Surface style
With a variety of colours, veinings and textured undulations, stone is a timeless flooring choice that will work in most rooms of the home. We’ve rounded up the best options
Smooth underfoot
Formed of sand that has been deposited and compressed, sandstone is an extremely hard material that also has beautiful surface details. It is, however, very porous and so benefits from priming with a suitable sealant to ensure its longevity. Opting for a riven finish, like these London White sandstone tiles, £94.80 per m² from Lapicida, highlights the depth and character of the tiles, while selecting a lighter shade helps to brighten the room and create a welcoming feel. ➤
Natural selection
Left: A cost-effective option that is durable and in keeping with a rustic design, slate is a characterful choice for a period home. It is also a good conductor of heat, so works brilliantly with underfloor heating. Uncalibrated slate has not been levelled and so requires ‘bedding up’ on installation to ensure a level finish, meaning the fitting is best left to a professional. However, calibrated tiles, like these Sheera natural slate modular tiles, £29.85 per m² from Topps Tiles, are pre-levelled and showcase the rich earthy colours in a distinctive layout.
Effortless sophistication
Right: An authentic stone floor will always have slight colour variations, as the material has been subject to a unique natural formation process. The tonal quality of this near-black flagstone flooring from Fired Earth has a sophisticated, glassy finish that creates a beautiful soft lustre effect. Its dark shade makes it a practical option for high-traffic rooms, such as hallways and kitchens, as it is less prone to marking and staining. Honed Carnforth Leighton flagstone flooring is priced at £64.90 per m².
Country charm
Travertine flooring is known for its honeycomb structure and visible surface pitting, which adds a unique quality to each individual tile and creates an impressive overall appearance. Bear in mind that previously unexposed holes may become visible through general usage and will need refilling with a suitable resin. Byzantine Bronze tumbled travertine for Original Style’s Earthworks collection costs £59.95 per m².
Weathered path
Above: Opting for reclaimed stone enables you to get the closest you can to a traditional floor that has been walked on for centuries. Ribble Reclamation ensures its flagstones retain their natural foot-worn patina, resulting in a floor that looks as though it could be original to the property. These reclaimed Yorkstone flags cost £200 per m2. It is essential to use a good sealer on the stone to prevent degradation; selecting a sealer with a matt finish helps to retain the floor’s authentic aged appearance.
Classic update
Right: Limestone ages beautifully, making it a popular choice for traditional and modern homes alike, although its slightly worn finish makes it particularly well suited to rustic cottages. Opting for a darker shade of limestone, like these worn grey tiles, £49 per m² from Floors of Stone, adds an on-trend touch to a kitchen, while making it less susceptible to staining and marks than lightercoloured alternatives.
Versatile option
Left: There is a limestone floor to suit any room and any taste. Coming in a range of natural colours, from sand to black, limestone has a variety of patterns, veining and striations. Some options also feature fossilised shells, which add a unique quality to the floor. A degree of chipping and surface pitting should be expected and helps to create a worn, aged effect, which brilliantly complements a period home. The Vieux Bourgogne Artisan Ancient limestone flooring in this open-plan kitchen is priced from £178.80 per m² from Artisans of Devizes. ➤
Affordable luxury
Right: Despite the many positives of a real marble floor, it is often accompanied by a high price tag, which becomes particularly notable when marble’s delicacy is taken into account. For a more affordable and hardwearing option that still allows you to achieve the gorgeous colour variation and veining effects of the stone, opt for a porcelain marble-effect floor. Created with a realistic Carrara veining and in an unusual hexagonal pattern, these Voronoi Anais marbleeffect tiles, £33.95 per m² from Wall & Floors, are exceptionally durable and low maintenance compared to the real thing.
Classical veining
Left: Used in ancient buildings for millennia, marble elevates any room and comes in a spectacular range of shades and veining. Particularly stunning in bathrooms, marble’s dense nature makes it perfect for polishing, with the glassy finish being a popular option, like the statuary marble flooring in this bathroom by Stone Age, £1,000 per m². However, marble also lends itself to being honed (where the surface of the stone has been ground to a smooth, flat, consistent surface) or tumbled (where tiles have been put in drums to soften and age the edges and surfaces) for a more rustic effect.
Perfectly pebbled
Left: Better suited to smaller spaces, a characterful, tactile floor is perfect for a bathroom or en suite. This Peppermint Pebble flooring, £49.29 per m² from Mandarin Stone, introduces plenty of colour variation, while the uniquely textured surface provides extra interest and luxury to your sanctuary.
Expert tips
Should I fit stone flooring on a DIY basis?
A capable DIYER could tackle this project, but I would still recommend seeking professional advice as flooring installation can be a lot more difficult than it first appears, and the technicalities, such a calibrating and sealing, can be quite complicated. When you are looking for an installer, opt for someone whose work you have seen or who has been recommended to you by a reliable source. Your supplier may be able to recommend a professional in your area. How can I prepare the floor underneath the stone? It is important that the substrate is prepared properly so that there is a stable base on which to lay the tiles. Usually, we recommend installing antifracture matting, which allows some movement under the floor and increases durability. However, different surfaces and different tiles both require different preparations, so again always take professional advice for your installation. Will the stone need sealing and finishing? Yes, all natural stone flooring will need sealing. After the tiles have been laid and cleaned, apply one coat of sealer before grouting them. Once the grout is dry and the floor has been thoroughly cleaned with a special stone cleaner, apply a second coat of sealer to protect the grout and prevent further degradation. There are many different sealing products on the market and, as with most things in life, you usually get what you pay for. It’s worth spending a bit more and getting a good-quality sealer as it will last longer and need reapplying less frequently.