Limestone Specs

Available in a variety of shades of light brown, beige, and yellow very few natural stones provide the elegance and rich appearance of limestone. The most common surface finish for limestone is matte, making it an excellent choice where moisture may be present, as the matte finish provides for a non-slip surface.

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Limestone floor

Basic Limestone Information

Natural stone has been used for flooring for hundreds of years. There are many choices, marble, and granite are the most popular. A new natural stone tile has entered the market – limestone. It is elegant in appearance and has become a very popular choice for homeowners.

Installing limestone tile is no different than installing any natural stone product such as granite or marble. A thin set mortar should be used and the joints between tiles should be filled with grout. As limestone is a permeable natural stone – water can penetrate it. Therefore, it is important that the limestone tile and the grout be sealed with a very high quality, penetrating sealer to avoid having the tile permanently stained due to spills or other grime.

Limestone lends itself well to creating complex geometric patterns, as it is available in a variety of square and rectangular sizes in thicknesses of 3/16 to 1/4 of an inch thick. It is easy to cut, much easier than granite or marble, but still requires the use of a wet saw with a diamond-impregnated blade. When cut, limestone has a relatively smooth edge, which can be easily filed or honed to a smooth finish.

Some Basic Issues

At Stone Masters of Idaho, we want your limestone to look its best. Learn about what makes each stone type unique and what variety will work best for you. By learning about the strengths and weaknesses of each type, you can learn how to avoid common wear and tear issues.

  • Etching

    A dull spot on the stone. There are various causes for etching.

  • Loss of Shine

    This is exactly as it says. You lose that luster and brilliance of the shine over time due to a myriad of issues. This is usually an easier fix than most issues though.

  • Staining

    This can happen from simple things such as a Kool-Aid spill, all the way to a spill of ink on a countertop. Stone Masters Of Idaho is prepared in any event big or small to help you tackle these issues!

Read More about Common Stone Issues

More Limestone Basics

As with granite and marble, it is important when purchasing your limestone tiles to pay attention to the lot numbers. Any specific lot number means that the individual limestone tiles were cut from the same block of limestone and should provide a color and grain match. Always remember that one of the things that makes any natural stone floor rich and unique is that no two pieces of natural stone are the same in color or grain. Because of the grain and color differences, it is important that you always buy extra tiles, as any specific lot number may not be available a few days after your original purchase. If you are installing a basic grid pattern, it is recommended that you purchase at least 10% more tile than the square footage calculation would indicate. For a diamond pattern, the recommendation is 20% more than the square footage calculation.

Of course, nothing is ever perfect. With all the positive attributes of limestone, there is one negative. Limestone is a very porous material and even if heavily sealed with a penetrating sealer it should not be used in kitchens or full bathrooms – bathrooms with showers or tubs. Building codes in many areas prohibit the use of limestone tile in restaurant kitchens.

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Limestone floor

How to Care For Your Limestone

Limestone is a lot like Marble and Granite as far as day to day and long-term care goes. Limestone will require an impregnating sealer and dependant upon the desired look will require an additional product to ensure long life and a great look. Stone Masters Of Idaho has the knowledge and expertise to apply to any situation for you limestone needs. Contact us today for your renovation, installation, and treatment of your limestone!

Limestone Basic Facts Source: http://ezinearticles.com

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How to Care For Your Granite

Since Granite such a dense and hard stone, it is less susceptible to issues that marble has. That said, it is still a precious stone and requires the utmost care if you want it to last in the sense that it looks newly installed! Granite’s one major characteristic is that it stains! So how do you keep it from staining? That answer is both simple and complex at the same time. The simple part is that you need to keep the Granite sealed. The hard part is that you need to determine the best product to use to seal it. There are a lot of products out there, and a lot of good ones at that. Stone Masters Of Idaho has 15 years of relative experience in dealing with many of the products out there and can effectively treat all your granite to ensure longer shine and fewer stains!

Granite Information Source: http://ezinearticles.com

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