GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT NATURAL STONE

 

If you are planning to use natural stone in your home, there are a few things you should consider before buying. When choosing a floor covering, pay attention not only to the appearance, but also to the quality of the material, the maintenance requirements and the load-bearing capacity.

What are the advantages of natural stone over ceramic tiles?

In contrast to ceramic, natural stone is unique in its composition and captivates with its unique beauty. Stone floors are unique, unmistakable pieces of nature that have grown from the quarry over millions of years. Natural stone even gains beauty through ageing and still looks good after years.

How can you recognize the quality of stone floors?

High-quality stone floors are exactly rectangular and have a sharp edge, possibly with a micro bevel, creating a narrow joint pattern. The shades of a noble stone floor create a harmonious overall picture. Extreme color and structure outliers are sorted out during production.

How can I tell that I am walking on a real stone floor?

You can recognize a real stone floor simply by the rich sound of footsteps on the laid floor. Stone floors are used over the decades, wear down and acquire a charming patina. Stone floors have been used in domestic building culture for centuries and outlast generations and their trends.

What about the sound when walking on a stone floor?

It can echo in a large, sparsely furnished room. In such cases, the stone can be laid on a substructure that reduces sound transmission.

Does an indoor stone floor need underfloor heating?

Stone floors in our climatic zones require underfloor heating, at least to support the room heating. This creates a warm floor covering. The advantage of underfloor heating is that a large heating effect can be achieved with just a small increase in temperature. If the screed is already finished, the thickness of the stone floor plus adhesive should be within the available construction height.

What influence does the lighting have on the choice of stone?

The choice of light color (cold or rather warm light) and the type and amount of light source have an influence on how a stone floor looks indoors. This also applies to the direction of the room. Rooms facing east tend to receive cooler daylight, while rooms facing west benefit from warm evening light.

What are the current trends in stone tile design?

The trend is towards light limestone floors with subtle, warm, beige tones on the one hand, and dark sandstone, travertine and slate floors on the other, which create a basis for light furnishings. Antique limestone floors with slightly rounded edges are also used in modern houses of the 21st century to provide an archaic grounding and a pleasant feeling of living as a counterbalance to lots of glass and light-colored walls.

Do antique natural stone floors go well with modern architecture?

Antique limestone floors with slightly rounded edges are also used in modern houses of the 21st century to provide an archaic grounding and a pleasant feeling of living in contrast to lots of glass and light-colored walls.

Which stone is suitable for a backlit picture?

All transparent, translucent stones such as agate, rock crystal, onyx and carnelian can be used. LEDs are the most suitable light source.

Do I have a lot of pictures hanging on the wall in my house? Which stone fits best?

A neutral, restrained stone is ideal for rooms with lots of pictures. Otherwise, there is a risk that pictures and the floor will compete with each other visually.

Should stone be sealed? What types of surface treatment are available for stone?

After regular cleaning, it makes sense to impregnate the stone, as this provides new color intensity and protection against soiling.

 

NATURAL STONE FLOORS INDOORS

 

Which stone floors are available and which stone is suitable for which floor?

Hard limestone and granite are very popular for stone floors. In the past, limestone floors were mostly laid because granite could not be cut without electricity. And that didn't exist back then. This is why limestone floors are mainly found in historic buildings. It wasn't until the 20th century - after the advent of electricity - that granite floors were laid.

What is the difference between limestone and granite?

Limestone has a more homely and pleasant effect than a granite floor, which can appear rather cool and forbidding.

Granite floors are particularly suitable for areas subject to heavy traffic, such as train stations, airports or shopping centers. However, limestone flooring can also be used on more heavily used surfaces. In this case, however, the limestone should not be polished, but sanded or brushed. This way, scratches and dull spots are not noticeable because the floor is matt from the outset. Through wear and tear, the limestone floor becomes increasingly matt and then develops a beautiful patina over time.

What about the treatment of granite floors? Should they be impregnated?

Granite floors are harder, but become a little duller over time because they also contain softer components. In any case, a granite floor is also impregnated. Because even if it is hard, it has pores and needs to be protected against stains.

Which other stones are popular for indoor flooring?

Quartzite, which is as hard as granite but looks similar to marble, is also very popular as a stone floor. And then there are slate floors, which are soft and either naturally split or polished. Naturally split slate has this beautiful rough surface, which becomes somewhat smoother over time in heavily used areas. What else to look out for with slate flooring: At the beginning, you can see the light scratches very clearly. However, through walking and regular cleaning, the light scratches become dirty gray like the slate itself and are then hardly noticeable. I would not recommend black slate in public areas because it easily becomes dusty.

 

MARBLE FLOORS

 

What does wear look like on marble floors?

This depends on whether the marble has been honed or polished. If a marble or limestone floor has been honed, the wear and tear is less visible. If it is polished, then it is firstly slippery and secondly a walking surface is created through use. This means that it becomes dull more quickly in the middle and you can see that the floor has been polished on the less frequented edges. If the floor is matt from the outset (sanded or brushed), there will be a matt surface due to stains and foot traffic, but the floor will become somewhat smoother again over time. This can be seen very clearly in historic buildings. These old floors become more beautiful again through use and sanding and acquire a so-called "patina".

