Natural stone flooring is popular for its elegance, durability, and unique beauty, as each piece offers distinct veining, texture, and colour. While it’s often associated with luxury, selecting the right type of stone—whether marble, granite, slate, sandstone, or limestone—requires careful consideration of factors like absorption rate, durability, and slip resistance, as certain stones are better suited for specific environments.
This guide covers the advantages and drawbacks of these common stones and provides insights into cost considerations, helping you make an informed decision that balances aesthetics and practicality.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Natural stone flooring is a luxurious, durable option. Various stones, such as marble, granite, slate, sandstone, and limestone, have unique pros and cons.
Marble offers elegance but is prone to scratches; granite is extremely durable and ideal for high-traffic areas; slate is non-slip and good for wet spaces; sandstone has a warm look but requires sealing; and limestone provides a subtle aesthetic but is softer and needs maintenance.
Key considerations include absorption rate, durability, slipperiness, indoor vs. outdoor use, and maintenance, with costs varying significantly depending on the stone type.
Marble
Marble is arguably one of the most luxurious and timeless natural stones available. It is often used in palaces, museums, and upscale homes. It is prized for its smooth, polished surface and unique veining patterns that make every tile one-of-a-kind.
The veins in marble are formed by mineral deposits during the stone’s creation, and this feature gives marble its elegant and sophisticated appearance. Available in a range of colours—from the classic white Carrara to deeper tones like black, green, and pink—marble can complement various interior design styles, from contemporary to traditional.
One of the reasons marble remains a favourite choice for flooring is its ability to transform a room into a sophisticated space. Its shiny, polished finish reflects light, making rooms appear brighter and more spacious. However, marble has its drawbacks.
Marble is naturally softer than other options like granite, making it more prone to scratches, chips, and stains if not properly maintained. Because of its susceptibility to damage, marble is best suited for low-traffic areas such as bathrooms or formal living rooms, where heavy foot traffic and spills are less likely.
Pros
- Luxurious, classic appearance
- Wide range of colors and veining patterns
- Reflects light, brightening up spaces
Cons
- Requires sealing to protect against water and stains
- Can scratch or chip easily
- Not ideal for high-traffic areas
Granite
Granite is known for its extreme durability and strength, making it one of the most practical choices for natural stone flooring. Formed from molten magma, granite is a hard and dense material highly resistant to wear and tear.
Granite is ideal for areas with high foot traffic, such as kitchens, hallways, and entryways. It can withstand heavy use without losing its lustre, making it a popular choice for commercial buildings and busy households.
What makes granite appealing is its diverse range of colours and patterns, often characterised by specks of minerals and subtle veining. Whether you prefer a polished, glossy finish or a honed, matte look, granite can be customised to fit your aesthetic preferences.
The polished finish is especially striking, giving any space a sleek, modern look, while the honed finish offers a more understated, subtle appeal. Granite’s other advantage is its resistance to water and staining, making it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms where spills are common.
Pros
- Extremely durable and resistant to wear
- Wide variety of colours and finishes
- Highly resistant to water and stains
Cons
- Heavier than other natural stones
- More expensive than some other options
Slate
Slate is a highly versatile and durable natural stone that has been used in construction for centuries. It is often the go-to material for areas where moisture is a concern, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor patios. Slate’s natural texture provides a non-slip surface, making it a safe option in wet environments where other polished stones might become dangerously slippery.
Available in various colours—typically darker tones like grey, black, green, and even rusty reds—slate is well-suited for modern, rustic, and industrial design aesthetics.
In addition to its non-slip properties, slate is valued for its affordability compared to luxury stones like marble and granite. Although it offers many practical benefits, slate does have its limitations. If not sealed properly, slate can be prone to chipping or cracking, particularly in areas with heavy use. It’s important to regularly maintain and seal slate floors to ensure they remain in good condition over time.
