Fundamental Questions You Have To Ask When Shopping For Stone

Choosing to use stone and picking the kind you want to use is much more complicated than selecting a finish. This is mostly because stone is a natural material. Its appearance, durability as well as production will vary significantly depending on the quarry it is extracted from. The pressure is even more when considering that picking the wrong stone will cause other problems such as ineffective floor heating systems performance. All in all, there are a few questions you need to ask when shopping for a stone.

HOW THICK SHOULD THE STONE BE?

The correct thickness of stone will depend on where you want to use it. For the interior wall and floor tiles, the recommended thickness is 3/8 inches. The countertop slabs will be between ¾ inches and 1 ¼ inches thick. If you are looking for a stone for exterior heated floors, you need one that is at least 1 ½ inches thick. The floor tiles need to be selected early in the process. You also need materials that are of consistent thickness.

IS THERE ANY FISSURE?

This is a question you need to ask when buying stone for every use and not just the countertop slabs. Fissures are natural weak points in stone and appear as hairline cracks. Fissures may keep you from using cut stones more so if the cracks will cause performance issues. Stones with fissures can break in fabrication or during cutting.

WHAT IS THE FINISH?

Even when choosing stone for floor heating, you want to make sure that you end up with something that is aesthetically appealing. This is why you need to consider the finish on the stones. The common finishes are polished and honed. Honed ones have a texture that reduces reflection. Heavier textures are created using acids, heat and buffing. Your choice will depend on your preference. Always have you desired theme in mind when picking a finish.

HOW WELL WITH THE SAMPLES MATCH WHAT YOU FINALLY GET?

Stone varies in color. It is good to get larger sampling of what is already in stock. This means getting at least 5 to 10 pieces. Doing so will help you know what you can expect to get in a standard box.

IS THE STONE STRONG ENOUGH?

When choosing stone for your warm floors, you need to make sure that the stone will be strong enough to span considerable lengths. In the case of countertops, they are often designed to span substantial distances. Manufacturers usually have a specific maximum span. You may get a range of solutions from the fabricator when it comes to stone.

HOW POROUS IS THE STONE?

Stones are not formed equally. Marble and limestone are a little bit more porous than most other stones. They are more likely to soak in stains from things like coffee and red wine. Acid substances will be able to etch surfaces easily. You need to consider how you will use the stone before committing.

Additional questions you should ask are whether the stone will hold up, what the source is and whether you should seal or not. These questions will keep you from making a mistake when shopping for stone.