Marble and Specialty Stone

Natural stone, although it can be ordered in slab form, usually is cut into tiles from quarried blocks of granite, marble, limestone, slate or other rock. Although floors made from this material are expensive and hard on the feet, they provide an exceptionally beautiful flooring material that has a timeless, elegant quality.

All of these materials are extremely durable and offer a natural look. There is definitely a reason they are referred to as "hard surface." These floors offer no resiliency, are cold underfoot and noisy in comparison to other types of floors. Some types absorb stains easily and the stains are difficult to remove. They are extremely low maintenance and hard wearing. These stone materials do require a strong subfloor below.

Polished stone can be slippery when wet. Options to this include Honed stone, which has been ground flat but not polished, or textured tiles created by sandblasting or heating with a torch. Stone tiles are usually at least a foot square, but may also be available in mosaic style pieces either for borders, or arranged into designs that can be installed just like regular sized tiles.

Limestone and marble are popular choices but another big seller is travertine because of its versatility.

Travertine is a limestone that is resistant to traffic, is a naturally neutral color and can give either a casual or elegant look. It is also a stone that is resistant to staining and wear. People often like to combine travertine and a tumbled finish to create an antique look. Tumbled stone can create the look of a centuries-old European-type floor.