FAQ'S ABOUT USING STONE IN YOUR HOME
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Article by: Kim Keefer 1.Q.IS NATURAL STONE A GOOD CHOICE FOR HOME USE? A.YES. Natural , Forehead Jewelry is Not Anti American stone is a terrific (not to mention beautiful) material to use in all areas of your home. , The Gardening Tool You Need Knowing the different types of stone, , Are Your Clients Buying What You're Selling their finishes and applications will help you to make an informed decision on which stone , The Dawn Redwood Tree - Beyond Fast Growing is the best for your project. 2.Q.CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT FINISHES FOR STONE? A.There are many finishes and options available. Here are the most widely used: Polished : A high gloss surface. Honed : Smooth with squared edges and without a polished surface. Tumbled : Lightly tumbled to achieve rounded edges and a surface that is not as smooth as honed. Antique Tumbled : Medium tumble edges and surface to achieve a slight rustic , Choosing the Right Wallpaper look. Cobbled or Distressed : Heavily tumbled edges and surface to achieve an aged or ancient look. Brushed : Acid washed and wire brushed for a smooth textured surface. Flamed : Blow torched for a rough textured surface. 3.Q.DOESN'T STONE STAIN? I DON'T WANT STAINS! A.YES. All natural , Planning A Flower Garden stone can stain and etch (a dull spot in a polished or honed surface), including GRANITES. Sealers DO NOT prevent staining as they are a moisture , Planting the Sunset Red Maple Tree barrier only, yet they will help to give you a small amount of time to wipe up spills. It is nearly impossible to prevent staining or etching, but serious stains can be almost completely removed and any etching can be resurfaced if either is truly bothersome to you. To help keep a perspective on choosing to use natural , Shower curtains can give your bathroom a quick and easy make stone, remember the following: 1.For centuries, many European countries have used natural stone , Plants and Trees Native to North Penn Township Pa. from floor , Growing Fruit Trees and Citrus Trees to ceiling, inside , Vegetable Gardens & Organic Matter and out. The stone becomes stained, cracked, pitted…and that is why we love it! These characteristics only make it that much more beautiful. , Contemporary floor lamps - Add functional modern lighting! (Only we Americans get uptight about such things!) 2.Because stone , Organic Roses in the Flower Garden is quarried from the earth , A Guide to Antique Sewing Machines and not "man" made, it is improbable to ever find two exact matching tiles or matching slabs for that matter. One slab may even look different from each end of itself. That is also the beauty because each piece is different, but when pieces are put together as a whole it is a masterpiece! (Be sure to purchase enough to complete your project as you may not be able to get more from the same lot.) 3.Stone is timeless. It does not get dated like the 70's Avocado Green , Tips on Dealing with Slugs and Snails in the Garden and Harvest Gold decor , I Love Flowers did. 4.Stone will last longer than any of us will. There are centuries old castles, made of 100% stone , Arborvitae - Plants for The Quakertown Pa. Area and still standing today! 5.It is a natural , Growing Fruit Trees and Citrus Trees resource that will never run out. 6.The more it is used, the faster a "Patina" (light sheen on the surface) will develop. The "Patina" will also aid to prevent staining to a lesser degree. 4.Q.WHAT IS THE BEST STONE TO USE IN MY HOME? A.It is really a matter of choice and the look you want to achieve. These are questions to ask yourself , How To Decorate Your Garden With Blue Flowers when making your decision: Is it beautiful to you? Do you love it? Could you live with it for years? The best advice , Planning A Flower Garden that I can ever give to anyone choosing stone , Award Winning Shade Garden Perennial is: Go with what you are drawn to from the beginning. First, because you will only spend a lot of time and become confused when laboring over the "right" decision by looking at many different stones , Arborvitae - Plants for The Quakertown Pa. Area and colors; secondly, you will probably not be happy with your selection if you have to settle on something else. Reviewing the following most used stone types will help when you are ready to make your choice. GRANITES : Granites usually have a "spattered" or "swirled" grain and can