Stone floors: everything you need to know

Floors are one of the most important elements of interior design. The surface has to be practical and also attractive and pleasant. When you walk into a room, the floor makes a very important visual impression. It can enhance the room or, if you choose badly, give a very poor first impression of your home.

For a real wow factor, the best material is natural stone, which people have had a special relationship with since the beginning of civilisation.

Natural stone is the most hard-wearing material, and you can use it both inside and outside buildings. If you want to connect the inside and outside of your home, using the same natural stone for floors indoors and outdoors is an ideal way to join the spaces.

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Durability and care

Stone floors are beautiful, and there is no doubt about that. They suit any room, and most importantly, floors like these last for generations. Many buildings that made history prove it: they are largely built of natural stone, an extremely strong and hard-wearing material. At the time, stone was a symbol of luxury and wealth.

It was used above all to build palaces, important public buildings, squares, statues and fountains … Why?

Because people wanted them to last. So if you want to build a house or a home where you plan to spend your life, stone floors are the right solution and an even better decision.

Stone floors are very easy to care for. All you need is a damp cloth, a mild stone detergent and a vacuum cleaner, and for regular daily care we recommend dry wiping. If you use any other cleaner, make sure it contains no acid. Acids are not suitable for marble, as they can damage it.

Wear slippers if the indoor floors of your home are laid in polished marble so you do not carry in sand and grit that can scratch the surface. Rugs are also an effective way to protect natural stone floors, but only where you spend the most time.

Regular cleaning does not only keep floors clean, it also keeps their shine, so they always look well kept. If you take good care of them, your natural stone floors will always look as if they had just been laid.

Hygienic and energy efficient

Natural stone floors are also a good choice if you suffer from allergies. Bacteria find it harder to grow on them, because the hard, non-porous surface of natural stone leaves no room for allergens. They have nowhere to hide and will not make your life difficult.

Even a slightly more porous and softer stone such as marble is nowhere near as prone to dust mites and the like as wood or carpet can be.

Another plus of stone floors, and not a small one, is that natural stone conducts heat very well, so it works well with underfloor heating or any other heating system. It absorbs the heat in its surroundings well and so cuts heating costs noticeably.

Floor surface finishes

Natural stone surfaces can be finished in different ways. Until recently the most popular was a polished look, which gives a smooth shine and is easy to care for, but also makes the surface more slippery. Lately people choose a honed surface more and more often. Here the shine gives way to a matt, softer look, scratch resistance is higher and care is even easier.

Types of natural stone

Natural stone, used for floor coverings, comes in different sizes, colours and shapes. It can be cut, honed, polished, flamed, drilled, split and trimmed, so the choice is almost unlimited.

As with all materials, the choice of natural stone depends on several factors: the purpose of the room, the amount of foot traffic, the price, and the taste and wishes of the customer.

Natural stone steps

Natural stone steps are too often overlooked or forgotten, yet they are one of the most important structural elements of a building and complement the rest of the living space. Natural stone laid on a staircase makes it distinctive and elegant, and gives the space a refined touch.

They last a long time, because the natural stone laid on them is made from a single piece and has no joints.

It is important to see stone in person, so we invite you to our showroom in Hoče. Our range covers  many natural varieties, shapes and shades.

Stonemasonry Marnit – over 100 years of experience with natural stone.

We look forward to your visit!