Stone floors. Natural stone for the floor: types and features. Travertine as a facing material

Slab (slab, slab) is a product of sawing a block on a cable or disk machine, in fact, a blank of one or another natural
stone, from which, in the process of sawing and processing, final products of various shapes and sizes are obtained. At
When choosing a slab on your own, in order to avoid the selection of low-quality material, you should pay attention to the following points:

Large inclusions of another rock that differ from the main color (spots, stripes, etc.)
Factory-made slabs are the result of filling voids and cracks in blocks with epoxy glue
Cracks and "living veins" (if they are not visible, then you can detect them in two ways: run your palm over the entire surface or look at the slab at an angle - cracks and veins usually refract the reflection)
Deep scratches and underpolished areas of the slab surface. Are the result of poor-quality packaging or unscrupulous transportation of slabs from the quarry to the selling company
Broken or chipped corners (may interfere with optimal cutting of slabs)
Strobes or holes located on the working surface of the slab. Usually found on the first or last slabs of a pack

6 reasons to order floors from us

Having been working in stone for more than a year, we know how in large companies the process of working with a client takes place, where the manager is only responsible for what is within his workplace, each storekeeper is responsible only for his section of the warehouse, the workshop and installation teams do not contact, which ultimately lead to inconsistencies in the object. CUTstone clients do not have such problems, because from the first call to the signing of documents on the work performed, you will have a Personal Manager who will accompany you in all matters at every stage of the order.

In addition to our stocks, we have access to all warehouses of natural and artificial stone in the Moscow region. Therefore, you will not hear in response to a question about the availability of any material that we do not have it. We will get anything for you.

Natural stone is one of the oldest and most popular flooring materials. In addition to the fairly wide distribution of the stone, this is also due to the following factors; natural stone is a very durable material, moisture resistant, resistant to bacterial contamination, frost-resistant, chemically resistant and, above all, it has excellent aesthetic properties, due to the uniqueness of each piece of marble, granite or onyx. All of the above properties are the best way to solve the problem of high mechanical, physical and aesthetic requirements for the floor.

It is also worth noting the increased availability of stone floors in connection with the development of new technologies for processing, installation and operation of stone.

For flooring, our company offers slabs made of natural stones (marble, granite, onyx, travertine), 600x600, 305x305, 300x600 slabs, as well as 600x600 lithoceramic slabs. Lithoceramics are most suitable for floors in residential premises, due to low loads, while stone slabs and slabs are suitable for both residential and public interiors, as well as outdoor areas of entrance groups and industrial premises where resistance to overload is required. Given the variety of textures and colors of different types of natural stone, modern designers have a great tool in their hands that allows them to create not only monochrome compositions on the floor, but also real works of art in the form of Florentine mosaics and decorative ornamental panels from various types of natural stone.

One of the most popular types of stone for flooring is granite. This popularity is explained not only by its density, hardness and strength, but also by a wide variety of color palettes, including pink, gray and red-pink, blue, green, brown-red, burgundy red, red, gray, gray-green, black and green shades. This type of stone is suitable for almost all floors of your house, especially the bathroom, kitchen hallway, etc., with the exception of the children's room and bedroom (due to the very weak radiation background of granite).

Breeds of natural stone

Less hard, but no less popular types of stone for flooring are travertine, marble and onyx. All of them belong to prestigious materials, due to their aesthetic qualities, and precisely the unusual textures, variety of colors, transparency and light transmission (onyx, light marbles). For example, some types of marble and travertine may have very expressive veins, and the pattern of onyx crystals can amaze even the most sophisticated imagination.

When choosing a stone flooring, it is very important to take into account the texture of the material. Namely, natural stone slabs can be - unpolished, polished, matte, heat-treated, polished, sawn, spotted, etc. Polished slabs on the floor, due to the high degree of glossiness, can visually expand the space, however, such a slab should not be used as a floor finish in wet areas (sanitary facilities, pools, etc.) in order to avoid slipping. In rooms with high humidity, it is preferable to use unpolished slabs on the floor using anti-slip compounds when grinding and applying a bush-hammered strip.

Polished natural stone is also popular, which has a relief with microscopic irregularities and a rough surface, however, the deformed relief does not have the best effect on its aesthetic qualities, since it smoothes the texture of the stone, which, however, is suitable for the floor of bathrooms, staircases and entrance groups.

The sawn surface is characterized by deeper irregularities (up to 2 mm) than the polished one. The pattern and brightness of color on a sawn slab of natural stone is better preserved than that of a polished one, but it is rougher. Another advantage of uneven floor tiles, in addition to the anti-slip effect, is their resistance to scuffs and scratches.

