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We have recently added a range of faux stone cladding tiles to our collection and appear to be very popular.

These tiles are manufactured porcelain and boast advantages over natural stone cladding, such as:

– They are completely water proof and as a result can be used in Bathrooms and areas that their natural stone counterparts cannot.

– They are cheaper.

 

Some of the disadvantages include:

– They are porcelain tiles and therefore patterns are repeated and this may be noticed over large sections of wall.

– They don’t have as many unique striations and discrepancies as their natural stone counterparts do that add to the character of the wall area.

 

If you want to find out more please visit our page on Stone Cladding, or contact us over the phone or via email (all contact information can be found on our website on our contact us page).

Natural stone is used in kitchens, floors, walls, bathrooms, dining rooms, around swimming pools, building foyers, public areas and façades. Since ancient times, stone has been popular for building and decorative purposes.

The reason you want to seal your natural stone floor is to prevent the following things from occurring and ruining your tiles’ finish and look.

Staining: 

This is the most common form of damage. It is the result of oils or other liquids penetrate deeply into the channels within the stone and deposit material that is effectively impossible to remove without destroying the stone.

Salt Attack:

This occurs when salts dissolved in water are carried into the stone. The two most common effects are efflorescence and spalling. Salts that expand on crystallization in capillary gaps can cause surface spalling and can exert considerable expansive forces as its crystals grow.

Acid Attack:

Acid-soluble stone materials such as the calcite (veins) in marble, limestone and travertine, as well as the internal cement that binds the resistant grains in sandstone, react with acidic solutions on contact. Acid erodes the stone, leaving dull marks on polished surfaces. In time it may cause deep pitting, eventually totally obliterating the form. Even mild household acids, including cola, wine, vinegar, lemon juice and milk, can damage vulnerable types of stone. The milder the acid, the longer it takes to etch calcite-based stone; stronger acids can cause irreparable damage in seconds.

Picture Framing:

This occurs when water or grout moves into the edges of the stone to create an unsightly darkening or “frame” affect. Such harm is usually irreversible.

Freeze-thaw Spalling:

This occurs when water freezes in the surface pores. The general term is Frost weathering. The water expands on freezing, causing the stone to spall, crumble, or even to crack through.

There are 3 main types of sealant that can be used for natural stone floors, these are:

Topical sealers
Generally made from polyurethanes or acrylics. These sealers may be effective at stopping stains but, being exposed on the surface of the material, they tend to wear out relatively quickly, especially on high-traffic areas of flooring. This type of sealer will significantly change the look and slip resistance of the surface, especially when it is wet. These sealers are not breathable i.e. do not allow the escape of water vapour and other gases, and are not effective against salt attack, such as efflorescence and spalling

Penetrating sealers

The most penetrating sealers use siliconates, fluoro-polymers and siloxanes, which repel liquids. These sealers penetrate the surface of the stone enough to anchor the material to the surface. They are generally longer lasting than topical sealers and often do not substantially alter the look of the stone, but still can change the slip characteristics of the surface and do wear relatively quickly. Penetrating sealers often require the use of special cleaners which both clean and top up the repellent ingredient left on the stone surface. These sealers are often breathable to a certain degree, but do not penetrate deeply enough (generally less than 1mm) to be effective against salt attack, such as efflorescence and spalling.

Impregnating sealers

Uses silanes or modified silanes. These are a type of penetrating sealer, which penetrate deeply into the material, impregnating it with molecules which bond to the capillary pores and repels water and / or oils from within the material. Some modified silane sealers impregnate deeply enough to protect against salt attack, such as efflorescence, spalling, picture framing and freeze-thaw spalling. Some silane stone sealers based on nanotechnology claim to be resistant to UV light and higher pH levels found in new masonry and pointing.[2] A good depth of penetration is also essential for protection from weathering and traffic.

 

 

Our Spring Sale finishes on bank holiday Monday, so get down here and get your orders in before you miss out on our 10% off all tiles offer.

you can find us at; www.thestonetileemporium.com

We have just increased our range of ceramic Moroccan style tiles to include these beauties! Our ranges are growing by the week, so make sure you check our Facebook page and blog to keep up to date with our new products.

Our range is ever growing. We have now included these Marrakesh style ‘multiple tile effect’ tiles in black and blue.

 

We have recently added these porcelain, hexagonal wall and floor tiles to our showroom, perfect for bathrooms or contemporary kitchens.

These are just a few examples of our natural marble stone mosaics and are fine examples of Dark Emprador, Italian Carrara and Marquina marbles respectively. Call in to our shop or visit our showroom for more information on these tiles as well as anything else you may be interested in.

These ceramic Brighton wall and floor tiles are perfect for a bathroom wall feature wall or a kitchen splash back due to their clean elegance and easy wipe surfaces.

Whether you have tiles in your kitchen, bathroom or conservatory, applying a sealant is essential in order to protect stone tiling from gradual long term damage and erosion. Applying a sealant is not only beneficial for the durability of the tiling. It also provides added design bonuses including a glossier finish and further colour enhancement. Another way to maintain healthy looking tiles is regular cleaning, which needs to be done appropriately in order to prevent further damage.

Sealant is generally considered to be a worthwhile purchase as it provides higher resistance against potential stains and possesses a long lasting trait whereby you only have to apply the sealant once to cover many years of protection. Tiling should be accompanied by sealant before, after and during the installation process. If you seal tiles in this way, you are much more likely to benefit from long term tile protection.

When cleaning your tiles, always make sure that you use the right kind of cleaning product. Many solutions are acidic and stone tiles such as limestone and travertine are alkaline. It’s vitally important that you purchase PH neutral solutions that won’t cause further disintegration to tiles. If you use the same brand when applying sealer and cleaning your tiles, they are likely to have been manufactured for each other, providing a reliable outcome for your tiles.