Limestone tiles are a truly natural flooring option and are formed as a sedimentary rock composed mainly of Calcite (CaCo3) that constitutes about 10% of the the sedimentary rock exposed on the Earths surface.Limestone tiles are formed by crystalisation of water or by the accumulation of shell and shell fragments. Limestone tiles are usually light coloured however with impurities such as iron oxides and organic materials they can take on a variety of colours and surface markings.Limestone tiles have been used as a building material for many generations and is gaining popularity as a sophisticated flooring material offering the timeless qualities only possible with natural materials.
Choosing a materialYou must consider the application when selecting a stone to ensure it's suitability. Choosing the correct material is always a balance between asthetics and practicality and we are here to help and will advise you.
There are many cheap Limestone tiles now available on the "web" but in general terms some are only suitable for specific use and you should consider carefully the long term investment of your floor.It's always worth looking at the technical specification particularly the porosity etc and always clarify the intended application of the material.You get what you pay for and If it sounds to good to be true it usually is.
We usually only offer the harder Limestone tiles as these offer predictable maintainance properties and they have considerable advantages over Travertines as they do not have the typical surface holes and fisures that need to be filled and can break down over time.
The application is important when choosing a material for example, you could use a particular Limestone on a Bathroom floor but would it be suitable for a busy family kitchen? We have a very experienced team who are happy to discuss your requirements and make recommendations based on the application.
Many limestones can vary,this is quite normal and in many cases desirable but you should always insist that if possible your order is supplied from a single batch and be wary of making a decision based an a single sample tile particularly,if a larger area is involved.A quarry is constantly moving forward so the sample may not represent the batch you obtain.It is always advisable to see a reasonable area of any material you are considering to see the typical shading variances etc.We usually only sell from stock and are pleased to have customers see physical stock before deciding.
We cut and surface finish many of the materials in our own factory and hold over 1000 tons of various types of stone in stock.We can machine matching steps and skirtings etc and produce a range of Vanity and Kitchen Countertops.
Limestone tiles as with all natural materials will vary in shade and surface appearance.With many Limestones you can find lines,these are Quartz lines and are not cracks,in fact they are probably the strongest part of the tile.
We can supply samples of all our materials but it should be remembered that these are representative only and we encourage customers to visit our extensive showrooms where we can show you physical examples,actual floors and discuss their individual requirements.
Types of surface finish
There are several surface finishes available
Polished Only available with certain harder stones
Honed The most common surface finish.Can vary between matt and a slight sheen.
Brushed A textured surface that varies with the hardness of the material and the degree of brushing.
Water worn A process that gently ages the stone giving a softer look with slightly contoured edges.
Source:
http://www.alistairmackintosh.co.uk