contain many colors , Tips On How To Care For Fresh Cut Tropicals (minerals). Generally, granites have a polished finished and have a "busy" look, but to keep up with current trends, more manufacturers , Tips For Buying Lawn Tractors are producing honed (smooth & unpolished) and flamed (rough textured) surfaces. Granites may be purchased in slab and dimensional tile , Orchid Care: How Orchids Grow form and can be used in almost any application. It has become ever popular as it is being used frequently in newly built tract housing, apartment/condominium complexes and commercial buildings. , Choosing the Right Wallpaper Granites are imported from many countries and have just as many colors and sizes to choose from. A note in using polished granite is to know that it can be slippery to walk on until a patina builds on it. As with any other commodity, stone , Arborvitae - Plants for The Quakertown Pa. Area is also graded for quality standards. Be wary if it is extremely inexpensive…(less than $7.00 per square foot unless you are buying a large quantity.) The price ranges in granites can be anywhere in between $8.00 to $90.00 per square foot, depending on the color, , Inspecting your plumbing rarity and where the stone , Are You Hiring The Wrong Florist? comes from. The "blue" stones, , Tips For Buying Lawn Tractors containing minerals/gems such as sodalite are usually in the higher priced ranges. LIMESTONES : There are many types of limestone available and vary to many degrees, depending upon where it comes from. Unpopular to belief, limestone is also a perfectly suitable stone , Working with Landscape Contractors to use in all areas of your home. , "DECORATING YOUR ENTRANCE FOYER" Most limestones have softer earth , A New Model for High School Curriculum tone colors; may contain a "swirl" veining movement throughout; can contain fossils; or may have a light , Buying and planting bulbs the right way speckled grain. Limestones, just like granite or any other natural , Internet Marketing and Advertising for the Green Industry stone can stain, etch or get scratched, but again, you should not use natural , 16 Lawn Mower Safety Tips stone if this will bother you. Limestone also is widely available in dimensional tile , Are You Hiring The Wrong Florist? and slab form. This stone , A New Model for High School Curriculum is used most frequently in higher-end homes, , Looking for a pump for your pond? architectural designs , Internet Marketing and Advertising for the Green Industry and commercial applications as it is easy to work with, the colors , Vegetable Gardens & Organic Matter are muted compared to granites, it is available in as many finishes and textures as granite and it is still relatively new to the market. It is still considered to be a "custom" choice, as it has not reached the overuse level of granite. Some limestones from countries such as France and Portugal can be somewhat porous but are perfect for flooring, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and outdoor , Growing Fruit Trees and Citrus Trees uses. Limestone from countries such as the US and Israel (Jerusalem Stone) are generally heavier and usually as dense as granite, which makes it suitable for almost every application. SLATES : Slate used to be used mainly for chalkboard, billiard tables, science lab areas and roof tiles. , A Look at Cheap Flower Deliveries However, in recent years it has become more popular for residential use in most applications, with the exception of fabricated counter tops. Slate tiles , Planning A Flower Garden are generally rough in surface texture, with the exception of the tumbled version. Most slates are available in a wide variety of sizes in dimensional tiles; a few in slab form and most can be gotten in crates of random pieces like flagstone. It is a perfect stone for water , Are You Hiring The Wrong Florist? areas such as showers , 8 Tips To Get Your Kids Enjoy Home Gardening & spas, patio/driveway areas, pool surrounds and roofing , Fall is the Perfect Time to Organize Your Garage applications. Most slates contain a huge variation of color, , The Beauty of a Contemporary Ceiling Fan even within the same lot and some will even look to have been stained from spills of red wine, which is not the case. This is caused from earth , Should You Buy a House or a Condo? minerals such as iron and only adds to the beauty of the stone. , Five Ways to Create a Healthy Home Slate holds onto heat , I Love Flowers well, which is