STONE FLOOR TILES.
A well laid stone floor becomes part of the overall structure of your home and a major job to remove or change. So, a lot of thought needs to be given to how your choice will stand the test of time. Will you get fed up with the colour, will the rough surface become a chore to clean, If you go for a riven slate will the surface get on your nerves, will it need a lot of maintenance, will it create steps at thresholds and trap 'built under' appliances in the kitchen.
Perhaps the best advice is simply use your own common sense. A rough surface will hold dirt. Even slight patches of roughness will hold dirt and these will look like black or very dark graining or pitting unless kept spotless.
‘Patina’ is a marvellous alternative word for ‘ingrained dirt’ or ‘stinky looking’, and in our opinion is undesirable especially in the kitchen or where young children will be crawling around. So, if that particular stone tile is going to build up its own ‘Patina’ in spite of normal cleaning, do you really want to include that as part of your choice?The nicest stone floors are the polished variety. These have a lovely satin leather sheen surface and look modern, clean, warm and homely.
Stone will cost more than an equivalent tiled floor will cost all in, but you really can see the difference and the nice thing is that the cost really does add value to a home.
Check out the photos of the polished Jerusalem stone floor we laid at the Glass House, that floor was to die for.