are the same

3)   Durable and heat resistant

4)   Long-lasting beauty

5)   Many available hues and patterns

6)    Can be restored and refinished

Cons of White Marble Tiles

 1)   Susceptible to scratches, chips and cracks

2)   Requires maintenance including cleaning and periodic sealing

3)   Requires installation by a professional

4)   More expensive than most tile products

Wall Tiles are versatile products that offer unlimited possibilities for designing your home and giving it a soulful appeal. Over the years, innovation has allowed us to overwhelm you with a variety of enticing wall tiles designs.

Wall tiles came into the limelight only in the early 1900s. Earlier, people always lived under the misconception of limiting it to kitchens and bathrooms. It was only in recent times that, wall tiles have genuinely been adopted as a trend for living rooms and corporate spaces as well.

When it comes to wall tiles, there’s a whole variety of styles that can be executed. The visual appeal, texture, shine, and finish is what enhances the beauty of any space.

Living Rooms are the heart and soul of your homes as this is where the family unwinds together and spends their quality time. So, why not refashion it to be the most appealing space of your home? 

Introducing some of our most enchanting wall tiles manufacturers in India, that’ll sway your heart away.

Read on to find out more about Refashion Your Living Room with Best Wall Tiles and Floor Tiles! 

1. The Encaustic Beauty

Encaustic Wall Tiles have become one of the most popular tile trends across the world. Over the years, the trend towards multi-colour tiles has faded away, moving up the ladder to having tiles that hold a rugged vintage appeal. Suppressed clay on a concrete surface or having a rough wooden texture on a flat surface brings back the old-world charm that compliments the space to make it look mystically elegant. 

2. Rugged & Raw

In today’s time, no one prefers to have subtle dull colours or flat surface tiles. 2019 is all about the rustic looks and unique textured designs. Natural slate tiles are crowned to be the most beautiful textured tiles available across the world. It creates a rugged natural feel and aesthetically brings out with hues of the pipe, overwhelming anyone that glances at it. If you fancy having a unique style for your home, natural slate tiles are one of the ideal options for you.

3. Modular Marble 

The use of modular multi-sized layouts has also moved up the aisle over the years. Here’s where different sizes of tiles are used to create an exciting pattern that creates an unconventional look. These tiles are a way of breaking up a traditional floor tile grid, helping inject a new splendid personality into a floor space! Particularly popular with stone tiles, modular marble flooring is one of the most applauded tiles options when it comes to redesigning living rooms.

4. The Grey Effect

Grey metallic flooring has become one of the highlight trends of 2019. One of the most vital benefits of grey flooring is that it adapts to any space and set-up, enhancing its beauty. Concrete floor tiles carry a charm of syncing into any colour palette rejuvenating the area seamlessly into looking gorgeous. You will undoubtedly have your eyeful with the grey effect in your living room.

The quartz countertops are a necessary part of the kitchen. It is wherever all the action takes place. But more than that, the countertop is the foundation of kitchen interior decoration when doing a kitchen renovation. It bears the burden of setting the tone and feel of the house.

Seeing its importance in kitchen decor, it matters a lot of what material, finish and design of Quartz countertops for kitchen you decide on for yourself. 

We have place together with the most well-liked trends of quartz countertops in India, which will provide you with ideas for your kitchen. As you would expect, these trends focus heavily on colour and material decisions. 

1. Quartz is Here to stay

Granite a natural rock has for years dominated the countertop scene particularly for householders who need something healthy, durable and sensible-looking. But it has a downside–it is porous. This means that liquids like water, wine, and oils can flow through the surface, causing staining. Even worse, it encourages the breeding of dangerous bacteria that might leave your countertop unhealthful.

2.   Honed vs Polished

Since we’ve got been experiencing a design movement using more rough and tactile surfaces, why not think about it in countertops too. Honed and animal skin surfaces are the most common and might be applied to several completely different materials, like granite, marble, and quartz. Even though polished continues to be the most well-liked, there are benefits to these two others.

