Natural stone: elegance for all eternity
When it comes to choosing the flooring for their homes, some people will leave no stone unturned to make it look attractive. Others just turn to natural stone. Marble and granite flooring are popular and long-lasting. In the first of a new series on basic elements of design, we give you the low-down on them.
Girish S. Angadi. ©Gulf News
Features
Features
What to look out for...
* Check the strength and absorption of the marble you intend to buy. Highly porous marble should only be used in areas/rooms with less traffic or sparingly in designs. However, they are ideal for vertical wall cladding.
* Artificial marble is available today, so if you are not sure what marble looks like, it is advisable to either update yourself and/or go to a reputed dealer.
* Buying unpolished marble is risky as it is difficult to distinguish the veins, colours or texture. It might look very different after polishing.
Installation
* Large slabs should be laid by experts, as the veins require sorting and matching in order to provide a continuous feel.
* Ensure that white cement is used as grouting - if it seeps through the marble, it could look ugly.
* Some veins in marble run very deep into the slab. Netting should be fixed underneath and floors should be waterproofed before fixing such marble.
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