Natural Stone – Tile News

Selecting Colors for Concrete Flooring

Visit www.concretenetwork.com for more concrete floor videos. In this video find out how to select the right colors for your floor that will fit your style and increase the resale value of your home.

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Ideas On How To Clean Your Natural Stone Flooring

Shining, shimmering floors, that would be an advantage of having a natural stone tiled floors. Its beauty and elegance adds value and integrity in every homes they touch. It is very easy to maintain and clean your natural stone floor whether your floor is made of marble, slate, or natural limestone following a basic cleaning routine is very important. The stone floor adds elegance and beauty to your home and will continue to do so for many years with the right care.

The key in maintaining natural stone tile is frequent light cleaning. However, there are occasions that require thorough cleaning only if necessary. Always protect your natural stone with the right cleaning products. Polishing them with wrong ones could harm the appearance of your stone floor.

Some floors need to be mopped very often and some are not also it depends upon the types of your stone floor and how heavy the traffic is on the floor. By doing so, you may need a dust mop, sweep the floor very often, everyday if possible. This will avoid dust or any unwanted particles to be deposited in your floor. Second is to clean your floor by washing it with wet string mop and a stone soap solution. However, you can also clean the floor just with water. The next thing to do is to dry the floor with a clean soft cloth. Sweep and damp-mop your floor regularly to prevent scratches from dirt and sand. This will also maintain your natural tile floor’s luster.

If the shine of your stone fades, the best thing to do is to re-polish them. However, if you have a budget, you can re-polished your stone floors once every two to three years, or have it re-polished professionally.

As a homeowner, one could preserve the appearance and cleanliness of your natural stone floor. The only thing you could do is to be aware of your floors. Wipe any spills immediately to avoid stains and discoloration and also repair any deep scratches in your floor, or have them repaired to experts as soon as you noticed them.

Always be reminded not to use any abrasive cleaning products. This could harm your natural stone tiles and might affect the luster of the stone floor.

NATURALS CARPET CLEANER

• Non-Toxic
• 100% Natural
• Easy-to-Use
• Fast-acting
• 32 oz.

Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care Free & Clear is a very effective and easy to use product for spot cleaning all colorfast and washable carpet, rugs and upholstery. This product is easy to use and fast acting. Simply remove any gross soils from your carpet or upholstered surface, spray Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care directly onto the soiled area. Allow to penetrate the soil for a few minutes, agitate lightly, and blot the spot with a clean, damp towel. You may want to repeat the application o

Price: $ 5.77

Pond Keeper Oxygen Based Cleaner (32 oz)

• quickly and effectively cleans rocks, waterfalls, pondless waterfalls, fountains, statues, plant pots and other stone surfaces
• compatible with all other Pond Keeper products
• safe around fish, birds, pets and plants

Fast Acting Waterfall Cleaner, Fountain Cleaner, Birdbath Cleaner, Stone CleanerThis formulation brings powerful and safe, oxygen based cleaning to koi ponds, water gardens, aquariums, fountains and even birdbaths, as well as large ponds and lakes. This formulation quickly and effectively cleans rocks, waterfalls, pondless waterfalls, fountains, statues, plant pots and other stone surfaces. It is non-toxic and safe around fish, birds, pets and plants. Pond Keeper Oxygen Based Cleaner is compatib

List Price: $ 25.99

Price: $ 25.99

Ayate Wash Cloth - 100% Natural Fibers - Exfoliate and Renew Your Skin

• 100% Natural Fibers - 100% Biodegradable
• Gently remove dead skin cells and revive the skin. It will not scratch your skin
• Promotes a healthier body because it increases blood circulation
• Great for the bath area, in the kitchen to scrub fruits and vegetables or in cleaning the car
• Machine washable and mildew resistant

Ayate Washcloth, which is made of 100% natural agave fibers. It gently removes dead skin cells, increase circulation and revive dull skin. When soaked in water, its natural fibers soften, expand, and then, the weave becomes tight.

Rating: (out of 4 reviews)

List Price: $ 6.99

Price: $ 5.99

StoneTech 0703-0022 Revitalizer Fresh Citrus Tile and Stone Cleaner Wipes

• Concentrated daily cleaner with protector for most natural stone, ceramic tile and grout
• Mold and mildew resistant protector, and built-in sealer
• 7-by-9-inch coverage area for wipes
• Easy-to-use liquid is safe, antibacterial, and biodegradable
• Great for countertops; fresh citrus scent

The StoneTech professional revitalizer tile and stone cleaner wipes are a safe and effective neutral pH concentrated daily cleaner with protector for most natural stone, ceramic tile and grout. The easy-to-use wipes are safe, antibacterial, and biodegradable, and can cut grease, as well as clean. They're great for countertops, and delivers a fresh citrus scent. This cleaner spray features mold and mildew resistant protector, and a built-in sealer to make surfaces easier to clean. The coverage ar

Rating: (out of 5 reviews)

List Price: $ 12.99

Price: $ 11.99

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Hardwood flooring Sub Floor Installation

Proper techniques of install sub flooring for hardwood floors

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?natural Stone ? Classy Ways To Go All Natural

The next time our highly plasticized world starts getting you down and you feel an urge to commune with nature, slip off your shoes and walk barefoot on a floor made from natural stone.

