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Show T heSalt Lake Tribune UTAH LIVING Sunday, January 31, 1999 Rock Flooring Makes a Comeback in New Stone Age BY JO WERNE KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE Stoneis enjoying such popularity because Americans aeeat MIAMI — Thehottest flooring material todayis cool underfoot, hard as rock and the oldest mate- rial in the world. Natural stone is surpassing ceramic tile as the preferred floor- ing in new, upscale homes. And homeowners on a budget can get the stone look without the price — ceramic and porcelain tiles are now mimicking the natural material. Once considered just a patio material. stone is being used throughout the house — inliving, dining and family rooms, kitchens and huge master baths. The wide choice in stone — marble, travertine, limestone, slate, granite and keystone, among others — is one reasonfor its popularity. U.S. stone merchants import from all over the world. native coral keystone from the Florida Keys, white limestone from Turkey, mellow travertine fromItaly ing what Europeans have known aboutstoneforcenturies.Its natural mellowness and hard-wear- Stone World: In 1998, U.S. im- hometo haveit,” she said. “Stone ports of natural stone totaled more than $519 million, up from is standard in our homes starting $418 million in 1993 — a 24 percent increasein five years. Carol and David Kamenstein ing qualities make it more practi- cal than ceramictile. Stone becomes morebeautifulover time — think of those beautiful stone cathedrals in Europe — while ce- are amongthe converts to stone. An interior designer and investor, respectively, the couple redid the ramic tile can chip, scratch and lose its glaze. But ceramictile wins the color contest, as thereare no limits to a North Miami Beach design firm. “It's very user-friendly and more “The easy maintenanceof stone is unbelievable,” Carol Kamen- white to dense black. In stone and ceramictile, big- stein said. “We have a 200-pound St. Bernard and a German shep- geris better. Thebest-selling sizes in both materials is 18-by-18 inches, with 24-by-24 inchesclose be- herd andall I have to dois vacuum and occasionally mop.” Stone hind. Using bigger sizes means flooring is becoming standard in new homes, said Les- thereare fewer groutlines, making a floor look less busy. Imports of natural stone have increased significantly since lie Silas, project manager of G.L. Homes in Coral Springs, Fla. “Buyers really want stone, and they are willing to pay $4,000 to $5,000 above the price of the 1993, said MichaelReis, editor of percentofthe time,” said Fanny durable than tile. The antique, weathered look of stone gives a homeinstanthistory.” If you aregoingtoinstall stone, you will find as many choices in size and shapesas therearein ce- ramictile. Stone can beinstalled on the diagonal, in random patterns, divided in sections or bordered by mosaics. If you areinstalling stone in several rooms, it’s best to choose the sametype andcolorof stone for continuity. Contrasting colors can be brought in for the foyer, for example, or for borders and inserts. In keeping with our more-relaxed way of living, unpolished stone is more popularthan highly ABSOLUTE AUCTION LAKE residential flooring close to 100 Haim of Flint & Associates, a upstairs hall and loggia, outdoor decks and cabana. They chose Samost of the flooring, a mosaic for the foyer, and black and white marble chips to break up the expanseof Saturnia in the kitchen. yield colors ranging from soft pink to golden yellow, from pure Acceptance of stone has advanced so much in the past few years that designers find most of their clients receptive to the idea. “I am recommending stone for entire first floor of their Palm Beach,Fla., home in stone — the turnia (a travertine) stone for man-made palette. Generally, stone tends to be neutral, although mountains and quarries at $142.9.” polished stone. Unpolished stone requires less maintenance and grows morebeautiful over time. People accustomed to glazed City ceramictile have to look at stone differently. Becausestoneis natu- SECLUDED ESTATE HOLLapay AREA ral, it may have spots, pit holes, textured streaks and honeycomb formations — imperfections that arepartof its beauty. Most stones need to be sealed; the more porous stones have tobefilled witha synthetic material so they will be Peter Andrew Bosch/MiasiTHerald Paul Sutton, from Florida Silica & Sand, shows what keystofie lookslike whenit arrives from the quarry. Cleanup Is a Snap With Stone Floors smooth underfoot. Some stones, such as marble Nothing is truly maintenancefree, but stone flooring comes and granite, can be highly pol- ished. Limestone, which can be hard or soft depending on where close. Stoneinstalled indoors must be it’s quarried, can be polished if hard. Softer stones can be honed sealed with a penetrating waterbasedsealer to protect it from soil and wear. Sealed stone needsonly regular vacuuming or damp mop- to smoothness. “We were used to polished marble, which is more slippery and more expensive,” said Rosa : i ee y ee Monpay, Fepruary 22 Spectacular Creekside Main Lodge w/18-Ft. 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Sugranes, owner of Iberia Tile, which has showrooms in Miami, Outdoors, even sealed stone can mildewin areas with high humidity Coral Gables and Pompano Beach. “We are using the same material, but in a relaxed way. ‘In houses being built now. and frequent rain. “There are mold inhibitors in sealers that cut down the chance of mildew,” said Lorenzo Abbate, stoneis installed in the main areas Beach, Fla. “If your stone! patio does mildew, just spray it” with bleach and water,thenrinse. ‘Some stone can be pressure-cleaned.If a stonepatio gets really soiled, it can be sanded. The sanding won't af- fect the sealer becauseit goés ‘ints the stone like a sponge.” Not everyone objects te.mil- dewed stone outdoors. : “Stone will mildew, but that’s what looks great about it,""said Rosa Sugranes, owner of Iberia Tile. “I wouldn't clean stone outside. It's natural. Letit be.” —Jo Werne Craftsman Masonry in Pompano and the master bath,” Sugranes said. “For kids’ baths, ceramic Tips for the Determined Do-It-Yourselfér tile is preferred becauseit’s more colorful.” Although usually more expen- Think you can install a natural stonefloor? Brave soul! sive than ceramic tile (some Saturnia costs less than some ceramic tiles), stone has becomesuch a have not increased in several what you need to know: Start with a level floor. If the groovesin the adhesive,is needed to spread the mixtureevenly. mentcan fill in the valleys. You need to know what kind of stone; others spread the mixture on flooris uneven, athin layerof ce- Stone costs approximately $3 to $6 morethan tile in an 18-by-18inch size, althoughprices vary according to type, quality and color of stone. If stone is too pricey for your budget, you canstill get the look of stone with ceramictile or por- the surface. would do with ceramictile... Ceramic tile and stone are set with a mixture of cementand sand. But there are differences: Tile is is a combination of different installed with thin set —a thin mix- earths fired at high temperature. ture. Stone is installed with mud set —a thicker mixture that allows theinstaller to makea level surface for theirregular stone. Moredensethan ceramictile, the color goesall the way throughthe It costs approximately the sameas ceramictile. : Someinstallers “butter” the adhesive on the back of the tile or compositelike keystone — because there are different installation from your stoneor tile distributor. Porcelain, the newest flooring, A notched trowel, which leaves stone — natural, manmade or a methodsfor each. Get instructions celain tile that mimicsstone. tile. stallation and/or before grouting, to protect the surface from dirt. installer for 16 years, says this is competitive material that prices Stone should be sealed beforein- Mike Gemmell,a tile and stone Apply grouting to stone as-one Stonesets overnight, as daes ce- ramictile. “You need to take more care in handling stone, becauseit's natu- ral product and breaks easier than ceramictile,” Gemmell said= His last bit of advice? 1 “After you mess it up, call a'pro- fessionalinstaller.”” ” —Jo Were ST nati 3 + AeakeRe 7 ry. vee @ Below marketinterest rates for the first 3, 6, 12, 36, or even 120 months. ty? 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