How Is Natural Stone Flooring Made?
Natural Stone tiles are not manufactured the way most other flooring is. Each tile was first a stone that has developed through high heat and pressure for millions of years. Granite is an igneous stone developed from the cooling of magma deep in the earth.
Limestone and Travertine tiles are sedimentary rocks formed in the ocean or rivers respectively. Marble and Slate are metamorphic rocks meaning they are made from other types of rocks that through heat and pressure are recrystallized into something new. Marble is created by the earth from limestone and Slate from volcanic ash and clay.
Each stone is quarried and then expertly shaped into tiles. You can rest assured that your tile will be exclusive to you. No two tiles will be exactly the same; they vary based on the natural striation, color, tone, veining, and various markings of the original stone.
Two common finishes for stone are polished and honed. The polished stone finish will be reflective and shiny. It is luxurious and beautiful but shows imperfections easily and is very slippery. A Honed finish is matte or satin. It is not glossy, shows fewer scratches, and is easier to maintain.
