There’s nothing quite like natural stone, particularly when it comes to tiling. Unlike ceramic, which is melded together to form a shape, stone is quarried out of the ground in one great slab. It’s something beautiful that Mother Nature has made, and reluctantly surrendered, then shaped into specific sizes.
Granite, marble, slate, travertine and limestone all fit into this category and have been used traditionally for thousands of years. Each has its own unique qualities (marble is renowned for its timeless beauty, granite for its hardness and slate for its durability), but unlike their composite ceramic cousins are more expensive.
The pedigree of floor tiles, stone boasts a high price tag and, befitting of its elevated status, can be temperamental. Stone is more difficult to lay and requires regular sealing, but its luxurious finish is often the choice of a high-end interior designer.