Natural Stone - Everything You Need To Know
Timeless, tough and attractive, natural stone has been used for centuries as a preferred construction material for indoor and outdoor builds. The inherent beauty of natural stone lends itself well to a variety of interior design features, such as kitchen benchtops, splashbacks for kitchens and feature walls. Get to know more about natural stone slabs and their applications below:
What is Natural Stone?
Natural Stone slab is hardened organic rock and minerals found in layers of the earth's crust. Pressure, erosion, water, heat and expansion of the earth's layers over thousands of years created rock beds quarried worldwide to extract stone slabs for building and decorative purposes.
Types of Natural Stone
Stone is classified by 'variety' and distinguished by its level of hardness according to the Mohs hardness scale.
Granite is a durable, strong and damage-resistant stone commonly featuring combinations of black, grey, white or pink. Grainy and striking, it is a favourite natural stone for kitchen countertops, flooring, and heavy-use surface areas.
Marble has always reflected sophistication and prestige with the medium grain composition of metaphoric rocks. Pink or white with unique patterning on every slab, marble is a perfect choice for countertops, fireplaces, vanities and wet area applications.
Travertine is a type of limestone available in various finishes, including polished, honed and brushed. Harder than marble and softer than granite, the vast array of natural colourings from light grey to dark grey and beige give excellent decorative options for flooring, splashbacks, countertops, outdoor kitchens and bathroom walls.
Quartzite is celebrated for its durability, density and scratch tolerance. It can be found in various colours, such as beige, brown, white, yellow, purple, blue, orange and grey. Popular for kitchen stone benchtops, this natural stone is also used for flooring, wall covering, stair steps and outdoor kitchens.
Sandstone is best applied to outdoor feature areas such as paved pathways, courtyard floors and walls and other outdoor features. Easy on the eye in sand-colour tones, some types of sandstone can be used as interior feature walls in non-wet areas.
Limestone is one of the softest natural stones and comes in various earthy tones to easily compliment any interior pallet. Optimal for wet areas thanks to its resistance to bacteria and mould, limestone is often applied to flooring, splashbacks and shower wall tiles.
Applications Of Natural Stone
From sinks to archways, shower tiles, laundry floors and beyond, many natural stone slab applications can be considered for interior or exterior home upgrades.
Kitchen applications
Always top of the trends, natural stone benchtops are a dream inclusion for most homeowners. Not only do marble, granite, or quartzite countertops make an eye-catching statement, but they are also durable and long-lasting. With plenty of natural designs, your kitchen benchtops stone will always be uniquely yours. Other kitchen applications include splashbacks, sinks and stone flooring.
Bathroom applications
With anti-bacterial, water-resistant and mould-resistant properties, a natural stone slab in bathrooms and powder rooms is a smart and stylish decision. For vanity units, wall tiles, shower tiles and flooring, many natural stone types will create a luxe bathroom that will stand the test of time.
Outdoor applications
Stone slab applications for outdoor living include outdoor kitchens, feature walls, terrace stone flooring and outdoor fireplaces. More and more people are building entertaining outdoor areas as an extension of their homes with a focus on quality stone styling. Of course, stone slab is often used in landscaping projects, including paving and water-features.
Why Should I Use Natural Stone?
Nothing beats genuine natural stone to provide years of aesthetic and practical pleasure. Each natural stone slab is one-of-a-kind and can never be replicated, giving you the luxury of knowing that your home has a truly unique feature from the earth. If you buy your custom stone materials from a reputable natural stone supplier, you can also trust in the integrity of the stone and its treatment.
Maintenance of Natural Stone
Overall, natural stone is one of the easiest interior surfaces to maintain. Most only require quick wipe-downs with a mild detergent or stone-specific products. As with any surface, it is optimal to immediately clean spills, especially food spills, to avoid staining or acid penetration. Speak to your stone supplier about the ideal maintenance of your particular stone and whether resealing will be required over the years.
You will never regret choosing natural stone for your interior project in Melbourne. It will be a worthwhile investment, adding value, easy-to-clean surfaces, natural beauty and style to any room. Discuss your vision with a stone specialist at Deluxe Stone, proudly Melbourne's most trusted natural stone supplier for projects of all sizes 1800 378 663.