Much of 21st Century design has been driven by a trend that began in the 1990s, which heralded a return to nature.
The hallmarks?
Natural fabrics such as silk and cotton in earth-inspired hues. Vibrant botanicals in upholstery, window treatments and wall art. The emergence of green as Mother Nature’s freshest neutral. The use of unvarnished woods and unpainted metals, often distressed, in furniture and accessories.
The theme continues underfoot, with floors of hardwood, sisal, bamboo and other natural materials outpacing manmade carpeting and vinyl flooring in many homes. Of those natural materials, stone — with its almost indestructible nature, enduring beauty and sometimes surprising versatility — has taken up permanent residence in home decor in every sense of the word. Dick Plymale, president and co-owner of Unique Stone & Tile in Longwood, Fla. says, “Each piece of stone is a work of art and one of a kind. Stone has warmth and timelessness, and it’s going to be in style 50 years from now.”
Of course, such popularity has spawned a host of imitators, including quartz aggregates and tiles that have the look of stone. At Coverings, the international flooring and wall-covering show held in Orlando, stone and stone-look materials dominated, strong evidence of its importance as a home-design element.
If you’re considering adding the look of stone to your home, the nearly endless selection of colors and materials can be daunting. To make sense of the choices, we’ve chiseled out a list of stone and stone alternatives, their qualities and characteristics, including pricing, pros and cons.
The real thing
The beauty and durability of stone make it a natural as a flooring or countertop material, and the range of colors on the market ensure there’s a shade that will match your taste perfectly. But such perfection comes at a price, and it can be steep.
For example, expect to pay $60 and more per square foot for granite countertops; some of the more rare and sought-after varieties such as Blue Bahia from Brazil can cost considerably more.
In addition to Blue Bahia, which resembles the precious stone lapis lazuli, granite comes in an astonishing array of colors, including purest black flecked with gold, and shades of red, green, gold, brown and more. Its durability makes it a popular choice for kitchen workspaces, but, like marble and other natural stones, granite must be sealed regularly to resist stains.
Marble, which is more porous than granite and therefore more likely to discolor and stain, remains a popular option for flooring, shower and bath surrounds, vanity counters and sinks, fireplace mantels, windowsills and thresholds. Either highly polished or tumbled for a more rustic look, marble is often deeply veined in contrasting or complementary hues such as white, gray, gold, rose, burgundy, green, brown and black.
A marble countertop can run $60 per square foot and up, while flooring costs around $12 to $15 a square foot installed.
Travertine — which, like marble, began its life as limestone before heat, pressure and time transformed it into its present state — is typically golden, taupe or creamy in tone. It’s a popular flooring material, usually in a honed or unpolished state.
Like other types of stone, travertine tiles require special installation, called “mudding,” during which a layer of mortar is laid before setting the tile in order to ensure a level surface. This technique usually costs $5 to $7 per square foot, which is higher than for standard tile installation. With the cost of travertine running $3 to $5 per square foot, the installation often can cost more than the material.
Options are endless
Limestone is another flooring and countertop option, although its scratch-prone nature makes it a better choice for a powder room or formal foyer instead of a high-traffic, high-use area such as a kitchen countertop or floor.
Jerusalem Stone, which is a form of limestone mined in Israel, is gaining in popularity as well. Its typically rich golden tones can be veined, mottled or streaked, and it’s a more-affordable alternative to granite and marble. Limestone generally runs a dollar or two higher than travertine installed.
Other natural flooring options are available, including inlaid medallions that sometimes combine different types of stone, and lesser-known stones such as soapstone, which comes in shades of blue and gray. And if you’re considering slate, don’t think your choices are limited to shades of gray or green. Slate also comes in burgundy, pink, coral, gold and blue.
No matter what type of stone you choose, don’t skimp on the sealer, Plymale says. “You really do get what you pay for,” he says. “Be sure to buy a good-quality sealer and apply it correctly.”