Chances are, no matter what type or quality of stone tiles you have used for flooring, it will feel wonderfully cool during the hot summer months and retain warmth during the colder winter months.

Apart from its natural beauty, natural stone also contains no toxins or chemicals which can cause allergies.

But like all natural products, the qualities and features of various stones differ dramatically, so if you want to choose natural stone tiles for your flooring you need to consult an expert to find out which stones work most effectively where.

Let's have a look at how you can incorporate natural stone indoors as a feature.

Slate Tiles

The beauty of slate is in the rich diversity of colours and its durability.

Each piece of slate tiling is like an individual work of art with its variations in tone and texture, ranging from pale greys and pinks to intense greens and blacks. When laid properly in a large space, these variations give a feeling of continuity and tonal flow – much like a painting.

Alternatively, individual slate tiles or small groups can be used to offset or complement a plain stone tile like sandstone on the walls or floors. For example, a cream coloured sandstone with overtones of pink can be highlighted with a small grouping of slate tiles with deeper splashes of pinks and blues, placed on the diagonal .

Like most natural stone products, a sealant improves the quality and durability of slate so it is easy to maintain, easy to keep clean, resistant to chemical spills, won't fade and is impermeable to water.

Sandstone Tiles

Sandstone is a generic name given to a type of natural stone that contains quartzite – the inclusion of quartzite is the only characteristic the various types of sandstone share. Sandstone is obtained from quarries all over the world, so the qualities of sandstone are unique to the region where they are sourced.

Although most designers and homeowners use sandstone for outdoor paving and around traditional chlorinated pool areas, it blends beautifully indoors, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. Sandstone is slip resistant and impervious to water (although poor quality sandstone doesn't possess these important qualities).

Sandstone is an incredibly versatile product and is used extensively by architects and designers because of its durability, fire resistance and thermal qualities. Sandstone is generally pale in colour, so it effectively enhances the feeling of light and space when used indoors, particularly in large open plan rooms.

Designers often use a darker natural stone tile like bluestone or quartzite to break up large sections of sandstone or to define a particular area. This effect can look stunning with a little creativity and imagination.

Bluestone

Nothing beats bluestone for its incredible strength and versatility. Not only that, bluestone is an aesthetically beautiful natural stone that is grey in colour but with subtle variation in tone. Surface treatment options make it versatile for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Bluestone with a polished surface has a refined luster under any lighting. Honed bluestone is a softer, low sheen option popular for both indoor floors and walls. Bluestone with a flamed finish is a natural outdoor paving stone.

The best quality bluestone is being used extensively indoors in kitchens, living areas and hallways because it is virtually impervious to water and has a stain resistance. The dark grey tones of bluestone effectively hide dirt, making it a busy homeowner's dream natural stone surface.

Cutting edge designers are now incorporating bluestone into high traffic areas because of its durability and toughness and also because it is so easy to maintain. Nowadays you will see bluestone in honed and polished form used extensively in wine bars, restaurants, hotel lobbies and up-market retail outlets.

Outdoors the natural stone tile of choice is flamed bluestone because of its non-slip characteristics, to say nothing of its luxurious appeal. Garden designers are increasingly using the grey/black tones of bluestone to offset water features and pool surrounds.

The Appeal of Natural Stone

From the sleek lines of steel and glass used in contemporary architecture to the soft decorative features of a federation style home, the inclusion of natural stone complements any environment.

Imagine a stacked stone water feature made with blue-grey slate inside a glass covered portico at the entrance to an architectural masterpiece, or the soft colours of sandstone laid in the entry of an old inner city terrace, or an expansive family room floor tiled in the earthy, ambient tones of limestone.

Natural stone is…well…natural and it glows with life, no matter how or where it's used. In a world burdened by the effects of toxic chemicals and products, doesn't it feel good to experience the look and feel of something that you know has been created by nature? Natural stone was here long before we were and will still be around long after we're gone.

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Flooring a 1958 Plymouth Belvedere

The Belvedere at full throttle. 350 ci Dual Quads

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Where should I buy carpet and tile in Albuquerque?

I just recently moved to Albuquerque and bought a house, and the house really needs updated flooring. What are the best companies for carpet and ceramic or natural stone tile selection and installation? Thank you.

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