1. Q. IS NATURAL STONE A GOOD CHOICE FOR HOME USE?
A. YES. Natural stone is a terrific (not to mention beautiful) material to
use in all areas of your home. Knowing the different types of stone,
their finishes and applications will help you to make an informed
decision on which stone is the best for your project.
2. Q. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT FINISHES FOR STONE?
A. There are many finishes and options available. Here are the most
widely used:
3. Q. DOESN'T STONE STAIN? I DON'T WANT STAINS!
A. YES. All natural stone can stain and etch (a dull spot in a polished or
honed surface), including GRANITES. Sealers DO NOT prevent
staining as they are a moisture barrier only, yet they will help to give
you a small amount of time to wipe up spills. It is nearly impossible to
prevent staining or etching, but serious stains can be almost
completely removed and any etching can be resurfaced if either is
truly bothersome to you. To help keep a perspective on choosing to
use natural stone, remember the following:
1. For centuries, many European countries have used
natural stone from floor to ceiling, inside and out. The
stone becomes stained, cracked, pitted?and that is why
we love it! These characteristics only make it that much
more beautiful. (Only we Americans get uptight about
such things!)
2. Because stone is quarried from the earth and not "man"
made, it is improbable to ever find two exact matching
tiles or matching slabs for that matter. One slab may even
look different from each end of itself. That is also the
beauty because each piece is different, but when pieces
are put together as a whole it is a masterpiece! (Be sure
to purchase enough to complete your project as you may
not be able to get more from the same lot.)
3. Stone is timeless. It does not get dated like the 70's
Avocado Green and Harvest Gold décor did.
4. Stone will last longer than any of us will. There are
centuries old castles, made of 100% stone and still
standing today!
5. It is a natural resource that will never run out.
6. The more it is used, the faster a "Patina" (light sheen on
the surface) will develop. The "Patina" will also aid to
prevent staining to a lesser degree.
4. Q. WHAT IS THE BEST STONE TO USE IN MY HOME?
A. It is really a matter of choice and the look you want to achieve. Ask yourself the following questions when making your decision: Is it
beautiful to me? Do I love it? Could I live with it for years?
The best advice that I can ever give to anyone choosing stone is: Go
with what you are drawn to from the beginning. First, because you
will only spend a lot of time and become confused when laboring over
the "right" decision by looking at many different stones and colors;
secondly, you will probably not be happy with your selection if you
have to settle on something else; and finally, you will more than likely go back to what you liked the first time. Reviewing the following most used
stone types will help when you are ready to make your choice.
5. Q. IS STONE MORE DIFFICULT OR COSTLY TO INSTALL THAN
CERAMIC TILE?
A. On the whole, it is not more difficult to install. There are exceptions
of course such as the difficulties with thickness gauges, which takes
more time in planing the layout and whether a complex pattern is being used. As for cost it is generally not more expensive except for time spent on laying out patterns and the thickness gauging again, at least for the tile contractors I have worked on projects with. The setting supplies and procedures are the same, but stone is heavier to work with. I suggest talking it over with your installer and also taking the time to look at previous jobs he or she has installed if possible. I will be giving tips on selecting a tile contractor/installer in my next article.
6. Q. CAN A STONE DESIGN BE USED OR MIXED WITH OTHER
KINDS OF MATERIALS?
A. Absolutely! The possibilities are endless. You can incorporate stone
with ceramic, porcelain, glass, and terracotta?anything you can
think of, even mixing different types of stones together.
7. Q. HOW DO I FIGURE THE QUANTITY THAT I WILL NEED?
A. Generally, tile and stone for a "field" area (space where plain tile will be) is figured by the square foot. To figure square footage, measure the area that you will be putting the tile with a tape measure. Examples:
1. You measure your room and it comes out to be 10-1/2 feet
wide by 15-3/4 feet long?you would calculate it by
multiplying 10.5x15.75 = 165.38. Round this number off
to the closest whole number (165). I suggest adding on a
10-15% overage to plan for cuts, breakage and a little
extra to store in case a piece needs to be replaced later in
time.
2. You measure your wall area to be covered and you get
18" tall and 33" long. Multiply 18x33 = 594". Now divide
that number by 144, resulting in 4.13sf. (There are 144 sq.
inches per square foot). Again, round it off and add on
for overage.
When figuring for decorative tile or trim, it is usually by the piece
and calculated by the lineal foot.
For slabs, it is best to let your fabricator figure the quantity for you.
8. Q. WHAT SIZE GROUT JOINTS SHOULD I USE?
A. Again, this is a matter of choice and the look you prefer. Honed stone
can usually be butt-jointed (tight to each other) with very little grout
showing if you want to see much grout or grid pattern; tumbled stone
usually has a 1/8" to 1/4" grout joint which will show off the edges
more.
9. Q. WHAT SIZE OF STONE TILE SHOULD I USE FOR MY
PROJECT?
A. It depends upon the project itself and the area size. Something to
keep in mind is that if the area to be tiled is small, it is better to use a
bigger size tile, if you want the area to appear larger. It is not
uncommon to believe that if you have a small perimeter of floor that
you should use a 4", 6", or 12" tile, which is not necessary. When
doing so, it will make the area feel small and you will have more grout
joints.
