Limestone Tiles

The Basics: What is Limestone, Sizes, Shapes, Maintenance, & Sustainability

What is Limestone

Limestone is a natural stone. This sedimentary rock with, in most cases, a rather grainy appearance, is quarried all over the world and comes in a plethora of colours (depending on where is has been quarried). For example, you can have limestone floor tiles in London ranging from pinkish white and grey to tan and blue, even though most people have associated limestone with creamy white tones only. Limestone makes a perfect material for high-end landscape projects, not only for its superb looks but also for its extreme durability. It is a long-lived stone with a broad range of textures, that deflects heat while staying cool at the same time, which makes it the perfect option for around pools and in warm climates. However, it is not easy to use for DIY projects, as it is heavy and requires sensitive handling but is definitely the most cost-effective option available compared to other types of tiles.

Sizes & Shapes

Regarding size, you can get almost everything you want. Limestone comes in several shapes and sizes, such as wall veneer, pavers, slabs, stair treads, and edging. In addition, you can find irregular flagstone and dimensioned stone as well. As for finishes, it can have a thermal finish or be honed to a more consistent, even, and smooth finish.

Maintenance

Limestone is a natural stone which is rather sensitive to acidic materials. Therefore, it is recommended not to have limestone paving right next to fruit trees as the fallen fruit will stain the porous rock. To prevent that from occurring, you can have it sealed (more information in a following section), although some homeowners prefer to keep it unsealed, which is perfectly fine if you want it for outside use and like the nice patina it gets over time. However, if you want to seal it, check with us, your preferred limestone supplier in London, for a recommendation.Note: Limestone has to be cleaned with a mild cleanser and a stiff bristled brush. After scrubbing the surface, you just rinse the limestone (no high pressure) or use a sealant.

Sustainability

Limestones come with high SRI (Solar Reflective Index), which means that they can reflect the sun and stay cool when you walk barefoot on them. It also means that they release thermal radiation and not heat up, allowing you to enjoy a pleasant environment that has nothing to remind of the heat-island effect commonly seen around homes that have used the wrong building materials which absorb thermal radiation.

Choosing the Perfect Limestone Tiles in London

Limestone, and natural stone, in general, has been the favourite option for use on floors and walls for more reasons that one. First of all, limestone adds warmth and quality to a room and brings the texture and colours of nature to the home in a way that no other material can.Here is a list of the most popular stone tile materials for your reference:1. Limestone It is highly resilient, with beautiful colours and patterns. Perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and living areas, especially if you are fond of its tendency to look like wood. It is similar to travertine (below) but is more suited for use as flooring because it has been significantly hardened through tectonic action and time. Its best uses are for vanities, floors, shower walls, fireplace surrounds, and entry walls.2. Travertine Another commonly-encountered sedimentary rock is travertine. Travertine offers irreplaceable warmth once it settles into its matte finish. It has received quite a lot of bad press for its supposed fragility but considering that the Trevi Fountain in Rome has been there, impressing people with its lovely appearance, for more than 3 centuries, theories related to travertine’s longevity are clearly invalidated. Again, an excellent choice for baths, kitchens, and living areas.3. Marble Marble has been closely associated with ancient times and luxury. Caesars and kings demanded to have marble floors and walls in their palaces. Definitely an exquisite stone with character, although more expensive than limestone and travertine it is not a good option for outdoor use. Other than that, suggested uses of marble include baths, kitchens, hallways, and living areas.4. Sandstone Probably, one of the most resilient (if not THE most resilient) metamorphic natural stone that lends itself to flooring. If you want a rich variety of colour options, though, it will let you down. Notes: Natural stones comes out of the earth in numerous variations regarding quality and colours, so always do your homework when choosing the perfect tile for your project. To minimise mismatched lots, better order the amount of materials you will need to complete the job in one shipment, and make sure you get a couple of extra cases, for when you will need to repair a floor at a later time.

Limestone Paving

Here art Tile Land, we have a wide range of Limestone Paving, selected specifically for its: (1) ability to withstand the British weather, (2) quality, and (3) considerable ease of maintenance. Our Limestone Paving offers impressive versatility, sophistication, and timeless elegance to everything from grand entrances to traditional settings. Limestone Paving also provides you with several surface finishes that suit every budget. If you have any concerns regarding what type of limestone paving to use for high-traffic areas, without having to spend a fortune or risk quality, we are always here to help. We know which of the limestone paving options are unsuitable for the acid rains that fall in London and across the country, and we can guide you towards purchasing the most appropriate limestone. That aside, our wide range of neutral and grey limestone paving offers you a unique opportunity to create a harmonious effect as it can blend with their surrounding environment, such as black walling, crushed natural stone, tropical hardwood, and other surface materials, completely effortlessly.Note: Our Perlino Brushed and Pietra Dorata, as well as the Danny Beige Honed line of bespoke limestone paving products are also available in Split Face and Tumbled finish respectively, offering designers the freedom to express their creative side by custom-designing the dimensions and size of a landscaped area.

