Introduction:

Slate tile stone flooring is flexible in nature and can be used almost anywhere. People have been using it extensively in kitchen, front hallway, bathroom and outdoor uses such as pool surrounds and patio. One of the most brilliant features of this stone is that it has got naturally slip-resistant surfaces. The tile is also widely known for its durability and decorative nature.

Origins:

The slate stone can be seen in large deposits in coastal regions. Some ancient oceans have gathered silt and many other mineral elements in these areas. The silt left behind is exposed to pressure and heat to give it a shape of rugged and durable stone. This stone is widely known as slate. There are several minerals found in slate including quartz, mica and chlorite. These minerals make slate stress resistant. This slate is found in several colors and the credit goes to the mixture of several materials in random order.

Slate tile flooring:

Preparation:

Slate tile has been widely used for flooring worldwide for both residential and commercial interiors and exteriors. The tile has an amazing slip-resistance feature. When it comes to practicality and beauty, slate tile is considered to be the optimum choice. With slate, you can never slip. The preparation of this tile consists of various stages. Gauge and calibration are two main processes involved in the preparation of slate tile. Gauge is a process that lets the edges of the slate tile to turn into square shape via precision cutting. This is a very simple process and it allows the slate tile to turn into an interlocking material. This means that the tile can be easily interlocked with other tiles. Calibration is a process that makes the back of the slate tile even with the help of machine-homing. This process is very important as it make sure that the slate tile will always lay feat during and after the installation. The process of calibration makes the tile easy to install and provides it an even walking surface.

Slate tile surface:

Natural face or split-face slate tile is one of the most population choices when it comes to slate tile flooring. The split is a region where the slate has been removed from the slate bed. Hence, you can be sure of the fact that this variety of slate tile maintains the natural and uneven texture. The texture makes this type of slate tile one of the most distinctive tile. If you want slip resistant flooring for your house, this is a great option. This slate tile type possesses a tactile dimension that adds up a rich color to it.

Thickness:

When it comes to slate tile, you can always expect a thickness variation from tile to tile. You need to consult your local flooring professionals to get an approximate idea of slate tile thickness. The thickness of slate tile can vary in a range of 3/8″-7/16″.

Slate tile flooring is one of the best options if you want something that provides you look and slip resistance factor.

We, at BBM Impex are dedicated to represent the nation’s treasure of natural stone. visit Slate supplier & exporter.

I am freelance writer, I have written on many fields that are under the sun. I have passion to play with words. Accuracy, clarity and impact are the hallmarks of my work.

I am not a “Shakespeare”, and don’t have ability to convert imagination and thoughts into words, If I have to define myself in a few words, I would say I am a copywriter, I have good command over research, expertise to explore extensively and ability to prove that. I can write on any subject, from beauty to intellect, food to travel, paradise to Hades, flowers to nuclear bombs, rainbow to Tsunami, pen to sword, Britney sphere to Halen Keller, Tumors to Health and fitness, celibacy to Seduction. You can also find some of my articles at Freelance SEO Copywriter and Article Ghost Writer

Limestone is a sedimentary rock that comes in a large composition of mineral calcite. This stone also contains considerable amounts of silica in the form of chert or flint, certain amounts of clay, silt and sand. The main source of the calcite in limestone is organisms found in the sea. These organisms give out shells that settle out of the water in a coral reef.

Speleothems are produced with this process. You would be surprised to hear that limestone makes up about ten percent of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks.

Limestone is used for several purposes. One of the most popular uses of limestone is in architecture. You can find the use of this material in several landmarks around the world such as in North America and Europe. You must have heard of famous buildings in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. These were constructed with limestone. Hence, the nicknames of these buildings is common – ‘Limestone City’.

This stone is widely available and very easy to cut into blocks and carved. Limestone possesses longevity and has the potential to withstand harsh environment. The material is very heavy and this makes it a difficult stone for constructing tall buildings. It was not very popular in earlier days due to its cost.

