Stone floor tiles are made up of a somewhat porous natural stone like marble, granite, limestone, travertine, or slate. These stone floors are the definition of the term luxury. Many love the unique look, the veins, and color changes within a natural stone surface. The material can last the lifetime of the home and most applications are usually considered permanent. Granite is nearly indestructible but some stones can be cracked or chipped or even dull from heavy foot traffic. It can be easy to clean, but if you have marble floor throughout your house, you probably don't clean the floors yourself anyway.

ADVANTAGES OF STONE

• Gorgeous natural look; elegant
• Very durable
• Perfect for radiant heat application
• Adds excellent value for the home; great ROI

DISADVANTAGES OF STONE

• Not great for long periods of standing
• Expensive
• Porous surface needs to be constantly treated to prevent stains
• Can be very slippery