The honed finish could be a matte finish with very little to no shine. The general look can vary looking on the stone kind, but it ought to have a low radiance and a smooth surface.  Honed finishes work well with marble, since ‘it’s lack of shine conceals any flaws or scratch marks more readily.

3.   Countertops with Character – Veining and Patterns Get popular

Homeowners are seeking a small amount more character in their countertops. Thankfully, technology is there to offer creative solutions. Today, countertops are available a large variety of patterns, not like the everyday sorts of years past.  Materials like quartz are being designed to check slabs of natural stone, like granite & marble. 

4.  Kitchen sink styles to get excited about

The countertop is getting the modern treatment and also the sinks are not being left behind. Last year home house owners ‘couldn’t get enough of integrated sinks. However, those days are behind us. 2019 brought completely different ‘finishing’s, sizes, and designs to kitchen sinks and ‘we’re super excited about it. This year ‘we see matte black sinks and sink fixtures, as well as gold and brass colours, take over. 

5.   Unexpected Neutral Tones and Trends

Preference for soft neutral tones could be a common theme running throughout the house in future decor trends. The brilliant, daring hues of artistic movement and mid-century designs are gradually losing a place in the kitchen in favour of a lot of laid-back tones.

Homeowners may additionally experiment with alternative tones, though still maintaining the overall neutral vogue. Some of these slightly completely different quartz colours include dull browns and light-weight blues. Other than that, more and more householders are opting to stick to off-whites, ashy greys, and neutral beige.

Conclusion

The countertop has continuously been a big part of kitchen decor. Through the generations, we have gone from style to style as householders look for the proper hunt for their main preparation space. In the present time, variety is the theme of the day. Householders have an almost endless choice of materials, styles, sizes, and finishes to decide on from.

The floor of the house is the foundation of the house on which it stands. Thus, the storey of the house should be well built and laid. The floor tiles play a pivotal role in the maintenance of the level. This is the place where we walk, stroll and place heavy and bulky things in our house. The bathroom floor tiles protect the floor from erosion, stains and scratches. Tiles also help maintain the clean atmosphere of the house, which keeps the members of the house healthy.

These floor tiles are composed of stones or ceramic. They are installed on the floor with the help of cement, sand, and latex additive. 

Nowadays, the gaps, which are left between the successive tiles, are filled with unhanded or sanded grout. These tiles are less consistent in pattern and, and as a result, more planning is required for its installation. Some of them, area marble, granite and travertine. Apart from this, there are Floor tiles suppliers in India that offer Plastic floor tiles and Rubber floor tiles, where are being used briskly nowadays. Rubber tiles have many uses both in commercial and residential settings. They are installed at such places, where the floor of high traction is desired. Some of its methods include sports courts, dance floors, gyms etc. Plastic tiles are installed without glue or adhesive. They are best suited for the areas, which are subjected to heavy traffic, its uses are in garages, factory, gyms and sports complexes.

Some tips for glazing the floor by floor tiles suppliers: 

• Wash the floor with warm water and a mixture consisting of chlorine bleach. Rub the floor with warm water to get rid of any chemical.
•   Eliminate the caulking thoroughly with a knife.
•   Prevent the area by taping as this will stop overspray from causing damage to cabinets and walls.
•   Rub the tiles the acid, hydrofluoric. As a result of this, these tiles will glitter. For your safety, put on your gloves while doing this.
•   Always take solvent degreaser for mopping the area. This solvent wipes out the acid in the rubbing process.
•   Start the painting of the tiles with your wanted colour. You may have to paint several times to prepare the finish. It takes at least 30 minutes for the paints to dry. After that, let it dry for some time.
•   At last, apply a polyurethane coat to guard the current colour. Now, it gives shine to the tiles and makes them durable. Therefore, the glazing of the floor tiles is not as easy as pie.
•   Lastly, we see that floor tiles are very pertinent part of our house. Its installation keeps our house durable and hygienic. 