Limestone gained popularity in the early 20th and the late 19th centuries. You would find several train stations, banks and other structures from that era made from limestone.

Indiana, in the United States has been an excellent source of high quality quarried limestone. This variety is known as Indiana limestone. Several eminent buildings in London are made from Portland limestone.

If you study about the middle ages, you will come to know that limestone has always been an ideal choice for building block. The reason is that this stone possesses durability and sturdiness. Several churches and castles in Europe are made of limestone. Beer stone was a popular type of limestone for medieval buildings in southern part of England.

Limestone is reactive to acid solutions. Several limestone statues and building surfaces have been damaged due to acid rain caused by this reaction. Limestone should only be cleaned with a neutral or mild alkaline based cleaner.

Here are some of the most common uses of limestone:

a) Limestone is used in the manufacture of quicklime and slaked lime.

b) Cement and mortar.

c) Crushed limestone can be used as aggregate (solid base for roads).

d) Limestone is widely used in glass making and toothpaste preparation.

e) Pulverized limestone makes a good soil conditions. It works towards neutralizing acidic soil conditions.

f) Landscape construction and cement manufacture are most common uses of limestone.

Limestone does not require any maintenance. The stone is cheap and very effective. The material is widely quarried for roadbeds, building and landscape construction and cement manufacturer. Limestone is an ideal choice for flooring and building blocks due to its simple structure. It consists of subtle patterning and comes in plate and neutral colors. These features make this stone a good choice for kitchen flooring.

We, at BBM Impex are dedicated to represent the nation’s treasure of natural stone. visit Limestone supplier & exporter.

I am freelance writer, I have written on many fields that are under the sun. I have passion to play with words. Accuracy, clarity and impact are the hallmarks of my work.

I am not a “Shakespeare”, and don’t have ability to convert imagination and thoughts into words, If I have to define myself in a few words, I would say I am a copywriter, I have good command over research, expertise to explore extensively and ability to prove that. I can write on any subject, from beauty to intellect, food to travel, paradise to Hades, flowers to nuclear bombs, rainbow to Tsunami, pen to sword, Britney sphere to Halen Keller, Tumors to Health and fitness, celibacy to Seduction. You can also find some of my articles at Freelance SEO Copywriter and Article Ghost Writer

Pavements

From antiquity to modern times, pavements take many forms; from simple flags of native stone to vast ‘carpets’ of limestone, terracotta, marble or mosaic.

As early as the 4th Century BC, Egyptian temples had vast areas of stone flooring – conveying godly power and permanence. Early Christianity continued the tradition, paving basilicas and churches with floors laden with secret symbolism. Landmark buildings have always used stone pavements to impress and to provide a durable surface for the passage of feet.

Through colour and pattern, pavements have also carried messages to those equipped to read them. Egyptian architects, for instance, portrayed mystic energies using geometric black and white stone. We can trace the development of this idea through history… black and white floors became icons of locations as diverse as Europe’s great cathedrals, Flemish merchant houses and Masonic Halls. The meaning behind this and other designs is lost to many, but the aesthetics remain as vigorous as ever.

Pavements: Cosmati

A unique form of classical mosaic, Cosmati is extraordinarily decorative, with swirling bands of intricate stone and glass and gilded mosaic contrasted with highly polished white marble. Often used for pavements, Cosmati also decorates architectural elements such as walls and columns.

Inspired by Byzantine mosaic, Cosmati was a technique exclusive to three generations of the Cosma family, working in Rome from the 12th Century. Central to Romanesque architecture, fine examples of their work can be seen throughout Italy…but are concentrated in Rome where they had the patronage of the Pope.

Surprisingly though, London is home to two exceptional Cosmati floors. In 1269, the newly appointed Abbott of Westminster travelled to Rome and was dazzled by the richness of the mosaics. Returning to England, he commissioned workmen and materials from Italy to create Cosmati pavements for Westminster Abbey. The masterpiece is the ‘Great Pavement’ in front of the High Altar, completed in 1268.

