These are a type of cement tile where the pattern is inlaid into the body of the tile so that the design and colour remain, even as the tile wears.Ī little more heavy than the average wall tile encaustic tiles can be used on almost any internal floor or wall surface.

It typically includes fragments of coloured stone, glass, or ceramic tiles. Mosaics can be dated back to ancient Mesopotamia – more than 5,000 years ago – starting out merely as combination of small pieces of stone or rounded pebbles that had been pieced together. Available in a vast array of colours from whites, blues, reds, pinks and greens. Is a coarse grained hard stone, formed through slow crystallisation of magma which gives the granite it’s texture. When quarried Slate is split in to thin sheets, this process gives undulations in the surface, offering texture and sometimes veins of colour.

Naturally harder than Limestone or Marble, Slate is made of volcanic ash or clay. It is a hard wearing natural stone made up of grains of sand that are compacted and bound together by mineral such as clay or silica. If you are looking for a seamless connection from inside to outdoors, then Sandstone flooring may be an option. It can add instant character to your kitchen design. Cold to the touch, it can be polished to a glass-like smoothness.

Each made by a process called recrystallisation, and the colouring is created by the minerals present in the area in which it was formed. Colours are natural, ranging from white through to cream and rust, depending on the minerals present in the area in which it was formed.Ĭomes in some mesmerising colours, markings and veining. Is a type of limestone, formed by hot mineral springs, which creates many holes running through it, these holes can be filled to give a smoother surface. This pattern is seen regularly in country houses and medieval ecclesiastical buildings. Our preferred pattern choice in a kitchen is random course layout, where the courses are the same width (usually 600mm) and the lengths are random sizes. One of the important elements to consider with a limestone floor is how it is laid. It also takes spills and knocks well and the surface can be manipulated so you can have a smooth surface or a tumbled rough surface, depending on the look you’re after. It retains heat and works brilliantly with underfloor heating. Shells and fossils are often seen across the slabs which add to the character, and natural shading of the stone. Offers an incredible array of shades and colours from creamy yellows through to greys and even black. WHAT ARE THE BEST STONE FLOORING OPTIONS? She adds that ” the thickness of grout lines can often be too wide and look unsightly, ideally they should be 2-3ml depending on slab size, traditionally floors were laid with penny joints.” – The grout is applied and, while still wet, an old penny is rolled along the centre of the joint guided by a rule creating a 2mm-3mm groove. Hannah Anderson points out that “one must also consider the grout colour, grout should enhance to overall look, not stand out on kitchen floors”. Does it need sealing, or re-sealing, does it scratch or stain? Quarry tiles, flagstones or limestone can all create a feeling that they have always been part of the original fabric of the building.Ĭonsideration needs to be made as to whether your chosen stone or tiled flooring is suitable for use with under floor heating. Stone and tile floors can act as backdrops and can add instant character to a room. We advise selecting flooring that will be hardwearing and complimentary to the period of the house, the design of the cabinetry, and the overall feel of the space. What is the Best Stone or Tile Flooring for a Kitchen? There is often a fear of getting it wrong. With so many floor styles to choose from, Guild Anderson often see clients approaching their new kitchen design overwhelmed by the sheer number and variety of options. Whatever kitchen flooring you choose must be able to withstand anything, from children to pets, from spilled food to water, it needs to work in a busy family home, and when considering what floors are best in kitchens, what you choose can also make a significant impact on the design and feel of the space. There are many options to suit different tastes and budgets one of the most important things to consider is durability. As such, consideration needs to be made as to what floors are best for use in kitchens. Once a space purely used for cooking, a kitchen has always been a high traffic area, but the modern kitchen is now a multifunctional hub, used for preparing and eating food, entertaining and socialising, homework and much more. We explore what are the best stone and tile flooring options that are available when designing a bespoke kitchen

Stone kitchen flooring