SUEDESTONE HOMEWhy do people choose natural stone tiles?

What is the difference between 1st and 2nd Grade Stone?

Why is SuedeStone so cheap?

Do natural stone tiles require maintenance?

Is polished marble slippy?

What are tiles composed of?

Are there specific stones better suited to different locations – such as the kitchen?

Are there fashions in tiles?

Are mosaics popular?

How can I be sure that the colour and veining characteristics of the natural stone I specify will be what I want?

Will a large tile make my room look bigger?

Can wall tiles be used on the floor?

Can floor tiles be used on the wall?

Can I tile over existing tiles?

What preparation is required for tiling?

Is the right adhesive important?

How does an impregnator help to protect natural stone from staining?

Is it possible to tile onto a wooden floor?

How do I calculate the quantity of tiles that I need to order?

Can underfloor heating be used with tiles?

What is the difference between polished, honed, brushed and hammered finishes?

Why do people choose natural stone tiles?

There are numerous advantages to using natural stone such as marble or granite in place of synthetic materials such as porcelain, concrete or ceramic tile. Natural stone is durable, long-lasting and the colour selection is generally far more extensive. Most people consider natural stone more expensive than it actually is. Not only can natural stone be affordable but its resilience proves cost effective over time. On the other hand, synthetic material requires periodic replacement and costly repairs. At "Suede Stone", we pride ourselves on the ability to offer quality marble, travertine and granite products at affordable prices that are often lower than those of synthetic products.

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What is the difference between 1st and 2nd Grade Stone?

1st Grade stone is more expensive, it should contain less filler and each tile should look fairly uniform throughout. 2nd Grade stone is much cheaper but may often be just as good however the tiles will not be as uniform throughout. With regards to Travertine grade is more important. 1st Grade Travertine contains less filler, and will wear better in the long run.

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Why is SuedeStone so cheap?

Believe it or not we often get asked how come SuedeStone is so cheap? Well there are two main reasons: 1 - We import directly from the quarry where-ever that maybe, cutting out the middleman and cutting down on costs. 2 - We own our own premises out in the country, we are a family run business, so our overheads are very small, you are not paying for a big shiny fancy showroom.

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Do natural stone tiles require maintenance?

All stone installations need a certain degree of maintenance. Normal maintenance requirements are similar to wood floors or carpet where routine sweeping or vacuuming is done to remove dirt. Stone surfaces should be resealed when water no longer beads on the surface. The frequency of resealing will depend on traffic and use. Stone, as a natural product, will age and patina over time adding to its beauty and character.

Sealing stone is strongly recommended as it will create a barrier between the stone and dirt and stains. Any staining agent that comes into contact with the stone should be removed immediately. Sealant and cleaner should be included on every stone order.

Sealant is easy to apply. Use a sponge brush, paint brush, or roller to spread it evenly over the surface of the stone.

When purchasing natural stone materials, it is important to establish exactly what maintenance is required and which products need to be used. The supplier can provide you with this information when making your purchase.
The use of a floor mat in entrance areas protects the tiles from abrasive dirt and grit.

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Is polished marble slippy?

All natural stone has an inherently better grip than man made materials. However, the more highly polished a surface is the more slippery it can be. In general polished marble is no more slippy than shiny ceramic tiles.

Think of all the luxury hotels you have been in, the most popular flooring in these hotels in often polished marble. This in itself is a testament to the safety of stone flooring.

Most floors are slippery when wet, if safety is of great importance to you then we can supply any stone of your choice in a honed finish which has extremely good grip.

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What are tiles composed of?

Stone tiles can be made from many kinds of rocks; limestone, marble, travertine, sandstone etc. The colour and textures of each rock can vary from region to region.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock, formed by the consolidation of sea shells and is usually light in colour.

Marble is a metamorphic rock, which was once limestone, but was put under great heat and pressure. Marble encompasses a vast spectrum of colours from white to black, with mineral veining generally contrasting with base stone colour.

Sandstone is a coarse-grained sedimentary rock formed by compressed sand, commonly characterised by its granular surface.

Travertine is usually a cream or brown colour. It is formed through the accumulation of calcite from hot springs. It contains lots of holes that were formed from water flowing through the stone.

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Are there specific stones better suited to different locations – such as the kitchen?

The best way for us to advise you is via a personal consultation. We can discuss your wishes and needs with you, and assess the project area. Please contact us to arrange a consultation.

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Are there fashions in tiles?

Soft, natural tones continue to be extremely popular. Amongst the strong colours that are currently in vogue are mochas, coffees and dark greys.

