How to Choose limestone effect porcelain tiles?

The beauty of limestone is that no two tiles are ever the same, meaning a stone floor will be entirely unique. With this in mind, most natural stones have some degree of tonal variation and it is common for calcite veining, fossils, fissures, vents and crystallisation to be present in limestone and marble tiles. These features and characteristics within natural stone are often what provide the charm of stone tiles and why many love the look of real stone. There is also the option of different finishes applied to a limestone, whether it be to create texture, tumbled and worn edges, straight edges, a sheened surface, matt tile or even a high polished surface. These finishes will each alter the tone of a stone slightly, providing even more possibilities of this natural product. External limestone paving will appear darker in tone when wet. 

Link to NANOGRESS PORCELLANATO

Porcelain is a manufactured product made to mimic the look of stone, as well as wood. Some porcelains have higher variations to replicate a particularly tonal stone, whereas other porcelains may be plainer in appearance and more uniform colour. All stone effect porcelains have some level of pattern or print repeats – this could be anywhere from every 20 tiles to every 100 tiles, dependant on the product. We list the pattern repeat on every porcelain product page. Although porcelain is a man-made product, the developments in machinery and print quality means there are a number of very convincing porcelains on the market, even imitating fossils, veining and the tumbled edges of a real stone floor. The majority of porcelain tiles come in a matt natural finish, whilst textured finishes and gloss finishes are also commonly available for some porcelains. External porcelain paving tends to stay a similar colour when wet.

When it comes to tile sizes and formats, this can vary from product to product, but generally speaking, natural stone is often in a ‘Free Length’ (FL) or ‘Random Length’ tile size. Free lengths have a fixed width (normally 400mm, 500mm or 600mm) and varying lengths ranging anywhere from 500mm up to a maximum of mm. This is a very versatile flagstone format that is laid as a random brick bond for staggered joints and a natural feel. The Dijon tumbled limestone flooring is also available in fixed rectangular tiles, square tiles and opus patterns, as well as Free Length (FL). Most limestones can be produced with bespoke pieces, e.g. bullnosed steps, pool copings and skirting.

Porcelain tiles can be diverse in size and format, however unlike natural stone, porcelain isn’t available in the FL format but only fixed sizing. The most common tile size for porcelain flooring is a large format 900x600 tile. This can be laid as a staggered brick bond or a straight stacked bond, depending on the desired look. Smaller formats such as square, metro, brick or hexagon are also on the market, particularly popular for bathroom tiles. Metro tiles can be laid as staggered, stacked or in the popular herringbone laying pattern. Another larger format option is x600 tiles which create big impact and minimal grout joints. The Hambleton Ivory porcelain flooring is also available in an opus pattern, alongside the rectangular 600x400 and 900x600 tiles. Most porcelain ranges do offer steps, coping or skirting on special order, but are manufactured in set sizes only. Read our FAQs for more on tile sizes and formats.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of limestone effect porcelain tiles. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Whilst this may seem the least interesting part, knowing the difference between natural stone and porcelain regarding installation and maintenance is good knowledge to have - ensuring you have a floor that will look its best for years to come. First and foremost, both natural stone and porcelain tiles work very well with underfloor heating, following correct installation methods. Upon installation natural stone requires sealing and will likely need resealing every 4-6 years. As natural stone is porous, this sealant acts as a protective layer against water, oil and grease. Most porcelains do not need sealing and have a very low water absorption rate, with a porosity of under 0.5%. It is essential to use levelling wedges when installing large format porcelain tiles for best results as during the firing process, it is common for a slight bowing to occur. Read our full installation advice here.

Both natural stone and porcelain are very forgiving and easy to maintain, however, it is worth noting that natural stone requires a little extra care. It is important to only use stone friendly or pH neutral cleaners for natural stone as anything acidic can damage the surface, we recommend Lithofin Wash & Clean. Natural stone can be subject to staining, so it is worth spot cleaning as and when spillages occur. Read our full guide on cleaning and maintaining natural stone tiles. Porcelain is near enough stain resistant and the majority of cleaners are suitable to use, however we would still recommend a cleaner designed for porcelain such as Lithofin Conditioning Cleaner. Read our full guide on cleaning and maintaining porcelain tiles.

In terms of longevity, both materials offer a durable and practical surface, natural stone can be subject to surface scratches over time and exterior natural stone paving can lighten in colour overtime – many customers find neither of these factors are of concern and actually add to the authentic feel of the tiles. If you are wanting something more consistent and unchanging through the years, then porcelain is scratch resistant and is also UV stable so it will not lighten when used outdoors.

Surface Group International began in . Our specialty and passion lays in hi-end tile, mosaics, natural stone, luxury vinyl and hardwood for walls, floors, and countertops. We accumulated an unmatched level of knowledge and expertise for 29 years. We provide the highest quality products available in the area. Our services include layout design, installation, maintenance, and restoration for all the products we sell.

For more information, please visit 5 Questions to Ask Your Limestone Tile Supplier Before Purchasing.