Granites – Granites Usually Have A “Spattered” Or “Swirled” Grain And Can Contain Many Colors (Minerals). Generally, Granites Have A Polished Finished And Have A “Busy” Look, But To Keep Up With Current Trends, More Manufacturers Are Producing Honed (Smooth & Unpolished) And Flamed (Rough Textured) Surfaces. Granites May Be Purchased In Slab And Dimensional Tile Form And Can Be Used In Almost Any Application. It Has Become Ever Popular As It Is Being Used Frequently In Newly Built Tract Housing, Apartment/Condominium Complexes And Commercial Buildings. Granites Are Imported From Many Countries And Have Just As Many Colors And Sizes To Choose From. A Note In Using Polished Granite Is To Know That It Can Be Slippery To Walk On Until A Patina Builds On It. As With Any Other Commodity, Stone Is Also Graded For Quality Standards. Be Wary If It Is Extremely Inexpensive. The Price Ranges In Granites will depend on The Color, Rarity And Where The Stone Comes From.
Marble – Most People Are Familiar With Marble In Many Uses. From Greek Statues To Roman Baths, Marble Has Been Used For Centuries In Just About Every Possible Application, Both Interior And Exterior. Marble Has The Same General Properties Of Limestone And Can Stain, Etch Or Scratch, But It Only Becomes More Beautiful Over Time And Use. It Is Readily Available In Just About Every Color, Size, Finish And Texture Known To Man. Most Marbles Have A Veining Of A Mineral Throughout Them And Are Generally Thought To Be From , But It In Actually It Is Quarried From All Over The World. Tumbled Marble Has Become Extremely Popular In The In The Last Few Years For Backsplash, Flooring And Shower Areas. Prices Range From $6.00 – $30.00 Per Square Foot, Again Dependent Upon The Rarity, Color And Country Of Origin.
Limestones – There Are Many Types Of Limestone Available And Vary To Many Degrees, Depending Upon Where It Comes From. Unpopular To Belief, Limestone Is Also A Perfectly Suitable Stone To Use In All Areas Of Your Home. Most Limestones Have Softer Earth Tone Colors; May Contain A “Swirl” Veining Movement Throughout; Can Contain Fossils; Or May Have A Light Speckled Grain. Limestones, Just Like Granite Or Any Other Natural Stone Can Stain, Etch Or Get Scratched, But Again, You Should Not Use Natural Stone If This Will Bother You. Limestone Also Is Widely Available In Dimensional Tile And Slab Form. This Stone Is Used Most Frequently In Higher-End Homes, Architectural Designs And Commercial Applications As It Is Easy To Work With, The Colors Are Muted Compared To Granites, It Is Available In As Many Finishes And Textures As Granite. Some Limestones Can Be Somewhat Porous But Are Perfect For Flooring, Backsplashes, Fireplace Surrounds And Outdoor Uses.
Travertine – Travertine Is Marble, Except It Is Filled With “Holes.” To Understand What Causes The Holes, Think Of It This Way. Wherever A River Or Stream Was Prior To The Marble Being Quarried Is Where You Will Find Travertine. Because Of The Holes, People Can Be Scared Off Because Travertine Is Generally Thought To Be More Porous And Not Suitable For Residential Use. This Is Not The Case, As All Of Those Holes Become Filled In With Grout During Installation, Giving It A Very Unique Look. The Same Travertine Can Be Used In Two Separate Areas But Appear Another Way Just By Using Two Different Grout Colors!
Slates – Slate Used To Be Used Mainly For Chalkboard, Billiard Tables, Science Lab Areas And Roof Tiles. However, In Recent Years It Has Become More Popular For Residential Use In Most Applications, With The Exception Of Fabricated Counter Tops. Slate Tiles Are Generally Rough In Surface Texture, With The Exception Of The Tumbled Version. Most Slates Are Available In A Wide Variety Of Sizes In Dimensional Tiles; A Few In Slab Form And Most Can Be Gotten In Crates Of Random Pieces Like Flagstone. It Is A Perfect Stone For Water Areas Such As Showers & Spas, Patio/Driveway Areas, Pool Surrounds And Roofing Applications. Most Slates Contain A Huge Variation Of Color, Even Within The Same Lot And Some Will Even Look To Have Been Stained From Spills Of Red Wine, Which Is Not The Case. This Is Caused From Earth Minerals Such As Iron And Only Adds To The Beauty Of The Stone. Slate Holds Onto Heat Well, Which Is Another Reason Besides Being Fire Proof; It Is Widely Used As Roofing Material. (Use Light Colors In Outdoor Areas Where You May Be Walking Barefoot!) Since Slates Have A Softer Property.
Be Aware That It Can Shale Off The Surface More Easily. This Will Not Harm It Per Se, But May Cause You Concern If You Are Not Aware That It Happens. One Of The Difficulties Of Slate Is That It Is Varied In Thickness. Because Of The Shale Properties, It Is Very Difficult To Cut Evenly. Generally, Manufacturers Will Cut Them With A “Gauged” Thickness Or “Sawn Back” Treatment, Leaving One Side Smoother. Because Of The Varied Thickness Between Each Piece Of Tile, Specific Sized Installations May Be More Of A Challenge.