Choosing what finish to get for your limestone floor tiles can be a tad bit mind-boggling, mainly because there are a ton of finishes to choose from. The good news is we’re here to help you. Here is a list to help you find the right type of finish for your limestone tiles.
Overview of Limestone Tile Finishes
Honed Finish: Honed limestone tiles come with a matte finish and smooth surface. These are good for anti-slip flooring.
Polished Finish: As they come with a shiny finish and provide aesthetic appeal, these are generally recommended for use in low-traffic areas.
Tumbled Finish: Having rounded edges and a weathered appearance, these are treated through a tumbling process to get an “aged” look.
Brushed Finish: A brushed finish is achieved by brushing the stone. This gives subtle texture and natural grace to the stone.
Bush-Hammered Finish: Bush-hammered limestone tiles have a rough, but also gripping surface with little craters. They work best for slippery areas like bathrooms as they are anti-slip.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Finish
Aesthetic Preferences: A polished finish may look elegant while a tumbled one may look warm. Keep this in mind when deciding the finish options for your limestone tiles.
Function: Consider the foot flow your flooring will face. In heavy foot flow areas tumbled type or bush-hammer finish offers long-term durability.
Light and Space: Examine how the surface will look when both natural and artificial light hits it. Polished stone reflects light and gives the room a larger, open feel while honed or brushed will give you a more matte and homey appearance.
Matching Finishes with Room Types
Living Areas: Honed or brushed tile is a perfect finish for living areas. Most living areas are high-traffic and the finish is hard wearing. This finish looks stunning in these spaces.
Kitchens: Kitchens are a great place to use polished tile since it is easier to clean. In areas that have water, you need slip-resistant tile such as bush-hammer and brushed.
Bathrooms: Slip-resistant finishes are necessary for bathrooms. Bush-hammered or brushed finishes are best for such spaces to prevent slipping.
Outdoor Spaces: Use a durable, textured surface tile such as a brushed finish for outdoor rooms. A bush-hammered finish would be ideal for all open outdoor spaces.
Maintenance and Care for Different Finishes
Honed Finish: Maintaining a honed finish tile is easy. There are tons of products out there that will do the job to choose from. Just make sure that it isn’t going to strip the natural colour of the stone out.
Polished Finish: Wiping the tile down with a clean cloth or dust mop is generally all you’ll need, but every now and again you’ll need to give them a good clean.
Tumbled and Brushed Finishes: This can handle more “grunt” than others so feel free to use a bit of elbow grease to clean it, but never use anything corrosive that will erode the finish.
Bush-Hammered Finish: The textured finish means you will need to get out the brush to ensure your floor stays clean.
Selecting the Perfect Limestone Finish
Getting the right finish for your limestone floor tiles comes down to several factors. Look at your options at Indigenous, choosing options that best suit your lifestyle and design preferences. Your choice will help you use your limestone tiles for years while enjoying the intricate patterns.
