Picking the Proper Stone

[Macky]

I want to install approximately 1700 sq ft of some type of stone in my home. I don't want anything shiny and need for it to be strong enough to withstand dogs and kids. Could I ask for opinions about what type of stone and finish I should consider?

Thanks,
Mac

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[GraniteGirl]

A good quality honed and filled travertine. Be sure to select material with the minimum of fill. Do a grind-in place install like in the pictures in the other thread and you'll have a floor to be proud of for many, many years :tup2:

[doitright]

Hi Mac :)

While I agree with Adriana, I would like you to be aware that the floor will be susceptable to scratching and etching with normal wear and tear. The floor will be able to be maintained and/or restored as needed to keep it in tip top shape.

Other selections could include slate (such as a vermont slate), quartzite, and honed granite. Try to get samples of your selections first, as this will simplify what will work best in your enviornment.

[joh]

travertine is the way to go.

[Stonehenge]

Honed Durango Limestone which of course is in the beige family or if available a honed green marble, those would be my choices.

Granted you could go honed granite as well.

Sincerely,

The original Michael of Stonehenge, accept no substitutes.

[joh]

Mac, what colors are you looking for?
Like mike said, you can use hone granite you just need to pick one that is not too absorbent, and pick the proper sealer for the stone an application. I have seen some stones that are very dense and have a slight sheen but they are all on the grey scale.

[StoneBuddy]

A ground in place honed and filled travertine floor is my suggestion as well. Not only is it beautiful, but durable as well. As John said, it will be subject to scratching and etching, but herein lies the advantage of a ground in place.

Once the floor is flat and lever(after grinding), WHEN it is time for restoration, the price will be significantly less than it would if the floor was not ground flat. One step and the job is back to new again.

As with any stone floor, maintenance is necessary at some point.

[Macky]

If the stone is properly installed in the first place, why would a "Ground in Place" installation be needed? Wouldn't the use of an accurate level and good mortar base preclude the need for all this extra work? What type of expense does the "Ground" process add to the standard installation? Please remember that your dealing with a novice here! :shrug:

[doitright]

Hi Mac :)

You're absolutely correct. None of our stone installations require grinding. :tup2:

[joh]

Here is the deal, if you are going to take your time and do it right, you will not need a ground in place. You are only human and from time to time you will have an uneven surface or a customer that want to chance he look from polish to hone. Here in NY contractors like to drop the stone on some tin set and than off to the next job. For reasons like this a ground in place is needed. As to the cost, it is a sliding scale depending on the install.

[Macky]

So if I catch your meaning, a "ground in place" job can be done for several reasons. In the case of an installation with a "few" lippage problems here and there, it becomes equivalent to a sort of cosmetic fine tuning of all these small variations. In the case of an installation with "severe" lippage problems it becomes equivalent to more of a complete cosmetic stone facelift. In either case it represents a sort of compensation for minimal or maximum deviations during the installation process. A kind of camouflage, if you will. Am I at least in the ballpark?

[joh]

you own the ball park. :tup2:

[Macky]

Now I am even more determined to take my time, find the best installer I can and pay him properly for meeting my job expectations. I think I have my job cut out for me. :goodluck:

[joh]

Macky, some things are out of the hands of the installer, so take it easy on the install if it does not come out perfect. Find your local restoration guy for the oops factor.

[StoneBuddy]

Remember one thing when selecting your installer. Hire an experienced "stone" installer, not a ceramic guy. And, please, don't hire the cheapest guy you can find, that will lead to many more problems.

[Macky]

Well, with the help of all your comments I found something that has caught my eye. I want use 24X24 and don't know if this product comes that large, but I'll find out soon. :)

It appears to fill all my wants and I understand it is a rugged, durable stone. Please comment on the idea of using large size stones for large areas.

You guys are the best! :yipee:

http://www.durangostone.com/products/honed_filled_rojo.html

[StoneBuddy]

The good thing about large tiles is it is less grout. We all will agree that grout is harder to deal with than the stone itself, so bigger tiles always make us happier. Only problem with large tiles is that most installers(sorry for the assumptions, but going by local knowledge) are not used to installing such large tiles. This can cause higher height difference(lippage) between tiles, causing a distortion of reflection..

Honed travertine is an excellent choice for flooring, because of it's rather low sheen, maintenance and resurfacing are significantly cheaper than a polished stone. Also, most scratches and etch marks(un-avoidable for the average floor) will blend in much better on a honed finish, making maintenance intervals greater.

Just remember, the outcome of the job depends solely on the competence and knowledge of the installer. DO NOT select the cheapest installer you can find, we all have seen what the lowballers can do.......and you do not want to fix their mistakes.

Do not expect the world from your installer, as NOBODY in this world can lay a perfectly flat floor, but be sure that you hire someone who is experienced in the installation of stone specifically. Some ceramic installers will jump on your job to take the extra $$$$, but stone tiles are far different from ceramic tiles which are mass produced. A good stone istaller will take your lot of stone and make it work for your installation, not just slap it down and get paid.

DO NOT settle for a quick and cheap installation.


----John Bridge, Keossler, someone...do you all have a directory of installtion contractors? If not, may I suggest? Think it would be great to have "accredited" or "recommended" installers all over the country. Maybe post pics and details of custom or otherwise extraordinary jobs to be qualified? Just a thought?




MACKY----research, research, ask questions, ask questions, ask for referrals and more referrals. A "tile guy" is not a "stone" installer. PERIOD.



To all you guys who do both, I am sorry but you know where I am coming from.....

[Stonehenge]

Hi Macky,

It was my pleasure to help.

Michael of Stonehenge

[Macky]

Stonehenge - :tup2:

Stonebuddy - The notion of having a list of recommended or accredited stone installers based on customer comments, personal experience and verifiable past jobs sounds terrific to me. It would give the general buying public good leads into real professionals who care about their work and could help in weeding out the "Others"!

[claycarson]

Even a good installer can be challenged to install large format tiles with minimal lippage. Granted, there will be fewer grout lines, but it will be difficult to get them as smooth as a ground in place would do.

One stone floor I saw after grinding was so smooth and glasslike that if a blind person ran his finger over a grout joint, he could not tell where it was. Now that's smooth! It would not even be reasonable to hold an installer to that standard, but diamond grinding can achieve it.

[StoneBuddy]

What is everyone's opinion of the definition of a ground in place floor. Is the process meant to grind the stone level with existing grout or just level with relation to lippage.

I make it a point to tell my customers that a ground in place will make the floor flat, but if grout is low in spots, I will not grind the floor with the intention of making the grout flush with the stone.

[doitright]

Hi Buddy :)

How about starting a new thread, and let's talk about it? :shades: ;)