Limestone is a sedimentary rock mainly composed of calcium carbonate. It has a uniform color and texture. Made-up of shell’s calcite and other debris ,it is a porous soft stone that has medium-range durability.
Below are the advantages and disadvantages of limestone flooring.
Advantages of Limestone Flooring:
- Less expensive than natural stones.
- Naturally aesthetic.
- Environment-friendly, biodegradable and green option.
- Non-flammable.
Disadvantages of Limestone Flooring:
- More expensive than artificial materials.
- Requires maintenance.
- As it is soft, can be easily damaged by high traffic
Aesthetics
Types of Surface Finish :
- Polished: high gloss mirror-like surface, used in wall cladding, counter-tops, tabletops, fireplace facing and hearth.
- Sandblasted: rough but tidy look. Used in traffic areas.
- Leather Finish: suede look and feel.
- Honed: low gloss, smooth and eggshell finish.
- Hammered : Spot textured surface with slip resistance.
- Rubbed : Smooth matte surface, slightly rougher than honed finish.
How to Install Limestone Floor Tiles:
1. Prepare the surface
Prepare the subfloor for a clean and dry, flat and even surface. If plywood is used as a subfloor, then a backer board needs to be installed/attached to the subfloor as an underlayment.
2.Preview tiles layout and apply thin-set
As limestone has a lot of variation, it needs to be blended so that all dark pieces or light ones won’t wind up together. Blend tile randomly to give a proper blend of colors. Spread the thin-set starting from the corner.
3.Lay the tiles in place and set permanently
Place the limestone tile on top of mortar and press firmly. Place the tiles spacers (1/8th inch or 1/16th inch or as per manufacturers’ instructions). Limestone tiles can also have laid without joints, (depending on tile edges and as per supplier’s information.) Press firmly with adhesive to achieve a strong and secure bond.
4. Remove any excess adhesive/moisture between tiles.
5. Allow for 24-48hours to dry completely before applying grout.
6. Mix the grout mixture and apply with a grout float deeply between joints.
7.Wipeout excess grout on tiles with a sponge.
8. Allow the grout to harden for 24-48hrs or as per directions.
9. Apply a clear sealer to seal the tiles as per supplier’s directions.
10. Suppliers may recommend before and after installation/before and after grouting.
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