Limestone Bathroom Ideas

A contemporary bathroom featuring beige Perlino brushed limestone bathroom tiles that contrast with dark wood cabinets and an alcove shower can easily become your peaceful sanctuary. Generally speaking, limestone bathroom tiles with creamy textures and rather exotic looks make perfect options for the bathroom. Also, a silky grey limestone tile, such as Danny Beige Honed (View More Images), featured on sink splash-backs, floors, and shower walls, turn every contemporary bathroom into a safe haven. Just make sure you use a scratch-resistant limestone tile with waterproof elements within it. For more limestone bathroom ideas, feel free to browse our Gallery!

Limestone Kitchen Tiles: Recommended Options

Although many homeowners consider using marble in their kitchens. Limestone is the next best thing after marble for kitchens, and it can be polished to a shine similar to marble, providing it contains a mineral called dolomite. Limestone kitchen tiles are best used for floors rather than countertops. Tiles such as the Danny Beige or Venus Bianca, which blend modularity and clean lines, are exceptional choices for kitchen floors and walls (for more limestone wall tiles, click here). The brushed sandblasted Pietra Dorata with the unique design gives an unparalleled variety of colours to blend with any interior. This colour diversity also makes it an excellent option for gardens and patios (View More Images). It is a handy material that can lead to harmony of design and tonality.Things to Consider: Limestone is a natural stone formed from the remains of ancient sea life that have been compressed over the course of several millenniums. That fact alone makes limestone a fascinating material to use in the home. It is like acquiring and preserving a piece of natural history and elements from the bottoms of ancient seas!

How to Protect Limestone Tiles in London

As previously mentioned, limestone can maintain its original appearance if properly taken care of. Given that limestone is a porous natural stone, excessive water could cause deterioration, oxidation, and staining, among others. To avoid such issues, there are special sealers (penetrating and impregnating) that you can use. Usually, a limestone flooring sealer has to be applied when the limestone is installed and every other year from then on. Another way to know whether your limestone flooring requires resealing is to look at how the water sits on it. Normally, it should bead. In any other case, you will need to reseal.Note: The amount of sealing is dependent upon several factors, such as the natural stone type, its finish, and area of installation, among others. For example, high porosity limestone flooring need to increase the level of resistance. Therefore, they have to be sealed with impregnating sealers.It should also be noted that natural stone sealer has to be applied before grouting to prevent unprotected tiles from being stained (irreversibly) by cement. Limestone tiles also have to be sealed again after grouting. Finally, depending on the finish you want your limestone to have, you can use various limestone flooring or limestone paving sealers that should give you matte, colour enhanced, wax, or satin and gloss finishes.Most spills from limestone paving and limestone flooring can be removed with the use of a mild dishwashing liquid and warm water solution and a soft, clean cloth. You should be extra careful with oils, alcohol, and citric acids as they can destroy your limestone flooring, and the same applies to vinegar. To preserve your investment, you should prevent the following materials from coming in contact with the limestone flooring: Lemon, Bleach, Tile cleaners, Vinegar, Tomato sauce (and tomato), Coffee, X-14, Cleaners with lemon (toilet cleaners included)Notes No acidic cleaning product should be used on limestone paving or limestone flooring. To save yourself from any worries and problems, you can ask the professional at Tile Land to assist you find the proper products to clean and maintain your limestone.

Tile Land: The Natural Stone Paradise

Tile Land is not just another limestone tile shop in London. Here, you can find the most complete palette and unique design plans for both commercial and residential applications. Browse our wide selection of limestone floor and wall tiles, and allow us to help you choose the perfect type of natural stone per your requirements and project. We provide limestone tiles in London, West London, Park Royal and nearby areas, from our very own quarries, offering outstanding visual appeal with distinctive natural veining and dramatic shades. That aside, our limestone flooring options (for patios, pools, and outdoor areas) offer durability and superb strength, paired with a hardwearing performance and a stunning appearance, making sure that your property will look at its best for many years to come.Being both manufacturers and suppliers of paving, tiles, and mosaics, specialising in Limestone, Travertine, and Marble, allows us to provide you with the most affordable and unique options, always of the finest qualities, to impress and enhance your living space the best possible way.For more information, you are more than welcome to contact us or visit our warehouse with over 50,000-square meters of stock in London and find exactly what you have been looking for!  Please take the time to view our selection of available products. For any information on the the products please feel free to browse the information available online or call us on 020 8965 7773.