The digital decade of the 21st Century is an excellent example of an oxymoron, two contradictory terms working in conjunction with each other, where there exists both space-age marvels and homeowners opting for home renovations using natural stone. The 21st century, indeed, could well be called 'the new stone age.'
'Virtual workers' 'hunching and grunting' over computers in home office dens with slate flooring, metallic 'birds,' known as drones, flying through the air dropping brown paper packages to natural stone doorsteps, slate walkways or patios, and the 'asphalt jungle' of brick and mortar shopping malls, where once the 'natives' roamed seeking their bounty of clothing and household goods, fading away to on-line shopping behind natural stone veneer home facades.
Benefits Of Natural Stone
Home Renovations
Yes, homeowners are awakening to a 'new stone age,' that envelops both the ease and convenience of technology and the 'back to nature' long-lasting beauty of natural stone. The best of both worlds reaping such benefits as:
Eco-Friendly Homes: Using 21st Century terms, natural stone is a WYSIWYG material - what you see is what you get! Architects, landscape designers, and builders love natural stone for its visually aesthetic properties and because there is no added manufacturing process required. Stone is an abundant natural resource excavated from local quarries, geographically located within 500 miles of most major U.S. metropolitan areas. Granite and marble, with proper maintenance, retain that original 'new' appearance, no matter how much they get used, while synthetic (manufactured) materials such as laminate, plastic, and vinyl can fade and wind up in landfills. Natural stone keeps the heat of summer and cold of winter outside, which saves on home energy costs.
Design Variation: Differences in colors, patterns, texture, and shape make natural stone ideal as building material inside and outside the house.
Uniqueness: Slate walkways, patios, natural stone garden walls, and planters bring a warm and welcoming embrace to all who come calling, with unique visual appeal that sets a home apart from neighboring homes.
Home Remodeling Using Natural Stone
Granite and marble are the most popular, but there are many choices available to fit any household budget and renovation project. To save costs, consider granite or marble tile, rather than granite or marble slabs. Consider purchasing a standard marketplace color choice for granite. Consider purchasing a lesser grade of marble or other natural stone.
Below are some of the widely used natural stone material, areas of the home it is found, and the pricing; lowest to most expensive per foot:
Slate: a rough-textured stone but can be honed smoothed. The rougher texture of slate, with its varied geometric patterns, provides excellent traction and can often be found in entryways, sunrooms, on patios, bathroom vanities, and kitchen countertops. Standard colors are dark grey, soft red, blue, brown, and green. On average, pricing for slate tile: $50 - $65 per square foot, a slab: $100 per square foot.
Travertine: Resembles marble when polished but also has a 'rough antique appearance.' As a porous stone, it is necessary to seal the stone. Colors range from light creamy yellow to dark rust. Average price range is $50 to $100 per square foot.
Limestone: Porous and hard, like marble, with a grain pattern resembling wood when cutting in strips. It is not as hard as marble but has the appearance of marble for countertops and flooring. Average price range is $55 to $125 per square foot.
Granite: Granite is most prevalent in kitchen and bath countertops and flooring. It is the hardest of flooring materials and stain and scratch-resistant and available in a wide range of colors. When used as flooring, it can be 'flamed' to be slip-resistant. For example, average prices of granite at marble.com can range from $45 to $200 per square foot.
Marble: Marble, is very elegant and often used selectively in entry foyers, bathroom countertops, or a specific area of kitchen countertop, such as center aisle, where the bulk of meal prep done. Marble can be slippery, and not recommended as flooring in the bath or kitchen area. Average price range is $75 - $250 per square foot.
Pricing for exterior stonework for patios, walkways, steps or walls will vary with the type of stone wanted and amount of area needing renovation, as well as your location.
