Limestone tiles are aesthetically pleasing options for use on walls and floors that offer a distinctly natural and luxurious look. Moreover, limestone tiles can help to increase the value of a home as they provide tough, durable and high quality surfaces that are designed to look great and last forever. Equally, limestone floor tiles have an unmistakable feel on bare feet, whilst they are also able to offer surprisingly good grip and can be easily cleaned and maintained. In short, limestone floor and wall tiles offer a luxurious quality that can make a lasting and valuable impression when used in the home.
When buying limestone tiles, it is important to note that there are numerous styles available that are suitable for different areas of the home. Aside from the obvious choice between wall and floor tiles, certain types of limestone tiles are better suited to rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom, whilst others are ideal for hallways and conservatories. Of course, such is the robust and versatile nature of limestone tiles, most are suitable for all rooms and living conditions. Nevertheless, limestone tiles are the perfect choice for kitchens, bathrooms and all other rooms that experience moist, humid or wet conditions on a regular basis as they comprise low porosity and high durability. Thus, dropping the odd pan of boiling water on a limestone tiled floor, whilst never in itself advisable, will typically do less harm than it would on other types of surface. Having said that, certain limestone tiles that are not specifically designed for use in the kitchen and bathroom may comprise softer limestone deposits, which are more prone to scratching.
Ultimately, buying limestone tiles for domestic floors and walls constitutes a statement of intent so far as opulence is concerned. Naturally consisting of pale colours such as beige and light blue, some Limestone tiles will also be available in darker tones. Typically, limestone tiles will help to create a relaxing and peaceful ambiance in the home as their seemingly fragile beauty is one to which the human eye is subtly attracted. Natural limestone is often used in bathroom and kitchen floor tiles and features a delightful matt finish. Often sold in fairly large units measuring 30 x 30 cm to 80 x 80 cm, bathroom and kitchen limestone floor tiles are honed for that natural look and comfortable touch. Buyers can also purchase gloss finish natural limestone tiles for their kitchens and bathrooms, which feature a more polished look and feel. Tumbled and mosaic limestone tiles are also frequently selected for use on walls in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and conservatories as their elegant matt finish provides the ideal visual display alongside functional properties of durability and water-resistance.
Limestone tiles are usually more expensive than those comprising other materials, so this is certainly a factor that potential buyers must bear in mind. A common mistake made by buyers of limestone tiles is a failure to understand what kind of properties are best suited to certain types of room. Moreover, highly polished limestone tiles can constitute a slip hazard, especially where children or elderly people are concerned. Thus, honed limestone tiles are usually more sensible choices than polished varieties, which typically offer greater reflective properties over traction and safety. Additionally, although this is stating the obvious somewhat, it is always necessary to obey the rules when it comes to choosing wall tiles for walls and floor tiles for floors – never employ one type of tile in a project for which it was not intended. Indeed, mosaic wall tiles for the floor may seem perfectly acceptable when looking for a discount deal in the hardware store, but they will simply not work in practise.
Another common mistake made by people buying limestone tiles is that they miscalculate the effort and expertise required to properly install them in the home. Indeed, wherever possible, it is advisable to enlist the services of a professional and fully certified tile fitter, as this will usually save money in the long term. However, in the event that customers choose to install their beautiful and expensive new limestone tiles without the assistance of a professional fitter, there are a number of factors that need to be considered.
First, for relatively large installation projects such as kitchens and sizable bathrooms, it is necessary to purchase around 5-10% extra tiles than are actually needed. A smaller margin will usually suffice for lesser projects, but the main point is that additional tiles are purchased in order to complete the job in one effort. Indeed, limestone tiles can often be broken, chipped or lost during an installation, especially where the workers are not trained professionals – a small margin for error in regard to materials is sensible for many reasons.
Second, installing small mosaic limestone wall tiles can be quite tricky as there are usually a large quantity of these to deal with and ensuring that tile columns remain straight and perpendicular is by no means an easy feat. Moreover, many walls comprise the odd bump or crack here or there, so it is always necessary to ensure that surfaces are smooth, level, dry and clean before actually getting down to the business of securing the tiles in place. Likewise, it is all too common for people to install limestone floor tiles without first taking into account how the finished result should look. In this respect, it is important to dry lay the tiles in straight and perpendicular arrangements with some margin left between the wall or skirting board and the tiles. Indeed, provided that the central mass of the tiles is correctly laid out, the tiles comprising the edge will need to be cut to fit as walls are rarely even.
Thus, dry laying limestone tiles and marking out their positions with a pencil is a key step in the installation process. Moreover, it is necessary to employ the correct gear and equipment before undertaking such a project. Indeed, tile cutters (electrical or mechanical), shapers, trowels, spirit levels, square-edge levels, suction cups, wall and floor scrapers, mixing tools, tape measures, pencils, goggles, gloves, tile adhesives and grouting equipment are all key to successful limestone tile installations. Finally, remember that freshly installed limestone tile surfaces require time to bed in effectively, so it is important to tread with great care until the tiles are properly set.
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