The sealer will prevent the stone from absorbing dirt and oils, and it also inhibits the growth of mold and bacteria within the porous surface. For especially porous stones such as limestone and travertine, purchase a penetrating sealer formulated for those types of stones. Most stone suppliers recommend that you reapply sealer every one to five years, depending on how absorbent the stone is; typically, rough-textured or tumbled finishes will need more frequent sealing than highly polished surfaces.
The great pretenders
Opting for an imitation instead of the real thing? There are several reasons why you might choose engineered stone or solid-surface material over natural stone, but price may not be one of them. Imitation stone composites don’t come cheap, but the price can be justified by their durability, resistance to stains and nearly endless color selection.
If you go this route, remember that they’re typically available only for such installations as countertops and sinks and occasionally shower and bath surrounds. For flooring, you’ll likely have to look at other alternatives.
Options abound
Solid-surface brand names include Corian, Topstone, Swanstone and Staron; engineered-stone brand names include Caesarstone, Silestone, Zodiaq and Granyte. The difference between the two is that solid surfaces are made primarily from acrylic resins and natural minerals, and engineered stone is a combination of resin composites and quartz.
Each type is tough and durable, although solid surfaces may scratch more easily than engineered stone. Both are available through home-improvement stores, kitchen and bath designers and countertop installation companies. Prices range from $40 per square foot and up for solid surfaces and $45 and up per square foot for engineered stone.
Solid-surface and engineered-stone manufacturers tout their products’ impermeable nature — they never need sealing — as a big plus over stone. Solid-surface materials are also unlikely to crack or chip, but if damage does occur, repairs are easier to make and conceal than on stone.
Superficial surface scratches can be buffed out gently with fine-grade sandpaper, and if a crack or a chip does occur, a professional installer can fill in and polish the spot, making the damage almost imperceptible.
As for engineered stone, cracks and chips shouldn’t be a concern, says Steve Morrell, a kitchen specialist at The Home Depot in Altamonte Springs, Fla. This material is more than 90 percent quartz, which is one of the hardest substances on Earth.
“That stuff is practically indestructible,” he says.
The countertop and sink can be made entirely of these manufactured materials, but if you have a hole cut out and a sink dropped in, be sure to ask the installer to take the cut-out piece and smooth the edges for you. It makes a great cutting board that perfectly matches your new counter top.
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Proper care of stone surfaces
Some solid surfaces look just like stone, such as Staron, an acrylic from Samsung. Avoid using abrasive cleansers on them. Once you’ve selected a material, it’s critical to maintain it properly. Here’s a primer on how to care for stone and its imitators:
– Engineered stone. Practically indestructible; the main ingredient of engineered stone is quartz, one of the hardest stones available. The nonporous surface of engineered stone is nearly impervious to scratching and staining, and cleans up well with a sponge and just about any cleanser.
– Granite. Damp-mop or sponge-clean in a mild solution of soap or vinegar and water, or use cleaning products specifically formulated for stone. A no-rinse stone soap added to a bucket of water cleans all types of stone effectively without leaving a cloudy residue. A periodic treatment with a stone polisher will help granite maintain a rich gloss.
– Jerusalem stone, limestone and travertine. Damp-mop or sponge-clean in a mild solution of vinegar and water, or use cleaning products specifically formulated for stone.
– Marble. As a general rule of thumb, the shinier the marble, the higher the calcite content. Unfortunately, high-calcite marble is more prone to scratching and is sensitive to acidic liquids such as juices and sodas, which can mar the surface. Thus, drink coasters — and proper sealing — are a must. Damp-mop with neutral-pH cleaning products formulated for marble.
– Solid surfaces. Despite their toughness, solid surfaces can become scratched or stained. Avoid using abrasive cleansers, and follow manufacturer’s guidelines when purchasing cleaning products. Many solid-surface manufacturers include a cleaning and care kit.
– Tile. Just about any cleaning product will do, but avoid highly abrasive or acidic products that can etch the tile’s finish and damage the grout. Using a small scrub brush or a nail brush and a mildly abrasive cleaner will keep the grout clean too.
— Denise Bates Enos
