There are many types of natural stone such as limestone, granite, slate and even sandstone which can all be used for flooring and stone is, usually, a great long term option making it good value for money. Stone floors are chosen for a variety of reasons. From a purely aesthetic perspective natural stone offers natural patterns and colours and there are a wide range of possible finishes that stone can have. As well as being durable, stone is also relatively easy to clean and relatively scratch resistant compared to other floors.

As with anything, stone floors will only look good if you look after them properly, so although natural stone floors may be seen as low maintenance, without proper care the floor will soon lose some of its visual appeal acquiring a dull, uneven and unsatisfactory finish. Taking care of the floor isn't had as long as you follow a few basic steps.

Most pages will tell you that natural stone is scratch resistant and that its lack of porosity means it will not stain. While this is true to some extent, you certainly can scratch stone and staining can occur. Different types of stone have different levels of porosity, and then you need to take into consideration the grout (the material used to fill the gaps between tiles) which consists of a mixture of sand, water and cement and certainly is a porous material. While care can be taken to avoid spillages (you can never plan for accidents) and any spillages should be cleaned up immediately, the main step here would be to apply a good quality sealant to protect the floor. It is important to choose the right type of sealant for both the tile surface and the grout, a stone floor cleaning specialist will be able to recommend the appropriate one for you.

It is also necessary to avoid surface scratching which will, in effect, render the sealant ineffective. Surface scratching is generally caused by sand, grit and dirt particles walked in on the soles of shoes, but can also be caused by moving heavy objects, such as furniture, incorrectly or by dragging chairs etc. In general the best way to avoid scratching is the use of doormats and regular sweeping with an old fashioned broom. Pad the corners of furniture or tips of chair legs to prevent damage and lift objects to move them - never drag.