Pavements: Opus-Sectile

Instead of being made up from small tesserae, Opus Sectile uses larger, specially-shaped elements in stone or tile. These are fitted together to create inlaid patterns or pictures on walls and floors.

Earliest examples of Opus Sectile work come from Ancient Egypt and Asia Minor. It reached an artistic height in Rome, from 4th- 6th Century, often used to create heroic images such as the chariot depicted in the basilica of the Roman Consul Junius Bassus..

Roman high fashion moved on and Opus Sectile moved East, becoming a feature of ornate Byzantine churches. It was not forgotten in Europe though, and by 12th Century, Opus Sectile techniques had become part of the vast repertoire of mosaic skills used by the Roman Cosmati family. Today, it is still practised by a very select few specialist craftsmen.

My dad has been a mason for over 50 years and has been laying flagstone since the late 1960s. He has mostly laid sandstone from Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico and he’s dealt with some slate from the East Coast, like Pennsylvania and New York. Owners are usually ecstatic after their flagstone masterpiece is installed. I think you’ll be happy after you install some flagstone around your house.

Flagstone is a sedimentary sandstone rock that is quarried out of mountains. I’ve been to a few quarries and it’s cool to watch them cut out huge chunks of stone and pry off ½ inch to 2 ½ inch thick stones that will eventually end up on or in someone’s house.

Flagstone is usually cemented together with iron, calcium, or silica. Those bonding materials are what make for the many great colors of flagstone. We’ve see colors from red, rose, pink, beige, white, to chocolate. There are also some amazing streaks and patterns in some flagstone that can make a house look like an exotic palace from ancient Egypt or something. If you’re into evolutionary history, we’ve seen stone with ancient leaves, bone prints, and animal foot steps. Imagine how unique your house would be with some exquisite, prehistoric flagstone beautifying your residence?

We’ve had great luck with the durability of flagstone. My dad and I visited a job that he did twenty years ago. The stone aged greatly and even the cement joints that hold the stones in place were in good shape. If you compare the long-term savings of stone over wood, than there’s no competition. Stone wins hands down!

What’s nice is that if you spill some food on stone or some tree sap drips down on it, it just blends right in. You don’t have to worry too much about cleaning it. However, you’ll want to seal your stone every few years. It just keeps it preserved better.

Your house can be decorated with stone anywhere from walls, fireplaces, posts, patios, and even driveways (although that will be a feat). It is even very elegant inside. My father-in-law laid it inside his study and it looks stunning. Everybody remarks about how great it is. He just put a few throw-down rugs over it to give it some soft spots.

If you lay a horizontal surface, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll have pre-cut, or some call it dimensional stone, or irregular stone. Dimensional stone is a little easier to lay, because there are not as many cuts. Most modern looking houses go with dimensional stone. It fits the architectural style better.

However, if your house is older or more traditional, then irregular cut stone is usually a better fit. It costs cheaper, but you’ll have more cuts.

If you’re fairly good as a “do-it-yourselfer,” then laying it yourself will save you thousands of dollars. My dad charges about $10 a square foot for labor, so if you have a 300 square foot patio, then you’ll potentially save $3,000.

If you do contract it out, make sure you get references. We’ve seen many so-called “professionals” lay some pretty shoddy work.

An interior wall of drywall or plywood can with a few tools, some material and about a weekend(depending on job size), be turned into a conversational masterpiece. You can make a dramatic back splash in your kitchen or rock your entry way…just use your own imagination.

Materials: You will need…your choice of rock, sand, mortar “Type S”, galvanized mesh wire, 1 1/4″ roofing tacks, tarp or plastic to cover floor…you may need a grout bag(if you are going to have a mortar joint between the rocks), mortar “Type N” for grout and trim.

Tools: You will need a wheel barrow, mixing hoe, shovel, trowel, mud board, gloves, level and broom.

