About Stone FAQ's

99% of our stone floors are limestone, in strict geological terms one or two or our stones can be marble or sandstone though in look, performance & maintenance they are indistinguishable from limestone. All our stones are sold tumbled, this means they have undergone various processes to give a worn, used look. This can range from a soft tumbled finish (subtle minimal aging, smooth surface) to heavy tumbled which is quite rustic, especially on the edges and will have more surface texture. Installation, treatment and ongoing maintenance does not change between the finishes.

Unlike most other flooring solutions, stone tiles can improve with age. Stone floor tiles should last a lifetime, hence are great value for money and should be considered an investment by adding value to your property. Limestone flooring has the advantage of being hard wearing and easy to clean, following approved methods of course. Stone tiles match most other materials and is very adaptable in getting the right look for your floor. Each stone floor will be unique, as no stone tile is the same and each stone tile will have natural shades, mineral deposits & veins, fossilisation and other characteristics inherent in this natural product.

Yes. Every stone floor tile we sell can be used with either electric matting under floor heating or piped heating which is part of the central heating system. It is vitally important that the correct specification fixing products are used with under floor heating and we can usually advise what these are for most common installation situations.

Natural stone tiles come in a vast range of colours. Predominantly earthy tones like cream, beige & sandy coloured limestones tend to dominate the limestone landscape. Our wonderful Avignon & Castile limestones are great examples of these. More vibrant colours such as green, russets, charcoal black & greys can be seen in our stunning limestone flags.

Internal natural stone tiles range from 1.2cm to 2.2cm thick. The thickness usually depends on the size of the stone tiles; the bigger the stone tile the thicker it will be. Our smaller format limestone floors (for example Opus Pattern or 40cm by random lengths) tend to be 1.2cm or 1.5cm while the larger sized limestone tiles may be 2cm or 2.2cm thick. Some of our quarry partners have invested in updated cutting machinery which means we can bring you some large limestone tiles in a 1.5cm thickness. This is the ideal thickness for use with wet-underfloor heating systems though both 1.2cm, 2cm & 2.2cm are compatible too.

Stone tiles will vary in colour as each tile is unique and not man-made. Ensure that your stone tiles are dry and clean before fitting so that you can see the true colour & personality before fixing them to the floor. This way you can select the layout and tile pattern of the colours, show-off those you love and hide under units or in corners those you aren’t so fond of. Having colour variation will add depth to the stone floor and will result in a more natural looking stone floor.

Our stone samples are a great way of giving you a taste of what the stone will be like. Variations in colour and surface to the stone mean that the sample cannot reflect all the possible differences that will be present in that type of stone. A sample should be treated as a taster; giving an indication of colour and finish of the stone. Purchasing a stone floor is not a decision to be made from a small sample, we have created one of the finest showrooms in the country so that you can make a fully informed decision – come and visit us, please!

The price of a stone does not give any indication of quality or performance. Price is impacted by many things including the size of the quarry, the location of the quarry, the finishing processes applied and even exchange rates. Some stones are rarer than others and demand a premium. Our staff will happily guide you to appropriate stones based on your specification and this may even be the cheapest one in the shop!