Guide to natural stone flooring

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Guide To Natural Stone Flooring
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• 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. Common natural stone flooring includes
  slate, marble, limestone, travertine, granite,
  and sandstoneeach of which has slightly
  different properties. It's important to
  understand the characteristics of the type of
  stone flooring tile you are purchasing in order
  to determine whether it is appropriate for a
  specific location.

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As you shop for natural stone tiles, these are
the factors that you should question retailers
about

• Absorption Rating
• The absorption rating refers to how porous a
  given material is. The more absorbent it is, the
  more susceptible it will be to stains, as well as
  cracking damage when subjected to freezing
  conditions. Natural stones vary greatly in their
  absorption rates, with sandstone being the most
  porous to granite, which is virtually waterproof
  even when left unsealed. Absorption rate will be
  classified according the following terms 

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• Non-vitreous This is the highest absorption
  level. In most cases, non-vitreous tiles should
  not be used in any damp environment. 
• Semi-vitreous While these tiles are less
  absorbent, the more liquid they are exposed to,
  the more maintenance they will require.

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• 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.
• 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.

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• In general, sandstone is the most porous natural
  stone material. Travertine, limestone, and slate
  have medium absorbency, while granite
  is relatively waterproof.
• Polished materials also absorb less water than
  honed or cleft surfaces.?

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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.
• Grade 1 refers to high quality, uniform
  materials.
• Grade 2 consists of materials with minor defects,
  such as chips, scratches, or irregular surfaces.
• Grade 3 materials have major flaws in size,
  shape, surface, or chipping, making them
  appropriate only as accent pieces, or in certain
  rustic decorative applications.

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Coefficient of Friction

• This measures how slippery various materials are.
  The higher the coefficient, the more traction a
  tile will have. This number is especially
  important in moist environments such as bathrooms
  and kitchens, as well as high- traffic commercial
  areas. The Americans with Disabilities Act
  requires that flooring material has a minimum of
  a .6 dryness coefficient.

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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 a
  material should be used in an open air
  environment.
• Non-vitreous materials will be subject to
  staining through dirt and acid rain, as well as
  cracking when absorbed materials freeze and
  expand. Stones which have a low coefficient of
  friction will also pose a slipping hazard during
  rain and snow storms.

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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.?

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Benefits of Using Natural Stone Flooring

• There are many aesthetic and practical reasons
  why natural stone flooring can be a good choice 
• Each piece of stone is a unique creation of the
  earth, making every flooring application one of a
  kind. Every floor is entirely unique.

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• 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. 
• While there is some debate about the ecological
  impact of quarrying and transporting stone
  materials, the tiles themselves are natural,
  nonpolluting, eco-friendly pieces. Purchasing
  stones which were acquired locally can cut down
  on the environmental impact of transport.

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Drawbacks of Using Natural Stone Flooring

• There are also some drawbacks to the use of
  natural stone 
• With the exception of granite and some slate,
  natural stone is quite porous and needs to be
  treated with a sealing agent periodically to
  protect its surfaces.
• Some polished materials such as marble can
  scratch easily.

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• Some stones are also very brittle and will chip
  easily.
• When purchasing natural stone flooring materials
  it is important to do your research and
  understand the characteristics of the material
  you are purchasing. Find out whether it is
  appropriate for your specific application and how
  much maintenance it will require. Ask your
  retailer multiple questions, and get to know the
  material as much as you can before you make a
  purchase.

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Natural stone flooring

• Natural Stone TR. L.L.C SharjahP.O.Box.
  69128United Arab Emirates971 6 5741607 971
  564081731 contactus_at_naturalstoneuae.com