Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the common questions that our customers ask about natural stones, designs, stone care and shipping.
* What are the different types of stones?
There are various types of stones that are used for flooring and decorative purposes. The most well known ones are marble, granite, travertine, limestone, and slate.
* Where do stones come from?
Mountains are the largest source of natural stone. Rriverbeds and sea are also the sources of natural stone.
* What are the shinny flakes inside the stone?
Each stone type has different minerals, which gives various properties to stone.
* Is one stone better than other? What is the best stone?
Each type of natural stone has unique characteristics that make them harder, softer or shinier. Depending on your application, there are some design preferences of some type over another. For example, limestone tiles are not suitable for high traffic areas but will be perfect for wall applications.
StoneTileDepot.com only carries stone tiles and decorative natural stone products, which are suitable for interior or exterior floors and walls.
* Are some countrie's stones better than others?
There is a general misconception that some countries produces better stones than other. Natural stones come from the nature itself; they are raw materials for tiles and slabs industry. The manufacturing processes will bring out the beauty of the natural stone. StoneTileDepot.com manufacturers have state of the art manufacturing facilities capable of producing high quality natural stone products.
* What are the different finishes? What are the differences between?
Finishing stone is similar to sanding process: smaller grit and longer sanding gives stone more shinny polished look, whereas less will make it look more natural. Finish is a design preference. Usually polished surfaces are used where a modern look is sought. They require more delicate care and handling compared to antiqued or tumbled surfaces which have a natural patina and will take a better wear and tear over time.
Some stones like travertine have natural holes as a result of sedimentary minerals. These voids or holes can be left unfilled to give even more natural look to the floor. They are also available as filled travertine or you can grout the holes when you grout your joints.
* What are the different types of edges? What are the differences between them?
As for the type of finishes, the edge finish is also a design preference. Below are the type of edge finishes generally preferred:
Straight cut or SC: Tiles are sawn and has a sharp edge. Preferred by customer in Southeast and Southwest for seamless floors without any grout joints.
Bevelled: Also called Chamfered, the bevel is used to make installation easier and to eliminate sharp leveling differences on the floor between tiles when grout is used.
* What makes an exotic stone "exotic"?
Exotic stones come from very remote parts of the world; they require extra care in production and handling. Due to the weather conditions, seasonal limitations, transportation restrictions, those stones are available in small quantities, therefore they are exotic.
* What are the advantages of natural stone over man-made stones?
Do you know a plastic surface that looks fascinating after couple of years? Natural stone is natural and creates a unique atmosphere everywhere it is used. They will not let go of their beauty even after thousands years. Man-made stones are esthetically repetitive and have artificial look. They can wear easily over time and will quickly loose their appeal. In addition natural stones might not need constant maintenance: Take a look at the Lincoln Memorial, or The Pyramids they still look good after all these years, don’t they?
* What are the standard sizes for a tile floor? What is the standard thickness of a tile?
Commonly used tiles are 4x4 to 24x24. The tile size is also a design preference however, larger the area you want to cover you might consider using larger dimensions. Most of the interior stone tiles are 12X12 or 18X18, standard thickness is 3/8” on 12X12 and ½” on 18X18.
We do not recommend tiles thicker than ½ “ unless you have a concrete floor and have a cement mud installation. Please consult your installer for more information.
* What are the decorative stones? What are they used for?
Decorative stones tiles are used for accentuate various surface covering forms. You can use mouldings to frame an art work on your wall. You can use borders to clarify the distinction between your living room and kitchen. The possibilities are immense with mosaics, mouldings, and borders.
* What is the temperature of the stone? What are my options on heating floors?
In general natural stone retains heat and cold. It is cooler than room temperature. If you prefer heated floors, please consult your installer for your options.
* Are more expensive stones better?
Not exactly. The price of natural stone depends on the capacity of its quarry and its production volume. The higher the production, the less expensive the price is. On the other hand, some of the World’s best stones like carrara or travertines are less expensive due to their enormous reserves.
* Is it better to get a lighter color than darker color?
This is strictly a matter of taste. Generally, it is better to use lighter color stones where you don’t have a lot of natural light exposure.
* Why would I want to use a porous travertine?
Travertine is a wonderful natural material that gives warm, old world look at affordable prices. Also it is easy to maintain. If you don’t like holes, you can have your tiles grouted by your installer.
* Would a darker color darken the room?
Generally, it is better to use lighter color stones where you don’t have a lot of natural light exposure.
* Why do I want to use natural stone on the wall? Can I use slabs for my wall?
