Stone and Tile

Using natural resources such as stone and tile is both profitable and better for the environment. It only makes sense that the building materials that require little alteration from the natural form are more trouble free and cost effective. The sustainability makes these materials the best to use in construction and renovation. Business images benefit from the statement that natural stone makes; permanence, solidity, and a sense of nobleness. Natural stone has been used as a building material for eons because it weathers many different climatic temperatures, just as it does in nature.

 

 

Natural stone in the form of granite, marble, limestone, quartz, sandstone, slate, onyx and travertine are used in the age old application of external walls, interior decorations and flooring. Both residential and commercial applications are used due to the selection of spectacular color and patterns in the stone. This timeless style adds elegance to any property, increasing its market value.

 

Granite is one of the toughest and most long-lasting of all the different types of stone. The smooth polish that can be applied to granite brings and elegance to the building it is applied to. Granite is a wonderful choice for solid faced applications when durability and maintenance is a priority. There are many colors available to fit any type of décor or style.

The unparalleled classic beauty of marble increases the worth of a home or business. The use of marble reflects a refined and cultured taste enabling a renovator to turn a plain space into one of sumptuousness and stylishness. Marble is found in various areas of the earth and has been used in palaces, castles and villas for centuries.

 

Builders and homeowners that are looking for a way to add a naturally soft element will find it with limestone. Limestone adds a refined rustic look and comes in a variety of colors and striations that will mirror some of the most beautiful buildings on earth such as English mansions and Parisian Châteaux’s.

 

Onyx is a fine-quartz rock with traces of earth. The solid polished surface brings timeless elegance to any floor. Examples of different types of onyx are the warm honeyed color from Turkey, Asian multi-colored and the golden colored onyx. These types of onyx will bring a beautiful mix of green, pink, and many other colors to stone floors.

 

Tile is traditionally made with glass, ceramic, or stone. Stone tiles from all over the world can be found in regal palaces as well as the humble cottage. Terra Cotta, slate, terrazzo, and travertine are examples of tiles that are beautiful, durable and environmentally friendly.

 

Centuries of use has made terra cotta tiles one of the most desired building materials among builders and homeowners in the southwest. The terra cotta tiles are made of clay from deposits in California. By using local natural resources the Spanish settlers created missions with adobe clay that were sun-air dried. These tiles exist to this day; their beauty is only enhanced by age. Clay tiles have been essential in the foundations of the California Missions and continue to be an important building material in Spanish Revival Architecture.

 

The Roman Empire created travertine tiles that are made of crystallized minerals and limestone, both sustainable materials and eco-friendly to our environment. The same recipe used by the Roman Empire is used in modern times to create travertine tiles. The beautiful finishing polishes that are applied to tiles make this type of flooring beautiful and timeless because of the durability and elegance that actually costs less than ceramic tiles or wood flooring.

Using stone and natural tiles add value, durability and elegance to any home or business. Building “green” helps keep the natural elements of the earth viable and sustainable for future generations and helps cut down on the emissions found in chemically created building and finishing materials. Check your local dealerships and online to find the natural stone or tiles that fit your style, taste and décor as well as save in the cost of building or renovations.