Benefits of Floor Tiles

Ease of installation: Flexible floor tiles are laid over your existing garage foundation, like a floating floor. Individual tiles interlock with one another. To install, match notches and tabs and lock them together. Because the pipes are flexible, the installation process is nearly effortless.

No wait time: Traditional garage flooring, such as epoxy coatings, take hours and even days to cure fully. In the meantime, you are unable to park your car or move items back inside your garage. With flexible floor tiles, there is no wait time. With no need to cure, you can move all of your stuff back into the garage and even park your car as soon as the installation is complete.

Strength and durability: Flexible floor tiles are made from PVC the same material used in irrigation, sewer and water pipes. Several factors make it a piece of durable and robust equipment for both pipes and flooring, including resistance to oxidation as well as to chemical and fire damage. Their opposition to chemical corrosion is of particular importance in a place like a garage where floors are often subjected to chemical exposure.

Wide range of colour and design options: Flexible floor tiles come in many different colours and designs, including both solid colours and tiles with multiple colours/patterns. A homeowner can choose colours to match virtually any desired colour scheme, including one’s favourite sports team’s official colours. You can even mix and match tiles of different colours and designs to create a truly customized and unique look.

Ease of removal: If for some reason you decide to remove your pipes, they can be uninstalled as quickly and efficiently as they were installed. Many homeowners love their plastic garage floor tiles so much that they take them with them when they move. Because of their interlocking nature, they can be removed without inflicting damage so that they can be reused easily.

Highly cost-effective: Tiles can potentially last for decades and don’t require the same kind of intensive ongoing maintenance as traditional epoxy flooring, they are one of the most cost-effective types of garage flooring you can buy.

 

Marble suppliers in India are the most famous suppliers all over the world as they use hi-tech machinery equipment in processing pre-designed and pre-fabricated granites. It has become a trend to use pre-fabricated marble and granite products for construction purposes as it reduces the time and burden of or onsite fabrication and finalizing construction.

With the rapid advancement of marble suppliers, the field of construction has also taken a completely new and innovative shape, and the reason behind this is the Natural stone products which consist of Marble and Granite, that have become the essential elements of modern-day building construction. This reason is also responsible for the increasing demand of marble suppliers as not only do they supply best quality granite and marble products but serve consultants to people as to how and where to install these stones in their house to enhance its beauty.

Pre-fabricated stone materials like Granite Countertops, Marble and Mosaic fireplaces, Lightweight Stone Panels, kitchen and bathroom vanities and different kinds of natural stone slabs and tiles are being used to construct a modern and sophisticated house. Using these prefinished marble and granite products also gives you ease as it reduces the effort of interior designing. These stones can be used in an effective by using the stones of those colours that will match the scheme of your home.

This idea of using marbles in home constructions and building constructions has emerged from the old concept of creation itself. India has some of the most beautiful monuments and buildings which have gained admiration all over the world because of the shimmering effect the stones have given to these construction works. Moreover, Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is famous for the mesmerizing marble work on it.

As Marble floor also comes in a type of design and colour choices, making this flooring practical for several different room designs. Most companies who provide such flooring can show their customers a minimum of six different designs, colour schemes, and patterns of the marble floor. For people who prefer to keep their working and living areas clean marble floor has hypoallergenic properties. This type of flooring is resistant naturally to bacteria. It’s also resistant to the gathering of allergens like pollen, pet dander, and other elements. For people who must avoid irritants like dust to keep their allergies under control, marble flooring is right.

This type of flooring is also resistant to moisture but unfortunately isn’t fully stain-proof. Cleaning spills is a simple task, but it should be done as soon as it happens to prevent staining the floor. To require care of most spills all you’ll like is a combination of water and mild soap and a dry cloth to dry the floor when cleaning the spill. This kind of flooring will have some stain resistant qualities that may minimize the possibilities of a permanent stain from spilt grape juice or wine, but you still need to clean it as quickly as possible.

