FLAGSTONE FLOORING

Flagstone - A Beautiful Material

Flagstone has a long history and has been used in the UK for many centuries for flooring, roofing, walls and fances. Nowadays we use flagstone mainly for flooring both inside and outside. As it is a natural material, flagstone ages with grace unlike many modern composite stone copies or cement. In addition flagstone comes in all shapes, sizes and looks depending on the source of the stone, so no two flagstone floors are the same. There is nothing quite like walking into a room with a beautiful flagstone floor. It provides a solid, permanent feel and somehow connects the room or exterior with nature. A truly natural and green product, flagstone will enhance any room or external area around your house.

It is possible to be extremely creative when working with a natural stone flooring product like flagstone. For example, one can create beautiful mosaics and patterns to give that completely individual touch to any project. The very fact that flagstone varies so much means you can obtain the look and feel you want for your floor, such as random stone shapes, perfectly aligned slabs or any pattern of your choice. Once finished your floor will be easy to care for and can add real value to your home.

What Is Flagstone?

Flagstone is a general name for any type of sedimentary rock which esentially splits into relatively even slabs or shapes. This is why there is so much variation in the many different types of flagstone found in the UK. Recently there has been a revival in Caithness flagstone which comes from the most northerly county in mainland Britain. Caithness flagstone has a particularly beautiful and aged appeal and many stunning kitchen floors have been showcased on television that have used Caithness flagstone. Of course it depends on personal taste as so many different colours and textures of flagstone are available.

In recent times the term "flagstone" has come to mean many different types of stone flooring or rather stone slab flooring. This includes non-natural "stone" floors such as concrete imitators and composite products. Be sure to research your stone source carefully and make sure you ask about classical flagstone as your chosen material. Whilst some of the modern products may look good initially they simply do not have the wear or weathering ability of natural flagstone. Some people opt for artificial flagstone flooring to achieve an even design, unaware that this is pefectly possible with a wholly natural product. It really is worth doing research as the options for flagstone flooring using natural materials is immense.

Laying Flagstone Flooring

It is essential that several basic rules are followed when laying a flagstone floor either inside or outside your house. You must make sure there is a solid, even base or subfloor for the flagstone to rest upon and this base must be free of any moisture or movement. If your flagstones move your grouting or infill will move and this could lead to future problems. Fortunately flagstone is quite heavy and if laid properly will stay stable for years. The grouting must also be solid and free of leakage. The last thing any flagstone floor needs is water leaking down in between the slabs causing problems underneath the floor. Make sure your flagsone floor is sealed properly and it will save you much work in the future.

Flagstone Flooring Over Time

Looking after a natural flagstone floor is easy, it simply involves sweeping with a brush or using a mop gently with some luke-warm water to rid the slabs of more stubborn dust. Remember that it is a natural stone product and the whole point of opting for a flagstone floor is to achieve that natural look. It will develop it's own colour over time and indeed it's own character, reflecting this on the whole room. Nowadays there are many many tiles, slabs and other materials to choose from but nothing quite compares to the natural look. You may wish to opt for a natural limestone flagstone or the dark aged beauty of the Caithness product. Perhaps a warm reddish-brown or a near black look may be more suitable - the options for your kitchen, living room or patio are endless. Flagstone is a truly versatile product and can be used in many different areas of your house. Once complete no other flooring product brings nature, beauty and hardwearing practicality together like beautuful flagstone.

Natural Flagstones

Some artificial flagstone products can look very realistic and when laid properly in your home or garden can be appealing to the eye in their own way. However, if you want durability from your kitchen floor, patio or pathway, choose natural flagstones. For starters natural flagstone is much harder than man made composites, despite what the adverts you see may say. It also looks great worn and the longer it's used the better natural flagstone gets. The slabs, when used outside such as on a patio or flagstone paving slabs, gain a beautiful colour and look that is simply not achieveable from fake stone products. In the house, such as kitchens or any natural flagstone flooring area, the floor will wear with grace and be much longer lasting than even you! Nothing grabs the eye quite like a beautiful natural flagstone floor in the home.