Slate’s durability and non-slip texture make it an excellent option for homeowners who prioritise safety without sacrificing style. Its natural variation in colour and texture ensures that each installation has a unique and organic look, making it a popular choice for those seeking a natural, earthy feel in their home.
Pros
- Water-resistant and ideal for wet areas
- Textured for non-slip safety
- More affordable than marble or granite
Cons
- Can chip or crack if not sealed properly
- Limited colour palette compared to other stones
Sandstone
Sandstone is a beautiful and natural option for flooring, often chosen for its warm, earthy tones that evoke a rustic and homely atmosphere. This stone is commonly used in traditional or rustic settings, where its rich colours—from soft beige to golden brown—can complement wooden furniture and organic decor elements. Sandstone’s soft, natural appearance makes it ideal for spaces where a warm and inviting ambience is desired.
However, sandstone is more porous than other natural stones, which makes it more susceptible to moisture absorption. Frequent sealing is required to prevent water damage and staining, especially in areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens. Despite this drawback, sandstone remains a popular choice for homeowners looking to create a cosy and natural aesthetic in their homes.
When used in the right environment and with proper care, sandstone can be a durable and attractive flooring option. Its natural variation in colour and texture makes each tile unique, adding character and charm to any room. However, it’s important to be mindful of the maintenance required to keep sandstone looking its best.
Pros
- Warm, natural appearance
- Ideal for traditional and rustic settings
- Unique variation in colour and texture
Cons
- Highly porous, requires regular sealing
- Less durable than harder stones like granite
Limestone
Limestone is another natural stone that offers a subtle and understated beauty. It is often chosen for its soft, neutral colours, ranging from light creams and whites to soft browns and greys. Limestone has a more subdued look compared to the bold veining of marble or the speckled patterns of granite, making it a great option for those seeking a more minimalist or natural design aesthetic.
While limestone is durable, it is softer than granite, which makes it more prone to scratching and etching, particularly in high-traffic areas. This softness also means limestone requires regular sealing to protect it from moisture and staining. It is important to remember this if you plan to use limestone in areas like kitchens or entryways, where spills and dirt are more common.
Despite its relative softness, limestone remains a popular choice for flooring due to its natural beauty and versatility. It can complement a wide range of design styles, from contemporary to traditional, and its neutral colours can easily blend with other materials and decor elements in a space.
Pros
- Soft, natural colours
- Versatile and complements various design styles
- Offers a more subtle look compared to other stones
Cons
- Requires regular sealing to prevent water damage
- Softer than other stones, prone to scratching and etching
Conclusion
Natural stone flooring offers timeless beauty, durability, and a variety of textures and colours. Each stone type—marble, granite, slate, sandstone, and limestone—has advantages and limitations, making it essential to consider where and how it will be used carefully.
Key factors such as absorption rate, durability, slip resistance, indoor vs. outdoor application, and required maintenance are critical to making an informed decision.
FAQs About Stone Flooring
How Long Does Stone Flooring Last?
On average, natural stones like marble and granite can live well over 100 years, compared to ceramic tile, which has a life expectancy of 75 years.
What Is The Most Durable Stone For Flooring?
Granite is considered the most durable stone flooring material for all practical purposes. It isn’t easy to scratch and virtually impervious to liquid when properly sealed.
Is Stone Flooring Hard To Clean?
Although strong and hard, these surfaces are very porous, and they can be easily stained and the polish marred. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the recommended cleaning products.
Are Stone Floors Hard To Maintain?
Natural stone floors are very delicate. Because of their abrasive nature, dirt, sand, gravel, or other dirt can damage them. Therefore, it is very important to sweep your floor regularly. Once you have removed all unwanted deposits, you can move on to cleaning.
Is Stone Flooring Slippery?
The results showed, unsurprisingly, that stones are slipperier when wet. In contrast to some previous studies, however, the researchers found that slipperiness was not always determined by the roughness of the stone’s finish.
