Stone is considered an apple of the eye of the architects and builders due to its amazing properties of durability, aesthetics, and ease of maintenance. But did you know that it is one of the most sustainable building materials as well? Besides adding almost no share in CO2 emissions, it is a low maintenance material. You don’t need to keep spending on this material to maintain its qualities and appearance.

Moreover, it doesn’t end here; stone requires no backing or heating like bricks. Natural stone also doesn’t have any toxic chemicals like VOCs that can pollute the indoor air like synthetic surfaces such as carpeting and vinyl. It can passively heat and cool as it has a large specific heat capacity. It can store and dissipate large amounts of energy.

Stone Requires Low Maintenance

Natural stone takes a long time before showing any signs of dirt, wear, and tear when compared with materials like wood, gypsum board, or vinyl. It is difficult to scratch, water log, or stain. Stones such as limestone, marble, and slate are used in bathrooms as they are impervious to water. The granite’s properties of being sturdy, scratch-proof, and easy-to-clean, make it the best choice for kitchen counter tops.

Stone Is Sustainable

Other than the fact that it occurs naturally, the stone doesn’t need extensive heating or cleaning processes, thus causing a decrease in the CO2 emissions. Stones like gneiss, granite, limestone, marble, quartzite, sandstone, and serpentine are easily found in North America. Usually, there are stone quarries located within 500 miles of any building site in the USA and Canada. You don’t have to worry about the CO2 emissions caused by its transportation.

Using Stone Outdoors

The stone ages gracefully, while having great abilities to withstand the harsh changes in the weather conditions.

It can be added as a charm to your garden walkway. It is certainly the most long-lasting outdoor material when compared to wood or concrete as it doesn’t warp, rot, or disintegrate over time.  It is neither prone to attacks of termites, beetles, nor erodes like soil.

You can install stone on your outdoor patios and walkways. It is expensive when compared with other materials. However, it has the advantage of long life and durability while requiring minimum maintenance.

Stone is the most preferred choice when it comes to building retaining walls and raised planter beds. Landscape plants and trees can be given a constant supply of water through stone walls, as it doesn’t erode or disintegrate over time, unlike soil or wood. If placed intelligently, the stone can reinforce the designed landscape.

Using Stone Indoors

Stone’s amazing properties can be used in washroom floors, kitchen countertops, and the bathroom floor. They can either be used to build strong walls or for decorations. According to the Natural Stone Council, stone lasts over 100 years if it is properly maintained, which is certainly more than the other competing materials.

Stone can be used as a flooring material in places with high wear and tear or excessive usage. Even if it is damaged, its color and texture hide it very well, unlike vinyl or wood that have visible flaws. The regular sweeping makes the stone floor good as new, and also helps to maintain the temperature of the house.

Stone walls are very resilient towards damage, fingerprints, and dirt. The walls are also recyclable, as old stone buildings can be demolished and used for retaining walls.

As mentioned above, the stone is impervious to moisture, thus a perfect fit to be used in the bathrooms. Limestone can be used to create pebbles for shower floors and slates for sinks. Marble can be utilised to create countertops that are easy to clean but hard to stain.

Stone is the obvious choice when picking up a working space for kitchens. Moreover, the countertops usually endure the maximum wear due to sharp utensils, mechanical force, spills, and extreme temperatures. Hence, countertops are usually built using granite and marble due to their sturdiness and imperviousness to moisture and heat. These are also very difficult to scratch but easy to clean. It will also avoid the accumulation of bacteria and microbes on your kitchen counter while offering you a clean and healthy working space.

Who knew that the stone would be that useful!