First cover floor with tarp or plastic to protect floor from splatter. Apply galvanized mesh wire with roofing tacks from stud to stud to ensure that wire is securely attached to the wall.

Now it is time to make the mortar.The recipe for mortar mix is 200lbs of sand (14 square shovels) per bag of mortar mix, 4 or 5 gallons of water. You can purchase sand in 100lb bags, which actually works out good when you are doing a small job mixing in a wheel barrow. It is recommended when using a wheel barrow to cut the recipe in half and only mix 1/2 of a bag of mortar mix at a time. Your mortar mix should be the consistency of cake batter.

Scatter rocks and get a pattern in mind. Spread mortar with trowel over mesh wire a couple of feet at a time. Unless you are laying stack stone, you can start at either the top or the bottom.

Pick the rock that you want to place, spread mortar on back of the rock, not too much, about 3/8″ to 1/2″ bead of mortar. Too much adds more weight and rock won’t stay on wall. Place in on the wall and apply pressure. Give a slight wiggle after pressure has been applied. Allow 3 to 5 seconds for good contact and repeat. The reason for only applying the mortar a couple feet at a time is that the mortar on the wall needs to be fresh so that the mortar on the back of the rock will mesh with it.

River Rock, Castle Stone and other kinds of rock require a 3/8″ or 1/2″ spacing between rocks for a mortar joint. Stack Stone stacks on top of each other and requires no mortar joint.

After wall has been layed. Wet grout bag, trowel bag 1/2 full of mortar. Twist like a cake decorator, bring point to wall and squeeze. Follow joint around rock getting it completely full, stopping to retwist grout bag as you go. Grout entire wall and give mortar about 1 hour(depending on temperature) to set up. Put on a pair of gloves and use your finger to wipe down all mortar joints. You want your mortar to be just below the rock. This will leave it smooth and give it a cleaned finished look. Sweep wall to remove any leftover dust. If needed you can add a piece of trim at the edge.

Now you have a beautiful rock wall.

The following bits of commercial granite folklore have been taken directly from customer comments and questions, pieces circulating on the web, and discussions with hundreds of homeowners who graced me with the opportunity to service their commercial granite. Just for fun, I’ll give you a little background on each, where they came from, and how they got started. In case you haven’t heard some of these before, you’ll be prepared when they eventually make their way ’round to you!

Please note I use the term “commercial granite” throughout this article. This is because we are referring to stones that are sold commercially as granite, rather than the (very) narrow subset of stones that meet the scientific definition.

1.) My Contractor / Granite Salesperson / Internet Guru (Pick Your Favorite Perpetrator) Said My Granite Doesn’t Require Sealing – Those of you that have read my previous work are probably sick of me harping on this, but I (unfortunately) hear this one more often than all others. It is the most damaging of all the granite maintenance malpractices you can commit if you rely on this unsound advice.

Interestingly, there are a couple of Internet “experts” who semi-endorse this fallacy (but will sell you their impregnator if you ABSOLUTELY, REALLY insist on having one, and theirs lasts FOREVER… Hilarious!). One even goes so far as to state that the physical properties of granite dictate it never needs to be sealed (funny, they also have a “lifetime” sealer for sale two paragraphs later).

I was in recently in Los Angeles, visiting a property manager who had stains in approximately 1/3 of the 305 commercial granite counters they recently installed in their newly renovated luxury apartments. I wish I could have brought the naysayers with me so they could convince the distraught maintenance folks that those oil and wine stains were only figments of their imagination…

From the contractor perspective, back in the bad old days, impregnators were primarily based on silicone derivatives. While fantastic against water, they were (and are) poor performers against oil-based stains. Additionally, if they were over-applied, the impregnator residues on the surface of the stone would also absorb oil. Double whammy. Here’s the logic: If it’s a given that oil stains are the worst to remove, and if the impregnator won’t stop them anyway, why bother? That was in the late ’80s – this is 2007, and we have technology that will stop oil staining dead in its tracks. Like all misinformation, it has a little root in fact, and it dies slowly.