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Are mosaics popular?

Mosaics continue to increase in popularity with new varieties becoming available including natural stone pebbles, stainless steel mosaics and iridescent glass mosaics. They are very decorative features and can be combined with plain tiles to create mirror frames and borders. Mosaics are an ideal material for tiling curved surfaces such as pillars.

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How can I be sure that the colour and veining characteristics of the natural stone I specify will be what I want?

That depends on a number of factors. The best way would be to inspect as much material as you need to make you feel comfortable. We suggest that what is most important is that you have a supplier who you can trust, and who is willing and able to communicate the stone's variation. Always view full size tiles, and not specify a stone purely from a small chip. Sometimes it is important that the supplier provide samples showing variation, which can be used to communicate the potential colour range. In general, we believe that it is important for designers and architects to understand that stone, as a natural material, is beautiful because of its variation, and that trying to control mother nature can be difficult, and sometimes, impossible.

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Will a large tile make my room look bigger?

Generally, a small tile will give the impression of more space whereas a large tile needs a bigger area to show it off properly. However, when laying stone tiles the fitter should fit the tiles so that there approx only a 2mm grout line visible at any time. This gives the effect of one large slab of marble/travertine/limestone so the size of the tile isn't as important as when laying ceramic or porcelain. The colour and finish of the tile as well as the shape of the room also need to be considered. However, it really is a question of personal preference. Exploration of these options are part of our service to you. Contact us for a personal consultation.

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Can wall tiles be used on the floor?

Generally, wall tiles cannot be used on the floor. However, there are exceptions. It is always best to ask an expert.

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Can floor tiles be used on the wall?

Yes, floor tiles are commonly used on walls. However, stone tiles may be too heavy for the wall to which they are being fixed. Generally we only recommend fitting stone floor tiles to solid block walls. It is important to discuss this with an expert when purchasing the tiles as special adhesive may be required or the tile may be unsuitable.

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Can I tile over existing tiles?

Yes, you can tile over existing tiles provided they are not loose and don't have any cracks. The surface of the existing tiles must be clean, level and free of grease and a special flexible adhesive must be used. If the existing tiles are glazed, scratch the surface first to provide grip for the adhesive to bond to. Tiling onto old floor tiles may affect doors and saddle boards.

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What preparation is required for tiling?

The surface should be solid, smooth, level and free from dust and grit.

SuedeStone can recommend a fitter if required.

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Is the right adhesive important?

It is important that the correct adhesive is used, as different surfaces require different adhesives e.g. underfloor heating requires a high spec flexible adhesive. SuedeStone can provide you with a suitable adhesive for your project.

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How does an impregnator help to protect natural stone from staining?

The solid part of silicone impregnators are microscopic balls of silicone that attach themselves to the crevices inside the stone. These balls of silicone are negatively charged, which means they repel each other so that they cannot combine in one big ball of silicone. Once they are attached to the stone, these balls become a permanent part of the stone, and give out a magnetic charge, which creates an invisible "umbrella" between the balls. These microscopic umbrellas act as shields when a much larger drop of liquid lands on them. They hold the liquid up, and prevent it from penetrating the stone.

The liquid part of the impregnator, is usually either mineral or water based, and acts as the carrier that brings the silicone to the stone and has it penetrate deep into the stone.
It is important to note that there is no sealer on the market capable of protecting from acid attack.

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Is it possible to tile onto a wooden floor?
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Yes. However, there are some precautions which must be taken. The wooden floor must be overlayed with at least WBP grade plywood. Marine ply is best. It must have a minimum thickness of 19mm, screwed down (not nailed) at 150mm spaces. This should be fitted by a professional carpenter. All timber surfaces should be primed on the under side and on all edges. A high spec flexible adhesive must be used. This must be checked with a professional tiler.

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How do I calculate the quantity of tiles that I need to order?

All areas to be tiled should be measured length by breadth and an allowance of eight to ten percent should be made for cutting and wastage.

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Can underfloor heating be used with tiles?

Underfloor heating is an ideal, inexpensive heating system when using natural stone tiles. Natural stone tiles are great conductors of heat. They also cool slowly, giving off heat as they cool, like a large storage heater!

Special adhesives are required for use with underfloor heating.

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What is the difference between polished, honed, brushed and hammered finishes?

A polished finish is a tile which has a shiny surface.
A honed finish is a tile which has a mat surface.
A brushed finish or sometimes called "antiqued" is a tile which has a textured surface similar to leather.
A hammered finish is a tile which has a pitted surface.

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