Natural stone is a highly popular material, used for tiling of houses. All sorts of varieties are available – from the polished limestone or marble slabs to chunks of limestone cliffs, which have undergone severe erosion during their millennial stay outdoors.
Choice
The most sought after are the various polygonal stone plates. It’s hard to choose the right stone needed for your tilings among the variety of texture, coloring, thickness, hardness and size of the plates. As a rule, they are sold on a pallet, so you understand what you have just bought when you pay and get home. Therefore, it is really important to find a reliable manufacturer and trader.
Pallets
One pallet with natural stones for lining features between 22 and 25 rows. The material from each of these lines needs to cover an area of at least 1 m². With the whole pallet, you should be able to cover no less than 20 m², if quality of the stones is good and if there are not too many small pieces that are paid for, but are practically unusable.
Demand
Demand for natural stone for coverings and floorings has become more popular with the advent of democracy and the unleashing of private initiative. A variety of materials is cut and sold. Natural stone is in high demand abroad as well.
Thickness According to the Intended Purpose
The stone slabs are divided into two main groups, based on their purpose.
For facing of walls, columns, decorative walls, plinths, etc gneiss’ slabs are used, which have a thickness of between 2 and 3 inches. Those slabs are mined from strong stone and you can use them to tile quite successfully even lanes for vehicles and pedestrian walkways. The load is carried mainly by the concrete reinforced pavement. The stones should be properly glued and jointed, so that no cavities remain beneath them for the paving to tolerate maximum load.
Slabs with greater thickness (at least 5 cm and even more) are better intended for flooring. Stones with very large thickness are also sold – between 10 and 20 cm; with them, it is entirely possible for you to build an impressive massive wall.
Classification
- Ornamental stone, suitable for tiling, with thickness from 2 to 3 cm.
- Stone, suitable for flooring, with a minimum thickness of at least 3 cm, and a normal one of about 5 or 6 cm.
Size and Shape
Stone slabs differ in their form and size.
- Polygonal Plates
The cheaper options are with an irregular size, uncut and different in size. They originated as a result of the breaking of the rock. They are more difficult for gluing and require more skill. On the plus side, they provide the paving with a diverse and extremely natural appearance. Prices vary according to the size and thickness of the slabs. It is advisable to buy bigger plates. If you need, you can always break them but the reverse is not possible. Larger plates can be lined up more quickly and easily and less joints form in the paving.
- Cut Stone
The other type of plates are the professionally cut ones. They have a certain standard size and a specific width but the length varies.
Paved Floorings
Paving stones, which are taken from yellow or red sandstone, can be used for the creation of strong and interesting floorings for yards and gardens. Their size is between 6 and 8 cm. The paved roads are really beautiful and timeless. As a rule, they are built on a foundation, that is well prepared, and a sandy bed. The space between them is filled with sand, which is rammed. This means, however, that such surface leaks water.
Types of Facing Stones, According to their Rocky Composition
According to their rocky composition, cladding stones are divided into two main types:
- sandstone;
- gneiss
Gneiss has a significantly greater strength and abrasion resistance and as a result, it is the preferred material for claddings.