stone types

The term natural stone is a broad one covering a multitude of different types of stone which look very different and have different properties, so perhaps the most important thing to consider when thinking about using natural stone in a project is which type of stone to choose.

The first thing to think about is the position of the installation – is it outdoors? In which case a granite or harder limestone such as the Jura Beige or Blue might be more appropriate than a marble that could potentially erode more quickly, depending on its exposure to weather and pollution. 

If it is to be installed indoors what is the potential wear and tear?  Will it be on the floor or used as a worktop, what will the cleaning regime be and is it likely to have food, wine or chemicals spilled on it on a daily basis?

If it is for use as a work surface in a kitchen, then granite would be the obvious choice as this is extremely hard-wearing.  Marble can be, and is, used for kitchen counter tops but is more likely to be stained and etched by the acid in food, so more care is needed to seal regularly, prevent spillages and clean them up promptly. 

It is for this reason that marble and the softer limestones are more often used in bathrooms and as internal floors in areas where there is less traffic.  Staircases and fireplaces are also often produced in marble or limestone, although granite is a good alternative where load bearing considerations are not a problem.  Pools and spas often use marble or limestone, although care needs to be taken if they are used in the tank where too much chlorine or salt in the water can damage the stone over time.

Next there is obviously the look – does you want a showstopper as a focal piece for the room?  Heavily veined marbles and granites, or if budget permits, quartzite or onyx come in a stunning variety of patterns and colours which are guaranteed to have the sought after wow factor.  Book matching, where two slabs from the same block are used side by side so that the veins meet and mirror each other, is also very in vogue currently and can be used to striking effect.

Or is something more subtle called for to give a beautiful backdrop to a luxurious room?  In this case limestones with small fossil inclusions, “quieter” marbles with less contrast in the veining, and subtly speckled granites are more suitable.

We give a quick resume of the main types of stone below.

  • Granite is an igneous rock which is nearly always massive, hard and tough. For this reason, it is perfect for kitchen worktops and is often used for outdoor purposes.

    In looks it can vary from a small speckle to a highly figured look depending on the stone chosen. There are many different colours available from nearly white to solid black, with reds, yellows, blues and greens in between. There are often specks of mica and quartz in the stone which give a sparkle to it.

  • This metamorphic rock is distinguished by the veins that run through it. These create distinctive patterns especially when the veins are matched or mirrored across the surface, giving a wow factor to a room.

    It is often used in bathrooms and as a wall or floor surface elsewhere. It has traditionally been discouraged for use in kitchens as it is softer and more likely to etch than granite. However recent advances in sealants mean that marble is being used more frequently as an eye-catching surface on kitchen islands.

  • Limestone is a sedimentary stone that is often used as flooring and in bathrooms for vanity tops, cladding and shower trays.

  • Quartz is a man-made stone that is composed of crushed quartz mixed with a resin binder. It is often used for kitchen worktops and bathroom vanities by those people who prefer a more uniform look to their stone without the variations present in natural stone.

  • Sintered stone is the latest technology in composite stones. The raw materials differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, but most contain minerals found in natural stone and porcelain which are subjected to very high heat and pressure to fuse them. There's no need for binding materials such as the resin found in quartz composites. The resulting materials are extremely tough and lend themselves to many different applications from counter tops, to panels and flooring and can be used both internally and externally.

  • Onyx is one of the rarer and more expensive types of stone. It is formed in bands of alternating colours. It is nearly translucent and is often used to create walls with light behind them because of this.

  • Travertine is a sedimentary rock which is hard and durable but typically quite porous due to the nature of how it is formed with calcium carbonate bubbles creating cavities.

    It is often used on floors and as wall cladding, and in bathrooms as vanity tops, basins and shower trays.

  • This is a hard metamorphic rock which is suitable for use as kitchen surfaces. It is often highly coloured and decorative, but is rarer and therefore more expensive than granite.

  • This is metamorphic rock that splits easily into sheets and is most often found in grey, black or green shades.

    It is mainly used for floors, hearths and kitchen worktops.

  • This is a sedimentary rock that comes from sand as the name suggests. Colours vary depending on the sand from which it formed but is often has a reddish tone. It is often used for building and paving materials and other outdoor uses.