The Pros and Cons of Stone Flooring For Your Home

When renovating your home, choosing the right flooring is one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make. There are a lot of factors to consider because not only does it need to look amazing and fit with the rest of the decor in the room, but it also needs to be practical. If you’ve got young children or pets, for example, carpets can be a real nightmare. 

If you are about to start a renovation and you are not sure where to begin when choosing the flooring, this guide will help you. In recent years, concrete and stone flooring has become very popular and a lot of people are using it in rooms like the kitchen or bathroom. It’s particularly effective in rustic settings but it also works well in a modern, minimalist home.

But even though stone and concrete flooring are on trend right now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right choice for you. It all depends on the practicalities and the kind of decor that you are going for, as well as the amount of maintenance that you are willing to do. If you have considered stone flooring in your home but you aren’t sure whether it’s right for you or not, here are some pros and cons to help you make a decision. 

Pros Of Stone And Concrete Flooring 

It has a great natural look 

If you want flooring that looks amazing but also has a natural feel to it, stone and concrete are excellent. People often use stone instead of wood in rustic settings because it still has that simplistic, natural feel to it but it’s not as high-maintenance as wood and it also creates a more unique look. However, the great thing about stone and concrete is that it’s very versatile in terms of design. There are a lot of color options available with concrete especially, so whatever decor style you are going for, you can make it work. 

Stone tiles are also one-of-a-kind, so you can give your home a unique look that you won’t find elsewhere. 

It’s incredibly hard-wearing 

If you have a family or pets, you need hard-wearing floors that can withstand a lot of spillages and breakages. Wooden flooring might look great, but it’s easily scratched up and carpets are a nightmare because they will get stained. Stone, on the other hand, is incredibly durable and it can stand up to whatever you throw at it. It can easily take a lot of foot traffic and it’s also very simple to clean, so spillages are not a problem. 

It adds value to your home

Whenever you are making alterations to your home, it is important to consider whether they add value or not. If something does add value, you can consider it an investment because you will make that money back later on when you come to sell the property. Stone and concrete flooring are so popular at the minute, and it’s a very practical choice, so it’s likely to add a lot of value to your home if you ever decide to sell in the future. 

Cons Of Stone And Concrete Flooring 

It’s not very comfortable 

Lack of comfort is one of the major issues that people have with stone and concrete flooring. It’s very hard underfoot and in the winter, it can be incredibly cold. You could consider installing an underfloor heating system but that’s another big expense and another big job to take on during your home renovation. Many people find that alternative flooring types like high gloss laminate flooring, which can mimic stone floors, are a much more comfortable option than real stone or concrete. In some rooms in the home, this is less of an issue but you don’t really want to use stone and concrete in the living areas too much because you want them to be cosy. 

It’s expensive 

The other big downside to stone and concrete flooring is the cost. If you are taking on a big home renovation project, accurate budgeting is crucial. If you don’t keep costs under control, things will spiral and before you know it, you’ll end up in serious financial trouble. Concrete and stone flooring can be very expensive to fit, so it may eat up a large portion of your budget, meaning that you have to make sacrifices everywhere. If you’re working to a tight budget, you should consider a more affordable option. 

Maintenance can be a problem

Some people don’t mind a high-maintenance option but if you want to reduce the level of upkeep required, stone and concrete are not the best options. Many types of porous stone need to be sealed when they are first installed. This seal doesn’t last forever so it will need to be treated again every now and again. Certain types of stone that are brittle are prone to cracks and chips, so will need to be replaced. So, although it is durable and hard-wearing, stone flooring needs a lot of hands-on maintenance to keep it in good condition, which is a problem for some people. 

Certain types of stone can also be damaged by harsh cleaning products. If you are not careful about how you clean the floors, you will end up with stains and discoloration, completely ruining the look of the floors. If you don’t want to deal with buying specialist cleaning products, you need to do your research and avoid any stone types that are easily damaged. 

The Bottom Line 

Stone and concrete flooring can be a good option because it blends well with a lot of different decor styles, it’s hard-wearing, and it’s unique. It’s especially effective in places like the kitchen or bathroom, but there are some downsides. 

It’s not particularly comfortable, so it’s not great for living areas where you want to relax. There can be issues with maintenance too and that’s a deal-breaker for many people. However, if you use it in the right places around the home and you are willing to deal with the upkeep, it’s a great option.