Selecting the Right Natural Stone for your Home

With pools and outdoor kitchens playing a large role in our outdoor living it is important to select the materials that work best your lifestyle! Now with so many options how do you know which is best for your space? Some key considerations are: How often will the space be used? How much maintenance are you willing to put in? and finally, will it be used for a pool deck? These questions are important to narrowing down the selection. While many materials overlap in terms of use final selections can be made based on desired color and texture. Below is a quick breakdown of each stone type and how it functions for various uses.

Granite: Granite is one of the most popular materials for outdoors. It is mostly scratch-resistance, head resistant, durable, and low maintenance. Coming in a variety of textures and colors it is popular because it works for a large variety of applications.

Marble: Unlike granite, marble is less durable and is prone to scratching. While it can be used for pool decks, users tend to select granite for its durability. For users seeking an elegant-feel with limited use, marble is a great option.

Travertine: A popular, hard-wearing stone, travertine is widely used because it comes in a variety of textures. Tumbled travertine refers to the material in a textured and porous form. Honed travertine is smooth with a matte finish. Finally, polished travertine is smooth and shiny. Travertine comes in a variety of colors typically ranging from grays, to tans and browns. The image above shows a gold travertine floating deck.

Limestone: Similar to travertine, Limestone is a durable, weather-tolerant material. The large variety of colors, sizes, and shapes makes this a popular material.

Flagstone: Flagstone has very unique look with its earth tones and textures. Nonslip and resistant to moisture and heat, the material is low-maintenance because of its density. Flagstone is a fun option for more informal, natural spaces.

Slate: Heavy and durable, slate comes in a range of dark colors from blacks, browns, and reds, to deep purples and greys. It is long lasting and has contemporary feel.

Coral Stone: A combination of shells or coral and limestone, coral stone is a great option to bring unique texture into a space. The material is typically strengthened to survive heat, saltwater, pool chemicals, and heavy foot traffic. It is also nonslip and easy to maintain.