How sensitive is polished marble?

Polished marble is particularly sensitive. The polish is applied mechanically and brings this very special shine. However, the surface can be damaged by acid or scratches.

How do you protect marble floors?

It is always important to impregnate the floor to protect it from stains. The frequency of impregnation depends on the load. In private areas, it is sufficient to impregnate the marble floor approximately every 5 years. In public areas or in stores with high footfall, the floor should be treated every six months.

And if the marble floor is in a restaurant?

In a restaurant, where a lot is spilled on the floor, maintenance will have to be carried out more often than in an office. In this case, maintenance means cleaning the floor, but also regularly refreshing the impregnation.

What does basic impregnation look like?

For basic impregnation, the floor must first be thoroughly cleaned and then dried. Only then can it be impregnated. The impregnation penetrates deeply and closes the pores so that the floor does not absorb dirt. This protects it from grease stains, for example.

Does this protect the marble floor from stains of any kind?

Unfortunately, there is no impregnation against acid stains on marble. The impregnation penetrates deep down and prevents dirt from entering. However, it does not prevent the acid from converting the lime contained in the stone into "salt" on the surface. This salt then creates matt stains. Impregnation can delay this somewhat, but not prevent it.

What do you need to consider when choosing a black or white floor?

Basically, black and white floors are extremely difficult to keep clean. However, a white, shiny floor is even easier to keep clean than a white, matt floor. This is because footprints remain visible on the matt floor. Rubber abrasion from shoes can also permanently stain a beautiful floor.

 

STONE FLOORS IN OUTDOOR AREAS

 

Which types of stone are particularly suitable?

In general, any granite stone as well as some serpentine, travertine and hard limestone are suitable for outdoor use.

Which stone floors are particularly popular for outdoor use?

Limestone is now very often used in outdoor areas. Limestone has a very wide range of applications. Sandstone is also a popular choice. However, these sometimes have the problem that they are uneven. In places where there is shade or little wind, the water then remains. Algae can then form there. But regardless of whether limestone or sandstone is used, you should always make sure that the water can drain away easily, i.e. that there is sufficient slope

Should outdoor stone floors also be impregnated?

Impregnation also strengthens the stone outdoors and prevents stains from penetrating. However, nature also plays a role in cleaning. It is important that the floor covering is rather rough and therefore slip-resistant. This applies above all to the entrance area. On the patio, which is usually located behind the house and is used in the warmer months, the stone floor can also be a little smoother and more supple.

 Which natural stones are frost-proof?

Granite stone, serpentine, travertine, hard limestone and some types of marble are frost-resistant and are therefore popular for outdoor use. However, it is not only the stone itself that plays a role in the durability of the stone, but also the professional installation.

 

THE IMPREGNATION OF NATURAL STONE

 

What mistakes can be made when impregnating stone floors?

If too much impregnating agent is used, a layer remains on the surface. When the impregnating agent hardens, it remains firmly attached to the surface and forms a greasy layer. A very strong basic cleaner must then be used to remove this layer.

How do I do it right?

As natural stone "absorbs" the impregnation differently, you should take a close look at where the impregnation has already been absorbed. In some places, the stone will take longer than in others. Where the impregnation is already "standing", it must be removed. For this reason, the impregnation should always be removed with a clean cloth until no more residue can be seen on the surface.

Can stone floors also be sanded like a wooden floor?

Stone floors can of course also be sanded, for example if they are badly scratched. However, this is a very time-consuming procedure. Sanding is done with the help of water. Sanding produces mud, which also splashes onto the wall, so you have to paint again afterwards.

What happens to the joint during sanding?

If a stone floor is grouted after installation and the excess grout is washed off, the joint is always slightly deepened. When sanding the floor, care must be taken to ensure that an excess of grout remains. This is because the joint should be completely flat when sanding.

What should I bear in mind when grouting?

The joint is an important issue for every stone floor. When laying, care must be taken to ensure that the joints are as narrow as possible. The standard stipulates a joint of 2 mm, which should not be exceeded. This also has to do with cleaning the floor. This is because the cementitious joint is a weak point when it comes to cleanliness, as it is more susceptible to dirt.

 

STONE AND PARQUET

 

Stone and parquet - how do they go together?

Real stone floors are timeless, not subject to fashion and, as a natural product, go perfectly with real wood parquet. If a parquet floor is laid next to the stone floor and this has already been selected, then the stone floor should be matched with the parquet in a harmonious contrast.

In which living areas do you recommend parquet, in which stone?

We recommend a stone floor in all areas that can be accessed directly from outside. A stone floor is hard-wearing and easy to clean. Dirt brought in from outside can be quickly removed with clean water.

 

TECHNOSTEIN

 

What distinguishes technostone from natural stone?

Techno stone is an extremely hard, artificially produced stone made from natural quartz and a certain amount of kaolin. It is sintered at 1,200 degrees Celsius and is 100% color and heat resistant.

How robust is technostone and what care does it need?

A techno stone is abrasion-resistant and exceptionally hard-wearing. It is also resistant to acid and scratches. Techno stone has no pores, making it harder for dirt to penetrate. It is perfectly sufficient to clean the stone with water from time to time, as technostone is pure and dense enough to repel even bacteria.