Stone tiles can also be used for bathrooms, showers, and backsplashes where your walls are exposed to a lot of wet and slippery elements. It is also easy to clean and repent water.
* Can I mix different stones with different textures in the same room?
Yes, you can. However, it is recommended that you use materials from the same parts of the world to keep some similar characteristics. You can still use different colors.
* Where do I use decos?
Decorative natural stones are mostly used to accentuate your tiles, floor and walls.
* What is the purpose of using a base moulding?
Stone mouldings are used to enhance your floors and give a custom stone look. It will also provide a deep 3D feel to your room.
* Is a polished stone good to use in a bathroom floor or foyer?
Yes, almost every five star hotel uses polished marble in their bathrooms and showers.
* Can I do my countertop using tiles or other natural stone products?
Yes, you can use our tiles and mouldings to get a natural stone countertop. With minimal grout joints, it will be like natural stone countertop at the quarter price of solid countertop.
* Will my stone stain? What type of stones are resistant to stain?
We recommend sealing all natural stone with a good sealer like Miracle Sealants. Once sealed, all stone will be stain resistant. Please see your sealers instructions for recommended sealing procedures.
* Will my stone change colors or degrade in quality when sealed?
Different sealers have different degrees of changing the stone color. However, sealing the stone will give a slight wet and cleaner look to it. There are sealers without color enhancers and it will almost retain the original look of the stone.
* How often do I need to seal my stone?
Depending on the usage, you might seal your stone tiles once a year. See your sealer’s instructions.
You can check out the Marble Institute of America for stone care information.
* How can you offer lower prices?
At StoneTileDepot.com, we can offer very competitive prices primarily because we buy directly from selected manufacturers and secondly we sell directly to you on the Internet. Our only showroom is our website and we update our product catalogue almost every day. On the other hand, we have arranged some pick-up locations with warehouses around the country to carry our inventory. As you can see; we 1.continuosly look into reducing our operational cost and in return, your cost of buying quality natural stone products in this market.
* Where are the pick-up locations?
Our current pick-up locations are in Carlstadt (New Jersey), Miami (Florida), Fullerton (California), Dulles (Virginia) and Chicago (Illinois). You need to schedule a pick up time with our representatives to make sure that your merchandise is ready at the pick up location.
* Can I order Samples?
Yes. Browse through our product collections and you will see the "Order Sample" button which will automatically add 1 SF or PC of that product to your shopping cart. Orders are shipped by UPS. Due to the UPS weight restrictions. Your sample order can not be more than 50lbs which is around 8 to 10 items in your shopping cart.
* When do you ship samples? How soon can I receive them?
We ship the sample orders the next day we receive the order. You have UPS Ground, Next Day, or 2nd Day options when you order. You can check your sample order shipping status at http://ups.com/content/us/en/index.jsx
Your merchandise will be prepared with ultimate care.
* Can I pick up my order?
Yes. You can pick up your order from our warehouses. You need to select "None-Freight Collect Only" for shipping method. You need to call our sales representative to schedule a pick-up time at your earliest convenience.
* How much do I pay for freight?
The freight is calculated automatically for UPS shipments and Common Carrier Residential and Commercial shipments. Usually we can find cheaper alternatives if the destination is in New Jersey, Florida, or in Virginia. Please call us for orders larger than 1000SF or PC to help you get a better rate. Freight also depends on commercial and residential delivery. For residential deliveries, the truck will be equipped with a lift gate usually included with the freight charge. Our residential delivery is CURBSIDE only.
* When do I receive my merchandise?
We usually ship within 24 hours for orders placed within weekdays. For orders placed on Saturday and Sunday, the order will be prepared for the next business day. We will carefully select and prepare your order from the same sample batch ensuring ultimate color and vein harmony. After we ship your merchandise we will email you the tracking information if available.
* What if my merchandise is damaged?
We work with UPS and various common carrier companies to deliver your order. StoneTileDepot.com will wrap your material to protect it against any damage during the shipment. If your merchandise arrives damaged, you should contact us immediately for assistance. Please check your merchandise with the common carrier to make sure that no tiles are damaged during the shipment.
* What are commercial delivery conditions?
Ordering / Shipping for Commercial customers and sites means that the business is open from 8-5 M-F for delivery and no appointment will be scheduled. If carrier can’t make delivery due to closure on the business site, a redelivery fee will apply.
* Disclaimer: The information provided at this page is property of StoneTileDepot.com and cannot be copied without a written authorization from StoneTileDepot.com. StoneTileDepot.com is not responsible for any damages, losses or injuries that may be caused by the information provided here. It is the customers responsibility to make sure that proper installation, care, and guidelines are used before using any of products.