another reason besides being fire , Buying and planting bulbs the right way proof; it is widely used as roofing , The Birth of a Small Container Flower Garden material. (Use light , Tips For Buying Lawn Tractors colors in outdoor , Buying and planting bulbs the right way areas where you may be walking barefoot!) Since slates have a softer property, , Emerald Green Arborvitae for Lahaska Pa. be aware that it can shale off the surface more easily. This will not harm it per se, but may cause you concern if you are not aware that it happens. One of the difficulties of slate is that it is varied in thickness. Because of the shale properties, , The Beauty of a Contemporary Ceiling Fan it is very difficult to cut evenly. Generally, manufacturers , Catching Crooked Contractors: will cut them with a "gauged" thickness or "sawn back" treatment, leaving one side smoother. Because of the varied thickness between each piece of tile, , Buying and planting bulbs the right way specific sized installations may be more of a challenge, so expect your installer costs to be a bit higher. Slate itself is generally a less costlier stone. , A Guide to Antique Sewing Machines Expect anywhere from $4.00 - $8.00 per square foot, dependent upon the grade and country of origin. Again, beware of any extremely inexpensive prices and be sure to check the quality of the slate to be sure that it has not been filled with dyes. Test by holding a piece under running water , Orchid Care: How Orchids Grow for a few minutes and also by putting a few tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice on it and wiping off. If any color , I Love Flowers comes off, return it immediately! Just a note: I only recommend using any acidic solution on stone , Forehead Jewelry is Not Anti American in this instance for testing purposes only. MARBLE : Most people are familiar with marble in many uses. From Greek statues to Roman baths, marble has been used for centuries in just about every possible application, both interior , The Birth of a Small Container Flower Garden and exterior. Marble has the same general properties , Tips On How To Care For Fresh Cut Tropicals of limestone and can stain, etch or scratch, but it only becomes more beautiful , Are Your Clients Buying What You're Selling over time and use. It is readily available in just about every color, , Vegetable Gardens & Organic Matter size, finish and texture known to man. Most marbles have a veining of a mineral throughout them and are generally thought to be from Italy, but it in actually it is quarried from all over the world. Tumbled marble has become extremely popular in the United States in the last few years for backsplash, flooring , Tips For Growing Acid Loving Plants in Bucks County and shower areas. Prices range from $6.00 - $30.00 per square foot, again dependent upon the rarity, color , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe and country of origin. A couple of drawbacks to marble to be aware of is: 1. Green , Orchid Care: How Orchids Grow marbles containing serpentine need to be installed in water , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe areas with specific setting guidelines that your installer should know of as water can warp and break apart green , Adding Beauty To Your Garden With An Arbor marbles; 2. Polished marble can be slippery to walk upon until a patina has built up on the surface. TRAVERTINE : Travertine is marble, except it is filled with "holes." To understand what causes the holes, think of it this way…wherever a river or stream was prior to the marble being quarried is where you will find travertine. Because of the holes, people can be scared off because travertine is generally thought to be more porous and not suitable for residential use. This is not the case, as all of those holes become filled in with grout during installation, giving it a very unique look. The same travertine can be used in two separate areas but appear another way just by using two different grout colors! , How To Decorate Your Garden With Blue Flowers Travertine can be purchased with the holes pre-filled, but in my experience with it, I don't recommend it. In general, the epoxy fill that is used has a color , Planting the Sunset Red Maple Tree to it that does not look natural , Should You Buy a House or a Condo? to the stone , Types Of Lawn Mower Batteries and it has a tendency to come out after a short amount of time in high traffic areas. Expect to pay anywhere from $5.00 : $15.00 per square foot. 5.Q.IS STONE MORE DIFFICULT OR COSTLY TO INSTALL THAN CERAMIC TILE? A.On the whole, it is not more difficult to install. There are exceptions of course such as the difficulties with thickness gauges, which takes more time in lying out and whether a complex pattern is being used. As for cost it is generally not more expensive except for time spent on laying out patterns and the thickness gauging again, at least for the tile contractors , Vegetable Gardens & Organic Matter I have worked on projects with. The setting supplies and procedures are the same, but stone , Catching Crooked Contractors: is heavier to work with. I suggest talking it over with your installer and also taking the time to look at previous jobs he or she has installed if possible. I will be giving tips , Award Winning Shade Garden Perennial on selecting a tile , Internet Marketing and Advertising for the Green Industry contractor/installer in my next article. 6.Q.CAN A STONE DESIGN BE USED OR MIXED WITH OTHER KINDS OF MATERIALS? A.Absolutely! The possibilities are endless. You can incorporate stone , 8 Tips To Get Your Kids Enjoy Home Gardening with ceramic, porcelain, glass, , Shower curtains can give your bathroom a quick and easy make and terracotta…anything you can think of, even mixing different types of stones , Bonsai Tree Forum: Bonsai Basics together. 7.Q.HOW DO I FIGURE THE QUANTITY THAT I WILL NEED? A.Generally, tile , The Birth of a Small Container Flower Garden and stone , Selling Your Home - A FSBO's Guide to Keeping It Safe for a "field" area is figured by the square foot. To figure square footage, measure the area that you will be putting the tile , Growing Fruit Trees and Citrus Trees with a tape measure. Examples: 1.You measure your room , Are You Hiring The Wrong Florist? and it comes out to be 10-1/2 feet wide by 15-3/4 feet long…you would calculate it by multiplying 10.5x15.75 = 165.38. Round this number off to the closest whole number (165). I suggest adding on a 10-15% overage to plan , Catching Crooked Contractors: for cuts, breakage and a little extra to store in case a piece needs to be replaced later in time. 2.You measure your wall , Buying and planting bulbs the right way area to be covered and you get 18" tall and 33" long. Multiply 18x33 = 594". Now divide that number by 144, resulting in 4.13sf. (There are 144 sq. inches per square foot). Again, round it off and add on for overage. When figuring for decorative tile , How To Decorate Your Garden With Blue Flowers or trim, it is usually by the piece and calculated by the lineal foot. For slabs, it is best to let your fabricator figure the quantity for you. 8.Q.WHAT SIZE GROUT JOINTS SHOULD I USE? A.Again, this is a matter of choice and the look you prefer. Honed stone , Tips On How To Care For Fresh Cut Tropicals can usually be butt jointed (tight to each other) with very little grout showing if you want to see less grout or a grid pattern; tumbled stone , Contemporary floor lamps - Add functional modern lighting! usually has a 1/8" to 1/4" grout joint which will show off the edges more. 9.Q.CAN YOU HELP ME WITH DESIGNING MY STONE LAYOUT? A.Yes, I can! I charge an hourly fee of $75 and I will need several things from you: 1.A copy of your blueprints, including the elevations if you have them and the area to be tiled clearly marked; or a drawing of the area, including the dimensions and the area to be tiled shown. Make sure to specify what room/location it is, if it is not marked on the blueprint. 2.The style of home , Tips For Growing Acid Loving Plants in Bucks County you have; or the look you prefer, i.e.…rustic, contemporary, elegant, traditional… 3.Whether or not you have already chosen your stone. , Internet Marketing and Advertising for the Green Industry If so, what did you pick and what size? If not, do you want me to make suggestions for you? If yes, do you have a set budget? 4.Will you want to use decorative trim pieces? If so, did you choose one yet? What are the dimensions of a piece(s)? About the Author Kim has worked in the Building , A Look at Duvet Cover Sets Industry for 19 years and has specialized in tile , Tips on Dealing with Slugs and Snails in the Garden and stone , The Best Online Slot Machines Around for the last 5, with emphasis on end-user and tile , 16 Lawn Mower Safety Tips contractor drawing design , Should You Buy a House or a Condo? specifications and visualization. |
  
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