Phoenix AZ Flooring: A Guide to Natural Stone Flooring

Natural stone is one of the most popular options for Phoenix AZ Flooring. The term is a broad one that is used for a variety of materials obtained from mountainous regions. These include marble, slate, limestone, granite, sandstone and travertine. All types of natural stones vary in their properties, which must be considered before you purchase any of them.

If you are interested in Phoenix AZ Flooring and want natural stone to be your chosen material, here is what you should know.

Absorption Rating

Absorption rating is a value which determines the porosity of a material. The higher this value is, the more absorbent the material will be and the more likely stains would appear on it. Porous materials are also not resistant to water and easier to crack, particularly if temperatures are cold. As such, a good Phoenix AZ Flooring material is one which has a low absorption rating. Moreover, it should be polished so as to reduce the absorption rating value, when compared to clefted and honed surfaces.

Among the forms of natural stone, sandstone is the most porous one and has the highest value of absorption rating. Limestone, slate and travertine have medium values of absorption rating and granite has the lowest, making it the most resistant natural stone against water and stains.

Grade

There are some Phoenix AZ Flooring companies that use a grading system to measure the quality of materials. In the process, many factors such as size, shape, thickness and surface may be considered. Generally, a standard grading system is divided into three main levels: grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3. Grade 1 is a category which contains materials bearing high quality and uniform surfaces. Grade 2 materials are those that are characterized by minor flaws such as scratches and irregularity. Grade 3 is the lowest quality of all and includes all those materials that have inappropriate shapes, sizes, and surfaces.

Every Phoenix AZ Flooring company classifies natural stone on the basis of the above mentioned grades. Though Grade 1 is obviously a good choice, it is also the most expensive and you would have to consider the increased costs when making a purchase.

Pros

There are many benefits of using natural stone as a flooring option.

• Each stone that you would come across is unique in its features, which makes every flooring application look attractive and beautiful.

• Natural stone is regarded as a green flooring option and is widely used by environmentally concerned individuals.

• Compared to other flooring options, the costs are not that high.

Cons

Like every other material, there are drawbacks associated with natural stone.

• Granite and slate are the only natural stones that have low absorption ratings. All other types are more porous and so there is not enough resistance to water and stains. As such, these floors need to be treated with a sealing agent at regular periods so that the surface remains protected.

• Some natural stone like marble can easily scratch and break into pieces.

• The surface of natural stone is mostly brittle, making it more prone to chipping.