NATURAL STONE TILE
Does natural stone tile need to be sealed? If you are considering having a new floor installed in your home or office, whether it is a bathroom, kitchen, fireplace or some other area, you might be wondering if natural stone tile needs to be sealed. After all, most of the time when you buy something such as granite, limestone, slate or any other type of natural stone tile, you will be able to seal it in order to protect it from moisture and water damage. Why would the makers of the tiles want to allow the sealant to come out and then leave it in place? Well, sealing the tiles will help to prevent any future problems with staining, chipping, breaking or cupping. In addition, sealing the tiles will also give your guests the assurance that the tiles were sealed with an expert's sealant, protecting them from possible damage and stains. So, how do you know if you need to have your natural stone tile sealed? First, it is a good idea to have your tiles sealed at the time of installation. Most tile installation companies will be happy to take your order and have the tiles sealed for you at the time of installation. If you want the job to be as professional as possible, you should discuss it ahead of time with the installer. Any tile installation company that is worth doing business with should have no problem at all fulfilling your request.But, if you decide that you are going to seal your own natural stone tile, then you need to make sure that you know what you are doing. It is recommended that you seal the tiles after cleaning them. The reason for this is that the oils left behind in your tile after cleaning can seep into the pores of the stone and cause the sealant to lose its effectiveness. Plus, if the cleaning products are left on the tile for too long, the sealant will become ineffective as well. If you don't feel comfortable with the idea of sealing your own tile, then just look for a professional who can do it for you. Is natural stone more expensive than ceramic tile? Many homeowners are under the impression that natural stone is more expensive than ceramic tiles. This is because natural stone can be mined from deeper within the earth, whereas ceramic tiles come from a surface that has been processed. The natural stone market is larger than ceramic tiles and there are many manufacturers to choose from. It is important to do some research to find out if a natural stone product is the best option for your needs. One thing to keep in mind is that it can take years to fully develop a naturally formed stone tile. Ceramic tiles are mass produced and come right out of the factory. This means you have immediate access to them. On the other hand, natural stones can take years to form and there may be a wait before you actually receive your tile.Once you decide that natural stone is the right choice for you then you need to learn how to install it properly. It is not as simple as just troweling it down. You must learn to prepare the area, including leveling and repaving, and then follow the installation instructions carefully. By doing so, you will save money and get a beautiful natural stone product which will last for a long time. How can you tell if tile is natural stone? If you walk into a home that has tile in it you will be amazed at the diversity of styles, colors and materials these tiles are made of. Tiles have been used in homes and buildings for many decades and they are constantly being recreated and adapted to provide architects and designers with endless possibilities. When you see tiles you automatically have an image of something timeless and elegant, but this is not always the case. There are many styles of tiles ranging from modern, cottage, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco. The material that tile is made of can give you a lot of clues about what the file actually is. Here are some examples of how you can tell if the tile you are walking on is natural stone or not. Marble & Granite - These are both types of natural stone but the look of granite is much different than the appearance of marble. Marble is a form of limestone while granite is a form of dolomite. Marble is almost always smoother and lighter than granite. This makes granite a better choice for floors while marble may be a good choice for walls as it is harder and considered to be more durable. Porcelain and Other Non Terraforming Materials - These materials such as terracotta and clay forms of natural stone, but they are usually much more porous and even toxic to animals. When tiles made of these materials are placed on floors, they are more likely to absorb the odor of the home and the animal that walked on it. Other materials such as ceramic tile are not
porous and the staining agent or coloring in the tile itself doesn't absorb into the porous material. Therefore, it is safe to assume that ceramic tile is a natural stone. To know the difference between these types of tiles you need to read about the characteristics of natural stones versus Porcelain tile.
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