It is also worth considering that most natural stones, especially marble, used as flooring in wet areas tend to discolor over time.

It is worth saying a few words about the specifics of laying floors made of natural stone.

There are two main options.

The first option is the installation of ready-made slabs polished at the factory on a cement-sand mortar.
The second is the installation of polished plates on a mortar without sand, followed by polishing. All work on laying natural stone floors is recommended to be carried out at an air temperature of at least 5 ° C.

After installation, natural stone is treated with anti-slip compounds and special wax that improves the appearance of the stone, increasing its wear-resistant and water-repellent properties. This treatment allows you to further wash the stone floors with plain water, without fear of its reaction to water.

"Jazzstone" performs the entire cycle of work on the manufacture of natural stone floors, from measurements to processing and installation of finished stone slabs for your interior or exterior.

At the request of the client, we will produce products of any size and color. All types of work are carried out by highly qualified specialists using new technological equipment.

Finishing walls and floors with natural stone fills the interior with a sense of naturalness, beauty and luxury. The richness of texture and variety of natural shades of the surface of natural stone allows modern designers to create interiors of almost any style - from traditional classic to ultra-modern trends.

Natural stone is a noble, beautiful and truly practical material. It is well tolerated by any operational loads and does not lose its attractiveness even 20 years after installation. That is why the decoration of floors and walls with natural stone is an excellent option from any point of view.

Advantages and walls of natural stone

Aesthetics and beauty. A rich palette of colors of natural stone - each marble or granite tile has its own color and pattern. The natural pattern of veins and inclusions never repeats;
Reliability and practicality. The stone finish of the floor or walls is not subject to deformation, the stone is resistant to abrasion and various mechanical damage during operation. High-quality wall and floor cladding with natural stone eliminates the appearance of scratches, cracks and chips on its surface;
Durability. The stability of the stone used for temperature extremes, moisture and other environmental influences. Throughout the entire time of its service, natural stone does not change its original appearance. The service life of such a coating is practically unlimited;
Ease of use. Stone tiles are easy to care for. To wash away dirt from or, simply wipe them with a damp cloth.

Options for finishing floors and walls with natural stone

Natural stone tiles. Stone tiles are most often produced in the following sizes: 305x305x10 mm (thickness can vary from 10 to 30 mm), 300x600x20 mm and 600x600x20 mm (the thickness of such plates can be 20 mm and 30 mm). The device of such a coating is no different from ordinary tile work - laying is done through the seams, and after drying they are filled with ordinary grout.

Large format natural stone slabs. The plates have approximate dimensions of 3000x2000 mm. When laying, the pattern is usually selected so that the veins on the stone are not interrupted, creating the impression of a floor or wall made of a solid stone slab. To finish the floor and walls, slabs of 20 mm thickness are used, and their shape and size are arbitrary and depend on the interior design.

Artistic panels. Stone paintings, thanks to modern technologies with numerical control, are made in various sizes with unusually beautiful ornaments.

Mosaic made of natural stone. In fact, it is a pattern that can consist of a huge number of different textures and colors of stone, giving a unique effect to the floor or walls. The simplest example is two-color tiles laid in a checkerboard pattern. When creating mosaic floors or walls, the stone is cut according to the pattern, not necessarily square or rectangular.

Types of stone used for wall and floor decoration

The most common types of natural stone for indoor floor and wall decoration are granite, marble, onyx, dolomite and travertine.

Sandstone. Sandstone tiles are a good solution for outdoor flooring. The rough surface of this material naturally prevents slipping. Sandstone is well suited for

The production of floors from natural stone has been practiced since ancient times. Today, there are many alternative ways of finishing, but it is natural stone that is one of the most desirable and prestigious coatings. In this article we will talk about what principles to follow when choosing a stone coating and how the floor is finished.

If you look at it, stone floors are the progenitor of all other coatings, since the first thing that a person learned to process was stone. At first, these were elementary trampled and hewn areas, later the creation of a smooth and beautiful floor began to acquire the features of a real branch of art. As a result, with the development of technology and artistic thought, we can choose stone floors for any interior. Like any natural material, stone creates a unique atmosphere in the room.

Designers constantly use facing materials made of natural and artificial stone to create new lines and trends in the art of interior design. And as recent trends in this area are increasingly leaning towards eco-design, the popularity of stone floors is gaining momentum.

