Among flooring materials, none is more elegant and luxurious than natural stone. It alludes to an assortment of mountain-conceived mineral substances that remain as opposed to any engineered or manufactured stone items. Common natural stone flooring includes slate, marble, limestone, travertine, granite, and sandstone

1. A Guide To
Natural Stone Flooring

2.  Among flooring materials, none is more elegant and
luxurious than natural stone
 It alludes to an assortment of mountain-conceived
mineral substances that remain as opposed to any
engineered or manufactured stone items
 Common natural stone flooring includes slate, marble,
limestone, travertine, granite, and sandstone

3. Factors to be considered
 Absorption Rating
 Grade
 Coefficient of Friction
 Indoor vs. Outdoor Rating
 Oxidation

4. Absorption Rating
 Refers to how porous is the given material
 The more absorbent it is, the more susceptible it will be
to stains, as well as cracking damage when subjected
to freezing conditions
 Natural stones shift incredibly in their absorption rates,
with sandstone being the most permeable to rock, which
is for all intents and purposes waterproof notwithstanding
when left unlocked

5.  Absorption rate can be classified as per the following
terms:
 Non-vitreous : Highest absorption level - should not be used in
any damp environment
 Semi-vitreous : Less absorbent - the more liquid they are
exposed to - the more maintenance they will require
 Vitreous : Standard absorption level - appropriate for most low to
mid traffic indoor and outdoor applications
 Impervious : Resistant to the absorption of liquids - easier to
maintain- often used in high - traffic commercial applications

6. Grade
 Can refer to the size, shape, and thickness of the tile, as
well as the condition of its surface
 Grade 1 refers to high quality, uniform materials
 Grade 2 consists of materials with minor defects, such as chips,
scratches, or irregular surfaces
 Grade 3 materials have major flaws in size, shape, surface, or
chipping, making them appropriate only as accent pieces, or in
certain rustic decorative applications

7. Coefficient of Friction
 Measures how slippery various materials are
 The higher the coefficient, the more traction a tile will
have
 This measure is especially important in moist
environments such as bathrooms and kitchens, as well
as high- traffic commercial areas

8. Indoor vs. Outdoor Rating
 Some natural stone flooring materials are more suited to
outdoor applications than others
 Non-vitreous materials will be subject to staining through
dirt and acid rain, as well as cracking when absorbed
materials freeze and expand
 Stones which have a low coefficient of friction will also
pose a slipping hazard during rain and snow storms

9. Oxidation
 Natural stone materials are formed beneath the earth
over millions of years, and often contain a variety of
disparate elements
 Sometimes iron is present in these materials, which can
manifest as bright red and amber hues in the surface of
the stone
 The problem in an outdoor environment is that those
traces of iron can oxidize, a process more commonly
known as rusting

10. Natural stone supplier in uae
Natural Stone TR. L.L.C
contactus@naturalstoneuae.com
Sharjah
P.O Box. 69128
United Arab Emirates