There are several issues which need to be considered when considering the installation of stone flooring in a home. I have tried to highlight the key issues below.

 1 – Durability

 It is obviously vital that any flooring material is durable. Therefore it is important to choose the right product. Stone varies in density to a considerable degree. Obviously higher density stone is more durable and should be used for flooring. Lower density materials are softer and therefore are more suited to items such as fireplaces, skirtings as they are easier to carve and to form into shapes. There is a wide range of flooring material that is suitable however it is important to check this with your retailer. Generally material from Turkey, Spain and Portugal tends to be lower density and therefore will be harder to clean and look after. Travertine is very cheap however is not suitable for high density areas. Travertine is a material which naturally has holes in the surface. Quarries will fill the holes with resin ( which contributes to the soft, swirly patterns in travertine ) however small holes will develop in the stone over time which will require immediate repair to avoid trapping dirt.

 2 – Finish

 The great development with stone flooring over recent years has been the wide range of antiquing options that are now available. Therefore it is important to think about which style will suit the room you are working in. Types of stone finish vary from honed tiles which have straight edges and flat surfaces and are generally suitable for more contemporary projects right through to Aged and Pillowed or Antiqued stones which are generally better for more rustic properties.

 3 – Style and Colour

 It is now possible for the domestic client to source a wide variety of colours of material varying from light to dark. It is also possible to control the finish. Therefore it is important to work out how the tile will fit with other elements in the space. For example in a kitchen the floor must compliment the colour of the kitchen furniture, the worktops and the paint in the room. The only way to be satisfied on this point is to obtain tile samples from the retailer and take these to the property and look at them in conjunction with the other elements. Then you are seeing the stone in the natural of the light and it should then be easy to arrive at a decision

 4 – Sizes

 It is also important to think about what size tile is appropriate for the property. For an aged look it is better to go for a tile that is in a fixed width ( ie 40cm ) but has random lengths. This will replicate the style of an old flagstone floor. It is possible to use a repeat random pattern such as a roman opus however it is always possible to pick out the repeat pattern in these floors. This also restricts the size of the tile which does not suit larger floor spaces.

For more modern rooms it is better to stick to a large square tile ( ie 60 x 60 cm ) or a rectangle ( 60 x 40cm ).

 5 – Installation

 Stone is a specialist product and therefore to achieve the best possible floor it is vital to use a stone fixer rather than a general builder and ceramic tiler. A stone fixer will ensure the sealing is done correctly, all the holes in the travertine are filled and the floor is finished correctly. He will leave you with a floor that is suitable and has low maintenance requirements.