10. Q. I DON'T LIKE THE GRID PATTERN I SEE FREQUENTLY.
WHAT CAN YOU SUGGEST FOR AN ALTERNATIVE?
A. There are many pre-set repeating stone patterns available, or you can
make your own "random" pattern from different size pieces of stone.
A pre-set pattern is easier to use and the amount of stone that will be
needed for the project will be easier to figure. To also help from
keeping a grid pattern from being so obvious is to use a grout color
that is as close as possible to the color of the stone. Using dark grout
with light tile, or light grout with dark tile was a popular look in the
80's. However, I think it is better to see as little grout as possible. Your stone is the expensive part of your project so you should want to show it off, not your grout!
11. Q. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH DESIGNING MY STONE LAYOUT?
A. Yes, I can. I charge an hourly fee of $75 and I will need several things
from you:
1. A copy of your blueprints, including the elevations if you
have them and the area to be tiled clearly marked; or a
drawing of the area, including the dimensions and the
area to be tiled shown. Make sure to specify what
room/location it is, if it is not marked on the blueprint.
2. The style of home you have; or the look you prefer,
i.e.?rustic, contemporary, elegant, traditional?
3. Whether or not you have already chosen your stone. If
so, what did you pick and what size? If not, do you want
me to make suggestions for you? If yes, do you have a set
budget?
4. Will you want to use decorative trim pieces? If so, did you
choose one yet? What are the dimensions of a piece(s)?
Watch for my next article: FAQ's On Choosing A Tile Contractor/Installer
I have worked within the Building & Trade industry for 19 years and have specialized in Stone for the last 5, including Stone Design and Layout, which enables both the end-user (Homeowner) and Tile Contractor to visualize the final result in drawn format.
Kim Keefer
Six years ago, I had not yet turned on a... Read More
When one thinks of the many factors that affect the... Read More
This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More
Last week, I explained how to remove your old steel... Read More
Motion detectors are in use all around us in both... Read More
Creating a Designer Home With LightingTraditionally, spring is the time... Read More
When we left off last week, we had removed the... Read More
DESIGN STYLESWith thousands of colors and styles to select from... Read More
Buying a home is usually a stressful experience. So much... Read More
When it comes to home water filters and water purifiers,... Read More
Your mailbox is not simply a receptacle for your mail;... Read More
Basements or cellars (depending on which part of the country... Read More
Your Own Homes Improvement Outline(One for the Ladies)Let me begin... Read More
If the decision of what type radiant heating system to... Read More
An air sander is a common air tool often overlooked... Read More
Some DIY Maintence will put Used tools back in Main... Read More
If you have come to a point in your life... Read More
One of the most rewarding home improvements I made to... Read More
There are many things in life that are worth protecting.... Read More
Wallpaper is often overlooked as a key part of an... Read More
Traditional interior design encompasses a great variety of elements in... Read More
So you've finally decided to get your favorite music throughout... Read More
There are at least two dozen brand names marketing dehumidifiers.... Read More
So you are looking for hand or power tools on... Read More
"Beverly Hills. Swimming pools. Movie stars."That line from the theme... Read More
Before talking to any contractors the first thing to do... Read More
Cheap interior design ideas come in many forms these days.... Read More
You've bought a house, a fixer-upper you can make some... Read More
Basements need to be waterproofed for many reasons. Cracks in... Read More
Whether you're buying a home, or just moving in to... Read More
The words "spring cleaning" can make the neatest person cringe.... Read More
Building a set of wood stairs is not nearly as... Read More
1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the... Read More
Looking to do some remodeling in your kitchen sink area... Read More
1. Q. IS NATURAL STONE A GOOD CHOICE FOR HOME... Read More
Spring has sprung! Even more important than buds, birds, and... Read More
If you are a consumer who knows just what brand... Read More
Triple scented, heavily scented, strongly scented - these are all... Read More
There are some things to consider when creating plans for... Read More
One of the first things you learn as a homeowner... Read More
The Home InspectorWhen you think about it, it is a... Read More
Lighting"Light has illuminated the path of humanity" ? While Einstein... Read More
Is your home décor lacking that extra something that spells... Read More
These days, finding advice or guides to interior design is... Read More
Thread count is the most widely referred to term when... Read More
Last week I told you how to measure for your... Read More
Choosing the right Contractor is the most important aspect of... Read More
Ceramic tile can be beautiful and elegant. But it can... Read More
In an effort to help consumers in the Atlanta area... Read More
Probably the most common type of residential extension is the... Read More
In these days of climate change, the UK summer is... Read More
Are you looking for something different for your house? Maybe... Read More
The first time my husband saw me scrubbing the black... Read More
Don't you just love the design of some of these... Read More
Steel building kits are a comprehensive set of all the... Read More
A house or any particular room can be carefully planned,... Read More
This article takes a look at a number of ways... Read More
Whenever I write an article, it's usually tailored to the... Read More
When you add up all the money that you can... Read More
CLUTTER: When clutter starts to accumulate in an environment, imbalance... Read More
Ok, you are ready to build a log home. If... Read More
DESIGN STYLESWith thousands of colors and styles to select from... Read More
No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But... Read More
As we start to research log homes, it quickly becomes... Read More
Sofa slipcovers are designed to be easy to fit over... Read More
Purchasing a hot tub is a big investment and one... Read More
Home Improvement |