There are so many reasons for the popularity of stone, including the timeless beauty, eco-friendliness, and almost instant increased value to your home.

Versatile, natural stone tile is not only a great addition to the floor, but its applications also include interior walls, countertops, and backsplashes, as well as exterior garden walls, walkways, and poolsides. It can also be used as tile or a decorative element, such as a floor medallion.

And you’ll stand out from the crowd

Stone, a rock formation, comes directly from the earth. The tiles are cut from slabs and, like anything that Mother Nature creates, each slab is different, with unique color and veining patterns. That means you’ll never see your tile in anyone’s home but your own.

Types of stone

The most common ones are granite, quartz, marble, limestone, and travertine. While they are all durable, some perform better with sealing. Talk to your stone retailer about potential sealing schedules.

Granite is the material you often see in the bathrooms of 5-star hotels; A combination of quartz and feldspar, granite is luxurious, very hard, scratch, and heat-resistant. It's almost impervious to liquid, but spills should be wiped immediately.

Marble has a subtle sheen and Mother-of-Pearl quality that will instantly give your home the high-end expensive look of kings and queens. It's easy to clean but is porous so wipe spills immediately.

Travertine is often seen in Italian trattorias. With classic beauty and neutral colors like tan, brown rust, and beige, it is durable and has a non-slip texture. Travertine, however, is very porous and must be sealed immediately to avoid staining.

Limestone, with its muted colors and classic look, adds sophistication to your home. It's also more affordable than the other natural stones. Although porous, proper sealing makes it durable and ideal heavily trafficked floors. Limestone is also mold and mildew resistant, making it perfect for the bath. Don't let the softness of this stone fool you; it might be comfortable on which to walk, but it is strong.

Quartz is usually quartzite, containing less than 10% resins. This manufacturing process just improves on what Mother Nature created: a super strong, stain-resistant, easy to clean material appropriate for today's modern needs.

For more information, come into the Gowdy Flooring showroom in Amarillo, TX serving Amarillo, Canyon, Dumas, Borger, and Hereford. We offer free in-home measuring and ask about our design consultations.