Office Remodel: Selecting New Flooring & Counters

Your boss just tasked you with the upcoming remodel of the office. You now need to find and select great products, within your budget, pleasing your boss and your colleagues, while making sure your selection will last…

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Types of Office Flooring

First, what is Natural Stone? Here are some tips & tricks for selecting your office remodel materials:

Natural stone can be classified into two general categories according to its composition: siliceous stone or calcareous stone sandstone. Knowing the difference is critical when selecting cleaning products.

Siliceous stone is composed mainly of silica or quartz-like particles. It tends to be very durable and relatively easy to clean with mild acidic cleaning solutions. Types of siliceous stone include granite, slate, sandstone and quartzite. Calcareous stone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate and will react to acidic foods such as lemons or tomatoes. This reaction will result in a dulling in surface sheen and change in texture, otherwise referred to as “acid etching”.

Cleaning products that work on siliceous stone may damage the surface of calcareous surfaces. Types of calcareous stone include marble, travertine, limestone and onyx. As a general rule of thumb, whenever a spill occurs, immediately blot the spill with a paper towel. Don’t wipe the area; it will spread the spill. Flush the area with plain water and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent. Rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone.

Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

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Second, what about Limestone Tile for our flooring?

There are so many different materials for any facilities coordinator to choose from when it comes to flooring, so why choose granite tile? To begin with, Limestone tile is a natural material that is millions of years old. Popular in the medieval period for the construction of castles, forts, and cathedrals (many of which stand today), limestone has been a workhorse in a reliable building material for thousands of years.  Rugged, durable,  yet with a refined beauty all of its own, limestone tile is gaining in popularity as flooring, and for use in exterior facades, lending an old-world appeal to residences and commercial property much in the same way as its close cousin travertine tile does. Limestone is used to produce magnificent office kitchen countertops, limestone employee restrooms and vanities, tile floors, stairs, limestone wall tile and even columns. Limestone comes in various colors but most are shades of brown or tan, some leaning towards gray and red. All shades seem to fall into the earth tone color range. Limestone is becoming increasingly popular in the West and Southwest and also because of its natural earth-tone colors that coordinate in any environment. 

Care and Maintenance of Limestone

Limestone requires some care and attention in order to maintain its original appearance. Many stone tiles including limestone are porous in nature, excessive water may cause reactions such as oxidation, staining, deterioration, etc. Special impregnating or penetrating sealers are recommended to avoid these problems. We always apply sealers to any limestone applications.  Limestone is especially susceptible to damage from citric acids, alcohols, and oils. Vinegar is acidic and will leave a dull spot on limestone. Avoid the following acidic materials from coming in contact with your limestone: Vinegar, lemon, tomato and tomato sauce, bleach, coffee, urine, vomit, tile cleaners, X-14, toilet bowl cleaners, and cleaners with lemon.  Warm water, mild dishwashing liquid and a soft cloth clean up most spills. Let the professionals at Creative Tile assist you in choosing the proper products for cleaning and maintaining limestone. With proper care, your limestone’s beauty will last as long as your company!

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