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 (1/8^th inch or 1/16^th 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.

Published by The Arch Space

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