Stone tile has a very broad range of hardness, absorbancy and finishes as follows:
Slate is very soft but has a low absorbancy. For this reason it is good for walls but if used on floors a protective finish is recommended to preclude scuffing and abnormal wear.
Limestone is a soft stone with a very high absorbancy. In wet area applications, such as showers, it needs to be completely sealed to preclude minerals from settling and causing dark streaks in the lower areas. Floor applications also require sealing to prevent staining and a topical finish to preclude abnormal wear.
Travertine is an older and harder form of limestone. The aborbancy varies based upon the mineral content. It is typicaly used for wall and floor applications but should be sealed to preclude staining. If used on a kitchen backsplash, sealing is recommended due to its ability to absorb cooking vapors which will darken the tile.
Marble tile is harder and less aborbant than travertines but still requires sealing in most applications. Green, black and red marbles also require setting with epoxy if the backs surfaces have not been pretreated to prevent warpage during the installation.
Granite is the hardest of the natural stones due to the higher content of crystaline minerals. They also have a very low absorbancy but should be sealed, especially when installed on the kitchen countertops as acids (lemon juice, vinegar, etc) can cause discoloration if allowed to absorb into the stone.
Stone finishes will vary based upon the hardness of the minerals.
Cleaved finished (no processing) is normal for slate but some can be polished to a low reflection finish.
Limestone and travertine can be supplied in a honed, brushed or semipolished finish.
Marble is routinely available polished but some have honed finishes available.
Granite is normally polished but some can be special ordered in a flamed (chipped) finish for exterior, high traction, applications.
Travertines come in a filled or unfilled version, except for tumbled travertines which only come in unfilled. The filled version have a natural colored filler applied to the holes to give an even surface.
Notes about ordering stone.
Since stone is not a manmade product, variations are to be expected. If you intend to coordinate your area to the colors in your stone products, it is recommended you use samples from actual stock for colors, etc. Don't expect your tile to exactly match a showroom sample in all colors and patterns.
Grades of stone are standard or commercial grade. Standard grades are consistant as far as base colors and dimensions with the except of slate. Slate can be standard but still vary by 1/8" on each of the three dimensions. If any dimension vary's more than 1/8" on slate it is considered commercial grade.
Paschal Tile
10918 east 55th Place
Tulsa, OK. 74146
918-622-0017
WATS 800-498-1726
FAX 918-664-4927
paschaldis@sbcglobal.net
