A Look at Top 4 Qualities of Stone for Home Renovation Projects

For centuries, natural stones have been the most preferred materials for floors. The very good reason for their popularity is the strength it brings. Add colour assortment and the cleanliness regime and what you get is a total modern home concept. Indian granite and marble tiles are loved by people from all walks of life. Smooth surface and versatility in their appearance brings majority of potential buyers to the Indian suppliers. Affordable cost, simple installation and replacement calls and life-long durability are other key features that make the stone tile floorings from India a very popular choice in domestic as well as international market.
Here are top natural stone materials that you can assess in case you are planning to buy a new house or modify your exiting flooring.

1    Indian Slate stone
Slate stone is a metamorphic rock. Most experts would recommend the sparing use of Indian slates owing to their thin structure. The cost of the slate stones increase as the density of the stone increases. A thicker stone slab made of slate would cost just as much as the marble or limestone of same weight and texture. Most stone suppliers offer cleaved slate stone tiles. Denser natural stone tile of slate will last longer than the lighter ones.

Advantage: The slate stone is a highly resilient flooring surface and preferred for areas in kitchen, hallways and living areas. Cost starts at USD 5 with highest grades available at USD 25 and more. Installation cost is relatively high owing to extra polishing and after-care methods.

2    Travertine
Travertine is gaining popularity, though the sales remain sluggish. The stone from the travertine segment are soft and often sold as part of marble and limestone flooring package. The calcite rock composite in the travertine gives the surface a matte finish. Resemblance to limestone ends with the looks. Durability depends on the way it has been pressed under the machines.

Advantages: Ideal for use in bedrooms and in kid’s room. It gives a very soft landing. It is prone to scratches ad chippings. The price starts at USD 5 and goes up to USD 40.

3    Indian sand stone
Indian sand stone is preferred in the flooring options owing to the exquisite adaptability and consistency of appearance. The metamorphic origin of the sandstone makes it just as fascinating as the limestone and granite tiles. The granite tile suppliers deal in the manufacturing and delivering of the stones. This is an extremely resilient option with suggested uses in hallways, bathrooms, flush rooms and terraces. With minimal options in colours, you have your work cut out in concepts and modern designing. The prices begin at USD 15 and vary up to USD 35 depending on the installation and grade.

4    Granite
The hardest and the most stubborn natural stone used in the floor tiling range is the Indian granite. The Indian granite wholesalers offer one of the best quality granite in the world. It is preferred for both indoors as well as outdoor floorings. The variation in temperature feels awkward if proper care is not taken during laying on floor.  Prices are affordable starting at less than USD 5 per square feet.

A look at top 5 Popular Monuments in India made of Sandstone

Monuments constructed in medieval India used sandstone slabs and blocks. Indian sandstone slabs have somehow managed to revive their lost glory. Modern houses and villas now feature Indian sandstone blocks used extensively for a long-lasting durability. In a bid to recreate the rustic culture, modern designers and home builders are relying on the sandstone theme.

Here are top Indian monuments from the old world that continue to inspire designers.

–    Amer Fort, Rajasthan
Amer Fort is a highly fortified monument located in Amer town. Situated 11 kilometres from Jaipur, Amer Fort features sandstone slabs with Indian elements in design. Built by the Meenas clan, the fort was home to Raja Maan Singh. It is built using red coloured Indian sandstone slabs with assorted marbles in large ramparts and gates. The cobbled pathways have marble flooring tiles with aesthetic ambience exuding from every wall. Sandstone’s opulence is obvious in the courtyard and the Diwan-e-Khas area of the palace. Today, Amer Fort is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoys a place of respect among the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

–    Jama Masjid, Delhi
Even Mughals acknowledged the strength and opulence of Indian sandstone slabs. One of the most popular religious sites in the Islamic culture is the Masjid-e-Jehan Numa. It is popularly called as Jama Masjid. The Persian-styled mosque was built in 1656 using red sandstone slabs with white marble. At one time, it was one of the largest and most spacious mosques in the world. Built at a cost of INR 1 million, the Jama Masjid has three gates and four towers with two minarets made of Red Indian sandstone slabs. It can hold close to 30,000 pilgrims. Similar mosque style was recreated by Aurangzeb in Lahore which is called Badshahi Masjid.

–    Lakshmi Niwas Palace , Bikaner
The royal palace of Bikaner state is made of Red Indian sandstone slabs. Made between 1898 and 1902, the Lakshmi Niwas Palace was conceived as the most perfect modern building. The Indo-Saracenic building is now owned and managed by the Golden Triangle Fort & Palace Private Limited. The Indian sandstone slabs camouflage with the desert hues of Rajasthan.

–    Humayun’s Tomb
The resting place of Mughal emperor, Humayun is also made using one of the most exquisite Indian sandstone slabs. Designed by Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Giyas-uddin, Humayun’s tomb was the first tomb-garden of Asia. The sandstone slab tomb square became the family burial complex for rest of the Mughal royalty. Tombs of Dara Shikoh, Hamida Begum and other significant members are made using sandstone.  The Indian sandstone slabs and blocks were used to restore the former glory of the tomb complex in 1993.

–    Nilkantheshwara Shiva Temple, Orissa
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple was enshrined by the Somavasis in the 10th century. The temple is built using Indian sandstone with cemented plasters and enamel paint. The dry masonry temple has been constructed using Kalingam architecture with laterite.

Other significant buildings made of Indian sandstone slabs are the Central Secretariat, Sher Shah Suri’s tomb and Shri Digamber Jain Temple, Delhi. The Indian sandstone suppliers are exporting slabs to every nook and corner of the world.