Stone is classic, durable and can make a real statement. Stone has been used in our homes since, well, the stone age. So, it can definitely be considered a traditional look. And it has remained a popular flooring choice for centuries thanks to its attractiveness and durability. Despite this, sometimes stone just doesn’t make the cut when it comes to choosing a floor. We think we know why. And we have a solution if you like the idea of stone floor.
Stone can be cold, very expensive and really quite uncomfortable underfoot. So, what do you do if you want that beautiful stone-floored kitchen or hallway of your dreams, but you aren’t thrilled with the idea of forking out all that money for something that is cold and slowly kills your feet?
The solution? Stone effect vinyl. People often think of wood effect designs when they think of Karndean or other brands of LVT. But there are lots of fabulous stone designs out there too. Stone effect LVT is a great way for you to get the beautiful look of real stone, whilst remaining comfortable and importantly, without breaking the bank.
Why choose LVT over real stone?
It’s more comfortable
Perhaps it’s obvious but it’s important to recognise – stone is a hard material. Even softer stones like marble or slate will still punish your feet after a while despite being ‘soft’. This is especially true if you’re thinking of installing stone into a room with heavy foot traffic like the kitchen. Standing on flagstones all day long might have been okay in medieval times, but we really don’t need to put ourselves through that in this day and age.
Luxury vinyl tiling is much comfier. Your feet will certainly thank you for it. Plus, if used in a room with breakable objects, anything landing on the floor is a lot less likely to smash on vinyl – compared with stone where even the smallest drop can end in and few choice words and the loss of a favourite item.
It feels warmer underfoot
Stone floors can be exactly what you need on a hot day in the Mediterranean. Stone tends to stay cool even in the hottest weather, which is why it provides a lovely cooling sensation in warm climates. But in the UK, the weather isn’t quite cut out for it. Of course, underfloor heating is always an option, but it can be pricey, especially when added on to the initial cost of buying and installing stone.
Luxury vinyl tiles will remain at room temperature when fitted even without underfloor heating. And it you did want to add underfloor heating, it is always possible, giving you a lovely warm feel.
It’s easy to care for and install
Stone flooring is expensive and difficult to install, plus it needs a lot of upkeep to stay in tip-top condition. Stone hardly ever works on a timber sub floor like chipboards or floorboards, and we at Hudson are used to replacing failed installations where this has been tried. This also means that whenever there’s a problem, it’s incredibly difficult to reinstall or change stone flooring, another issue resolved by opting for stone effect vinyl.
On the other hand, laying stone effect vinyl tiles is incredibly straightforward as you need only to lay the tiles down like you would laminate flooring or any other form of vinyl – simple! It’s also not a problem to lay it on timber subfloors. Furthermore, the only upkeep you’ll need to perform is regular sweeping and a damp mop every so often and your LVT will look as good as the day you bought it. Unlike stone, the grouting lines in LVT are not a dirt trap and are entirely vinyl. Cleaning these is incredibly easy.
There’s lots of choice
When it comes to choosing real stone flooring there are a lot of options, from granite to marble and everything in between, there are plenty of options to choose from. Unfortunately, some of these stones just aren’t a viable option due to their difficulty to install, price or simply due to a lack of comfort.
Fortunately, this isn’t a problem with stone effect vinyl. If you love the look of a certain stone, it’s likely to be available, even if authentic stone would be incredibly inconvenient. Modern printing techniques allow stone effect vinyl to represent just about any kind of rock in incredibly high quality.
There really is a lot of choice so if you still feel a bit unsure about your flooring choice, just give us a call (on 01202 699388) or email us and we can help you talk through your design and requirements.
