Natural stone floor has long been used in homes and buildings. This material offers the kind of texture and color not found on any other material. Using this material adds warmth and quality to a room. Natural stone may be in a wide variety of color and qualities. Types of natural stone materials used in flooring include marble, granite, slate, travertine and sandstone. If you decide to use natural stone for your floor, be sure to hire floor fitters and not do it yourself because it may be painstaking. By hiring professionals, you can be sure the job is done efficiently and avoid any hassle. Any mess can be easily sorted by finding a professional in carpet cleaning in Leeds or wherever you live.
In fitting natural stone floor, special tools and proper knowledge is required. This is why a skilled fitter is tasked to handle the job. The first thing he needs to do is prepare the substrate. The substrate is the surface where the tile will be laid. They may use mortar directly if the subfloor is made of cement or a cement backer unit if the subfloor is wood. The use of an underlayment is also considered to prevent chipping or cracking of the tiles when substrate material is moved.
Floor fitters measure the area to work on and not just immediately lay the tiles and set the substrate. Accuracy is important so after measuring, it can be snapped using chalk lines. It is important to measure because some tiles have to be cut in order to fit the area. Tiles are measured and marked before hand cutting. After cutting, edges will have to be smoothed using a smoothing stone. Once the substrate is ready, the adhesive is applied and the tile is placed.
Slate is a kind of natural stone that is commonly used on floors. It is a metamorphic rock that can be divided into thin cuts more easily. Some people choose slate if they want a darker shade for their floor. It is also resilient, making it ideal for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways and living areas.
Travertine is also a commonly used natural stone for floors. It is a sedimentary rock made of calcite. It is chosen by those who want a warmer feel for their room as well as to keep up with a classic theme. It is preferred because of the wide variety of patterns and color available. Marble tiles are also resilient and may come in a variety of patterns and colors, which is why it is also popular natural stone. Of all the natural stones, granite is perhaps the hardest of them all. It is popular compared with the other types because it may be shone and has the ability to repel water. Granite is available in many attractive colors that add to its advantage. Like travertine, limestone is made of calcite. This type of natural stone is hardened in time which makes it very resilient to use. It is a popular choice among consumers because of the many available patterns and colors as well.
Whichever type of natural stone you choose be sure to have it installed by qualified floor fitters to make sure the job is done the right way. It is also important to choose the tile that works best for the area to be worked on. High traffic areas need a very resilient type of natural stone tiles for longevity.