NATURAL AND MAN-MADE STONE

 

Porcelain, ceramic, marble and other natural stones create an elegant hard surface option. We deal with great distributors and we are confident that we can help you find what you are looking for.

 

 

NATURAL STONE

 

MARBLE

A beautiful floor surface that is not suited for large commercial areas or heavily trafficked areas due to its soft nature (scratches easily), high absorbency (stain easily) and acid sensitivity. Marble composition is a combination of calcite and calcium carbonate. Penetrating sealers perform best on marble. Acrylic-based finishes can be used but success is often spotty. Marble should only be cleaned with neutral cleaner, avoid acid-based products, high alkaline products and products with high chelation.

 

SLATE

Slate is a smooth, soft, natural stone available in a wide variety of textures, colors and sizes. It offers good durability and stain resistance due to its semi-porous nature. Slate is composed of shale and clay quartz. It is generally not finished with acrylic-based products although, if used, they will usually adhere. Penetrating sealers can be used if desired and are often recommended for areas exposed to food and liquid spills. Clean with neutral detergent.

 

GRANITE

Granite is used sparingly in commercial buildings due to its high cost. It is hard, does not easily scratch and is stain-resistant, making it ideally suited for residential flooring. Granite is composed of quartz and feldspar mixture. It is hard, smooth nature make it unsuitable for finishing with acrylic-based products. Clean with neutral detergent.

 

 

 

MAN-MADE STONE

 

TERRAZZO

Terrazzo flooring offers high durability and deep beauty. Its up-front cost is considerably higher than resilient flooring but when viewed long-term, it can actually be less expensive. The marble, granite, quartz and/or glass chips composition mixed with Portland cement, poly acrylic-modified Portland cement or epoxy resin and poured into place. Portland cement and poly acrylic-modified Portland cement floors hold finish nicely. Some pure epoxy-based floors can be tough to finish due to its low moisture absorbency and hydrophobic nature (non-affinity for water). Avoid using high pH cleaners and acid-based products on Terrazzo.

 

UNGLAZED CERAMIC (QUARRY TILE)

Quarry tile provides an attractive floor that is durable and easy to maintain. These tiles are usually red in color and 6 inches by 6 inches in with a 1/2 inch thickness. Quarry tile is often installed in food service areas. Made from a mixture of clays that are fired at high temperatures. (approximately 2200 degrees) Quarry tile can be finished with standard floor care products although this is not generally advised in food service or other production areas. If installed in hallways, stairwells or other non-production areas, all-purpose urethane finish can be used with great success on these floors. Clean with neutral detergent or an all-purpose cleaner.

 

GLAZED CERAMIC

Glazing ceramic tile creates a durable surface that is easy to clean, resists stains and scratches, does not fade and is slip-resistant. Identical to unglazed except a liquid glass is applied to the tile at very high temperatures. This creates a hard, non-porous surface. Glazed ceramic tile will NOT hold floor finish. The surface is too smooth for proper floor finish adhesion to occur. Clean with neutral detergent or all-purpose cleaner.

 

CONCRETE

Concrete is universally used for commercial building slabs. Most are covered with another flooring material such as tile, carpeting or wood. Concrete floors that are not covered with another material are gaining popularity in retail stores and other commercial buildings since it provides a low cost yet highly durable flooring surface. Concrete is composed of approximately 10 - 15% Portland cement, 40% stone aggregate, 25% sand aggregate, 15 - 20% water and 5 - 8% air. Concrete can be tricky to finish with acrylic-based coatings. High alkalinity, high moisture, grease and oils, and unknown curing compounds and sealants can make finishing difficult. Floors with a history of accepting acrylic floor finishes can generally be finished with any essential coating.