Limestone Tiles Can't Help But Impress
They are intriguing towns and villages dotted across Ontario: St. Mary's, Perth and Kingston, to name three. Driving into them, one gets an immediate sense of tradition, solidity and strength. Their style and variation in their architecture is impressive and the importance of their public buildings equally so. The linking feature of the three – and others in the province – is the extensive use of limestone in the construction of their older buildings. Builders used local materials and these towns were blessed with a convenient nearby supply of limestone.
The use of limestone is not indigenous to Canada of course, and it was in vogue long before Ontario towns sprang up out of the forest a couple of centuries ago. The Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt is clad in limestone. On the Mediterranean island of Malta the only building material available for a long time was limestone. And in Scotland, the forebears of the stonemasons that built those impressive Ontario villages were master crafters in limestone.
Limestone as an exterior building material is uncommon now, due to its expense. The early need to build imposing public structures in towns – having a limestone train station, for example, as a focal entry point to a town – has faded. But because of its durability, and the ease with which it could be quarried and shaped has meant that we have a substantial legacy of limestone buildings.
Limestone Goes Inside
Limestone is, like most other sedimentary rocks, composed of grains. These grains are the skeletal fragments of marine organisms, or shells. There are often other amounts of coloration, including clay, silt and sand distinguishing the stone. What this means is that, visually, limestone is exciting – and coupled with the ease with which it can be cut, this now makes it a popular material for quality indoor application.
In particular, limestone lends itself to interior tiling. Its diversity of appearance, ability to be customized in size, and minimal maintenance requirements make it ideal. Although the exterior use of limestone traditionally has been the preserve of Victorian structures, today's use of it inside is much more flexible; limestone is a time-shifting chameleon. It looks appropriate both in traditional home décor and in the most modern designs. It can match any colour scheme, and the variation in its own coloration gives it a real fascination. Limestone tiles look good in any room of a building or house – and are ideal for hallways, stairways, kitchens and bathrooms.
Compared to other stones, limestone tiles require little maintenance. Because it is softer, it is essential to use non-abrasive cleaners and soaps, and wiping should be with warm water and a soft cloth.
Who Can Install Your Tiles
As with most stone products, limestone tiles should be installed by experts. There are many specialists out there and – although the tiles are readily available from many suppliers – it is advisable to work with a specialist. Find a dealer whose business depends on limestone; they will have a vested interest in getting you the best product, and installing it to your satisfaction. Consider a family business with a long-standing reputation. The stonemasons who built those gorgeous limestone buildings that dot the towns and cities of Ontario were not without their ego and pride. They knew they had a material that could convey solidity, prosperity and success. You should expect your installer to have the same love for this versatile and accommodating material.