The Internet folks have different motivations. Either they are:

A: trying to sell you granite slabs by disavowing any faults commercial granite has, or

B: using reverse psychology sales techniques (poorly, I might add) to sell you their impregnator.

2.) My Neighbor Told Me My Granite Isn’t Safe Because it Harbors and Grows High Amounts of Bacteria – This one is still circulating even though it has been proven false numerous times by both government and industry organizations. Please allow me the opportunity to set the record straight on this one, once and for all – it is absolute rubbish. In fact, properly maintained commercial granite surfaces are some of the most sanitary you can buy. Like all other food prep surfaces, commercial granite should be properly cleaned.

It is widely held that the manufacturers of man-made counter top materials started these rumors, although no solid proof exists. In summary, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has given commercial granite a clean bill of health, as has the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

3.) Someone Told Me My Granite Emits Radon Gas and is Radioactive – A little bent science goes a long way… Minuscule amounts of radon gas are emitted by nearly any type of stone found where uranium is present, and trace amounts of uranium can be found nearly anyplace you find stone. Bottom line? There are no health or safety risks associated with the release of radon gas or radioactivity from commercial granite.

As a matter of note, concrete, cement, and gypsum all release as much or more radon gas than commercial granite, and there is no health risk associated with them, either. It is also believed that a manufacturer of man-made counter top materials started this rumor.

4.) I Was Told to Clean My Granite With Just Soap and Water – This one has a couple of variants floating around, including specifically using dish detergent (and a special brand, I might add) or plain water. Will doing this harm your commercial granite? No, it won’t. Will it impact the way it looks? Yes, it will.

If you were to wash your windows with plain “soap and water” (or dish detergent,  or plain water) and a sponge, I guarantee that you will not be pleased with their appearance.

With this in mind, it is best to perform routine cleaning of your commercial granite with a product that is specifically designed for use on natural stone. Using soap, dishwashing detergent, or non stone-specific cleaners will leave your commercial granite looking dull and lifeless.

5.) Somebody Told Me the Shine Will Wear Off My Granite, and It Will Require Re-Polishing – Unless you are playing roller hockey on your commercial granite surfaces, it is highly unlikely you will need to have them re-polished. I have seen very isolated instances (all of them on very dark “granite”) where the surface actually deteriorated under normal use and required re-polishing. In reality, these stones were suspect to begin with, as it was unlikely that they met a 5.5 rating (the minimum hardness allowed) on Mohs’s Scale of Hardness. Good quality commercial granite, properly maintained, will not permanently lose its shine for a long, long, time – even under heavy (but considerate) use.

If your granite has been waxed, then the “shiny” will wear off, and you will need to re-wax them. Waxing of commercial granite is generally NOT RECOMMENDED, so do it only if your surfaces were previously waxed to provide their final gloss.

Most shine and reflectivity loss is caused by the use of improper cleaning chemicals, improper cleaning methods, or both. As I mentioned earlier, if you need a demonstration of what soap and water do to the appearance of your commercial granite, just wash your windows with (fill in your favorite “soap” here), water and a sponge. “Soap and water” leave residues on the stone that will eventually dull the finish.

The good news is that dulling from surface residue is not permanent. It can be removed using a high alkaline content cleaner designed for natural stone. In some instances, calcification (mineral deposits from evaporated water) will dull surface areas, especially around faucets and fixtures. These deposits may also be quickly, easily, and safely removed.

I also recommend the weekly (or whenever you want to) use of “vanity” products to increase the gloss and improve the general appearance of your commercial granite. These products provide the additional benefits of reducing water spotting and fingerprints on polished surfaces.

6.) Practices & Products

At the end of the day, it all boils down to this:

- Keep your commercial granite properly impregnated (sealed).
- Clean up spills and contamination in a timely manner.
- Do not use sharp implements on your commercial granite.
- Do not place extremely hot items on your granite.
- Use quality products, specifically designed for commercial granite.