However, such a coating is valued not only for its environmental friendliness and naturalness. Stone floors are considered to be among the strongest and most durable when compared to floors made from other materials, including metal. They have an almost unlimited service life, and to be convinced of this, it is enough to go on an excursion to some palace of the rulers of antiquity. High strength allows the stone to be used in areas with high traffic. The exception is perhaps some varieties of marble, but granite and porcelain stoneware, which we will talk about a little later, retain their original appearance for decades.

Stone is a versatile material for decoration. It harmonizes with almost any other finish, be it wood, glass, metal or synthetics. At the same time, the stone always inspires a feeling of reliability, immutability and stability. This is a very important and subtle psychological moment that can be useful to you when decorating the interior of an office, personal study or living room. Despite its coldness, the stone helps to gain confidence, calm down and relax.

Today, it is possible to make a floor under a stone not only from fragments of solid rock, but also with the help of special facing tiles. Modern technologies make it possible to create a cheaper material while maintaining the performance characteristics of the original or even improving them, as is the case with porcelain stoneware.

Helpful advice: When purchasing facing plates made of natural stone, pay attention to the quality of the front sides and the geometry of the products. If you notice the slightest deviation from the permissible norm, then you have a defective product.

A distinctive feature of natural stone cladding is the uniqueness of the pattern. This indicates that the material was produced in natural "unpredictable" conditions. However, there is an acceptable range of discrepancies in shades and textures of tiles from one batch. Only a specialist can objectively assess these differences, therefore, when buying, you should separately discuss the degree of deviation with the seller.

When choosing a floor covering for a room with a high level of humidity, pay special attention to the texture of the surface and the type of stone. Many rocks have a porous structure that strongly absorbs moisture and can therefore change color. The most characteristic example is porous heterogeneous marbles. It should also be borne in mind that ferruginous minerals may be present in the composition of the stone, which, upon contact with water, will eventually provoke a change in the color of the floor.

rock type

To cover the floors with stone, only a few rocks are used, which are distinguished by either high strength or special aesthetics. These are mainly abrasion-resistant types: slates, marbles, granite, etc.

Consider some of the most popular types used for flooring:

Helpful Hint: Natural marble or granite flooring should be chosen based not only on the decorative properties of the stone, but also on its volumetric weight. This is especially true if you work with the floor on the second or third floor of a private house or in a high-rise building. Otherwise, there is a risk that the interfloor ceiling will not withstand the load.

The texture of the stone

Any interior designer, when creating a new project, takes into account the texture of the facing material. In the case of natural stone, not only the appearance depends on this, but also the practical side of the issue.

Depending on the nature of processing, the following types of textures of natural stone are distinguished:

Laying technology

Facing floors with natural stone, by and large, is no different from laying tiles or porcelain tiles, however, there are some nuances of technology that depend on the base material.

Modern methods of laying stone floors:

Useful advice: The installation of marble slabs requires special conditions, because due to the porous structure, the material can absorb too much moisture, which will eventually appear as ugly spots. To prevent this from happening, marble cladding must be fixed with special quick-drying adhesive mixtures. For particularly delicate marbles, water-free adhesives based on epoxy resin are commercially available.

Stone care and protection

In order for the stone floor to last as long as possible and at the same time retain its original appearance, it is recommended to treat it with protective compounds after installation. On sale you can find a lot of protective equipment designed specifically for a particular breed of stone. Floor tiles treated with this agent become immune to chemicals, water, dirt, etc. At the same time, the anti-slip and decorative characteristics of the surface remain unchanged.

To protect a freshly laid stone floor, you must first clean it of adhesive or mortar residue, dust and other foreign matter. To do this, first use a vacuum cleaner, and then treat the surface with a cleanser. There are two types of cleaners: for materials that are insensitive to household chemicals and acids, and for sensitive ones. The former is suitable for unpolished granite, ceramic tiles and terracotta, the latter for marble, polished granite, hewn stone, Venetian mosaic, etc. Appropriate information must be indicated on the product label.

When the floor is cleaned, you need to cover it with a special impregnation. Impregnation also exists in several varieties depending on the operating conditions of the floor and the material from which it is made: for interior and exterior decoration, for marble, granite, to enhance the hydrophobic qualities of the floor, to protect the polished surface from scratches, etc.

Care of the stone floor involves the use of suitable detergents. So, for example, polished slabs should not be cleaned with abrasive mixtures or hard brushes, otherwise they will lose their attractiveness very quickly. Once a year, inspect the surface for scratches and cracks, if necessary, renew the impregnation layer, and then the finish will delight you for many years.