Therefore, it is effortless to find a marble exporter in India to beautify your house as there are many companies available online. With their affordable services, they promise to give the classiest look to your dream home using these stones. You need to have good surfing skill and make sure to check the client list of the company and compare it with various other companies. This will save you from getting cheated by the fraud companies that frame rosy pictures.

So, if you are planning to get your dream home constructed or renovate your house, then do not forget consulting a marble supplier.

Among flooring materials, none is more elegant and luxurious than natural stone. The term natural stone refers to a variety of mountain-born mineral substances that stand in contrast to any synthetic or manufactured stone products. As you shop for natural stone tiles in India, there are several general factors that you should consider.

Absorption Rating

The absorption rating refers to how porous a given material is. The more absorbent it is, the more susceptible the stone will be to stain. Absorbent stone can also be prone to cracking damage if it is subjected to freezing conditions. Natural stones vary significantly in their absorption rates, with sandstone being the most porous and granite the most impervious to water absorption.

Absorption rates are classified according to the following terms:

1)    Non-vitreous: This is the highest absorption level. In most cases, non-vitreous tiles should not be used in any damp environment.

2)    Semi-vitreous: While these tiles are less absorbent, the more liquid they are exposed to, the more maintenance they will require.

3)    Vitreous: This is the standard absorption level for flooring tiles, and these materials are generally considered appropriate for most low- to mid-traffic indoor and outdoor applications.

4)    Impervious: These materials are resistant to the absorption of liquids and thus will be easier to maintain. They are often used in high-traffic commercial applications.

Grade

Some retailers use a grading system to rate the quality of materials. This can refer to the size, shape, and thickness of the tile, as well as the condition of its surface. Most grading systems have three levels of quality:

1)    Grade 1 refers to high-quality, uniform materials.

2)    Grade 2 consists of materials with minor defects, such as chips, scratches, or irregular surfaces.

3)    Grade 3 materials have significant flaws in size, shape, cover, or chipping, making them appropriate only as accent pieces, or in specific rustic decorative applications.

Coefficient of Friction

This measures how various slippery materials are. The higher the ratio, the more traction a tile will have. This number is especially significant in moist environments such as bathrooms and kitchens, as well as high-traffic commercial areas.

Indoor vs Outdoor Rating

Some natural stone flooring materials are more suited to outdoor applications than others. Many of the factors above will determine whether an article should be used in an outdoor environment. Non-vitreous materials will be subject to staining through dirt and acid rain, as well as cracking when absorbed substances freeze and expand. Stones which have a low coefficient of friction will also pose a slipping hazard during rain and snow storms.

Oxidation

Natural stone materials are formed beneath the earth over millions of years, and often contain a variety of disparate elements. Sometimes iron is present in these materials, which can manifest as bright red and amber hues in the surface of the stone. The problem in an outdoor environment is that those traces of iron can oxidize, a process more commonly known as rusting. This can cause the entire tile to degenerate over time.

Benefits of Using Natural Stone Flooring

There are many aesthetic and practical reasons why natural stone flooring can be the right choice:

1)    Each piece of stone is a unique creation of the earth, making every flooring application one of a kind. Every floor is unique.

2)    The mountain-born qualities of the stone can help to give living spaces a direct and eternal connection to the natural world, unlike any other building material.

3)    Stone tiles are natural, nonpolluting, eco-friendly pieces. Purchasing stones which were acquired locally can cut down on the environmental impact of transport.

Drawbacks of Using Natural Stone Flooring

There are also some drawbacks to the use of natural stone:

1)    Except for granite and some slate, natural stone is quite porous and needs to be treated with a sealing agent periodically to protect its surfaces.

2)    Some polished materials, such as marble can scratch easily.

3)    Some stones are very brittle and will chip easily.