Differentiating the Various Types of Stone Tiles

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Balancing Durability and Affordability Underfoot: A Flooring Blog

Flooring is one of the most important elements of a house. It can create a cozy and inviting feeling, a sense of sophistication, or a funky, industrial vibe. Quality flooring can add to the value of a home, while inexpensive, damaged and outdated flooring can hurt a home's value. If you feel as passionate about flooring as I do, I hope that you take some time to explore my blog. My name is Henry, and as a lover of all things DIY, I have put in a lot of flooring. From carpet, to vinyl, to hardwood, I have played with almost all of them, and I am here to explain the merits of different types of flooring, while also providing installation tips and more. Enjoy reading!

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Differentiating the Various Types of Stone Tiles

26 August 2016
 Categories: , Blog


If you are looking to add some functional elegance to your home's flooring, then you should consider natural stone tiles. The earthy tones of these tiles are popular due to their ability to complement any type of space, whether modern or rustic. In addition to this, stone tiles are one of the most durable options that you can consider. This makes them a perfect fit for areas that are prone to heavy foot traffic as well as areas exposed to the elements. However, not many people know how to differentiate the wide assortment of stone tiles that are available. Here are some of the different stone tiles you can come across and their primary characteristics.

Slate tiles and quartzite tiles

These types of stone tiles are typically mistaken for one another due to the common greyish tone that they share. However, if you inspect the tiles closely, you will find that quartzite stone tiles are speckled with green particles. This is the main physical different between the two. Although these type of stone tiles tend to be grey in colour, you can also find varieties that comes in other colours depending on the metals contained in them.

Marble tiles and granite tiles

These tiles are also commonly confused by newbies who are not familiar with stone tiles. The first thing that you should note is that marble tiles are much more porous than granite tiles. As such, they would require sealcoating if they are to be used in areas that are exposed to high moisture content such as the kitchen or the bathroom. The main reason why these two types of stone tiles are popular is their unique appearance. Formerly used as the main material when sculpting, marble and granite tiles are now a popular option for wall tiles, benchtops and flooring.

Sandstone tiles

The main misconception that people have about this type of tile is that it only comes in the colour of regular sand. This can be attributed to its name. However, sandstone is not limited to the light brown sandy colour. You can also find it in a variety if stunning hues such as reds and blues. The sandstone tiles may also have additional underlying tones of purples and greens to add to its intensity. It should also be noted that the brown colour varieties of sandstone are not limited to bland beige. You can get them in a spectrum of brown hues, giving you the freedom to experiment with different colour palettes. Therefore, if you are looking for stone tiles that would stand out, then sandstone may be one variety that you could consider.