Limestone Floors? (Austin, Howe: home, tile, maintenance)

[FueledByBlueBell]

Anyone have these in their home? If so, how do you like them? What are your thoughts on resale value? Any dealers (or deals) you recommend?

Many thanks

[Trainwreck20]

Don't know anything about them, but I would worry about their durability - limestone is pretty soft - and you would have to seal them, as well, or they would stain easily.

[Idlewile]

Yes, as stones go, limestone is very soft and porous and I've been told before (while discussing different types of stones -- we were interested in bluestone) it is not recommended for high traffic areas. Also, it seems like the majority of porcelain tiles out there are mimicking the look of limestone which, to me, makes it harder to discern or appreciate the difference.

[Eastcoasting]

I am of two minds as far as limestone floors, we have them in our place back in NY (kitchen) and they are beautiful. Warm golden color, fossilized sea shells and quartz in a few of the squares.

However, like most stone floors they require some real maintenance and need to be stripped and sealed about once a year.

So, gorgeous with some maintenance issues...like a few relationships I had when I was single!

Also be aware that some of the limestone tiles out there have some variation in the depth of the tile so you will need a very capable craftsman to lay the tile to avoid any peaks or valleys.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Don't know anything about them, but I would worry about their durability - limestone is pretty soft - and you would have to seal them, as well, or they would stain easily.

I second this. While it is attractive, limestone is soft, brittle, easy to damage and absorbs stains. I would look for a denser stone if you want to use it on the floor.

[centralaustinite]

We have a limestone capstone on top of a pillar on our porch, about a meter high. All it took was a toddler with a mallet (a wooden mallet from the kitchen, not a heavy tool) to "soften" the edges of the stone. I can't imagine having it as a floor! Keeping it level would seem to be a problem too.

[FueledByBlueBell]

Eh, I'm not that dedicated. Maybe travertine is a slightly easier choice?

Debating between that and wood. Hmmm.

[hts]

Travertine will last forever! We have a nice noce versailles pattern laid down (100%) in our 4,440 sq ft home here in Phx. It's virtually indistructable. I plan to do a combination of travertine/wood when we come to Austin.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by FueledByBlueBell

Eh, I'm not that dedicated. Maybe travertine is a slightly easier choice?

Debating between that and wood. Hmmm.

If I had to choose between tile (any kind) and wood, I would go with wood. Tile, no matter how neutral it may seem, will eventually become dated (remember all that white tile from the 80's?). And when it does, and you want to change it, it is a royal pain in the rear end and expensive to do. I also think tile in every room is just very cold and not inviting. Wood never goes out of style. And it can be refinished.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by mm57553

If I had to choose between tile (any kind) and wood, I would go with wood. Tile, no matter how neutral it may seem, will eventually become dated (remember all that white tile from the 80's?). And when it does, and you want to change it, it is a royal pain in the rear end and expensive to do. I also think tile in every room is just very cold and not inviting. Wood never goes out of style. And it can be refinished.

Things like flooring aesthetics are completely subjective, but I agree. Any home we looked at that had a lot of tile we crossed off the list unless it made up for elsewhere -- none did. We do not like living on tile. It's hard on the back, cold and not child-friendly. To us, it doesn't matter what it is, travertine, marble, ceramic, whatever. Tile is $2-$3 a sq ft to remove and it's a giant mess. My preference is for wood throughout or even carpet on the first floor to easily rip out (free or very little cost, depending on who you hire for your floors.) The only place I would ever consider tile is in an entry.