Caring for stone floors

Our guide will help you choose the right stone floors for your home

As well as the older types of stone, you can also opt for newly quarried stone, with or without an antiqued or aged finish or reclaimed stone floors. Stone is easy to maintain, but steer clear of a white stone floor in a kitchen as it needs cleaning daily; instead choose a more forgiving rustic-looking slate or a distressed stone. Stone is regarded as cold underfoot, but this can be remedied with underfloor heating.

Types of stone
Stone varies from pale creams through to dark greens and blues so choose the type that will be best suited to a room's function and your decorative scheme. A traditional choice for entrance halls, dining rooms and conservatories, it is becoming popular in kitchens. Many types are quite porous and will need to be sealed.

Laying a stone floor
Most new stone is now calibrated to an equal width, making it easier to lay, and machine-cut tiles are thinner and lighter than flagstones cut at the quarry. The structure of the sub-floor - the base on which it will be laid - will determine the type of stone you can use. Usually a concrete sub-floor is required, and this is a job that is best left to the professionals. When laying a natural stone floor, you must have a level surface and uniform screed. If the adhesive isn't applied evenly then areas are more vulnerable and prone to crack. Use a professional to lay a natural stone floor, which should be sealed immediately after laying.

Care and maintenance
Seal stone or it can stain. Don't use bleach or household cleaners as it will lift the sealer - stick to products like Lithofin from Stoneplus. For daily cleaning, use a specialist stone floor cleaner such as HG's Clean and Shine from DIY Tools. Some floors, such as limestone, need to be waxed - re-wax annually and buff up with a machine. Acrylic polish is suitable for certain types of stone but again needs to be reapplied annually. If you spill an acidic product like lemon juice or wine, wipe it off immediately as the acid can cause etching.

Traditional flagstones and bricks create rustic authenticity.
Marble makes a cool, practical flooring for a bathroom.
Slate tiles are a hardwearing choice for a small home office.

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