Engineered stone flooring is becoming one of the more popular alternatives to natural stone. Mainly used as an alternative to marble and granite countertops, more homeowners—and commercial owners are starting to appreciate some of the benefits that this man-made stone has to offer in other installations, like flooring for example. But before we talk about the benefits of engineered stone flooring, it’s best to understand exactly what engineered stone is and how it’s made.
About Engineered Flooring vs. Natural Stone Flooring
To answer the burning question: What is engineered flooring, it’s a mix of quartz, glass, and pieces of other natural stone from fragments that had been cut away for another project. It’s an eco-friendly way of repurposing materials that would otherwise be scrapped and thrown away.
The great thing about engineered stone is that because it’s man-made, you can custom order your floors to be whatever color scheme you want. With natural stone tiles, you are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Whatever is extracted from the earth is it. It truly is a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” kind of deal when it comes to selecting natural stone flooring. However, with engineered stone flooring, you cannot only choose the color variation you want, but also the color veining.
Where Can You Find Engineered Stone?
At Nalboor Tiles, a wholesale manufacturer of natural stone tiles and engineered stone, we find that most builders who have ordered from us, usually want all-white engineered stone, especially when it comes to flooring. This is because with all of its durable and attractive attributes, marble tile is porous. The surface can withstand a great amount of water; it still has a porous surface to absorb enough liquid to take on any color stain if it is not protected with an annual sealant.
Engineered Stone Tile is Easier to Clean
For people who insist on having “the real thing”, it’ is absolutely crucial to maintain your marble floors with a tile and stone sealer. You can go to your local home goods store or purchase it online. Nalboor Tiles has a wide variety of natural stone sealants for all kinds of natural stone tiles.
Then there are some home and commercial owners who prefer less maintenance. Here’s where the demand for engineered stone comes into play.
Because engineered stone is made up of different kinds of material, something needs to bind it all together. A tempered resin is poured in the mold of crushed quartz and glass—sometimes into a fine powder, giving it a more solid appearance with little to no movement. That resin not only binds these materials into a stone-like slab, it also provides an airtight seal preventing any spills from discoloring the surface.
The Demand for White Engineered Flooring
At Nalboor Tiles, we fill orders of engineered and natural stone tile from all over the country. Yet, because we’re based in Miami, Florida, many local builders tend to seek out white-engineered stone since that tends to be the theme base color for areas like downtown Miami, and Miami Beach. For flooring, Full Body Marmo Glass and the Laminated Marmo Glass have become quite popular with builders who are looking to install white floors. This is mainly due to the air-tight resin that binds everything together making the surface almost impossible to stain and a cinch to clean leaving the white surface looking sparkling brand-new!
Laminated Marmo Glass
The Laminate Marmo Glass is made of finely crushed crystalized glass that’s bound together with resin and then coated with 2-3mm of laminate coating. This gives the white surface a type of gloss that’s unlike any of the natural white stone tiles we have in stock. If you’re looking for a perfectly white natural-looking stone tile, you won’t get any better than Nalboor Tiles’ engineered stone.
With natural stone tile like Bianco Dolomiti and even Vanilla Oro, you have different color variations that will give the surface a slight hue. It could be yellow, grey, or even pink. This is because marble is formed in the ground around other minerals and fossils. When it is subjected to an immense amount of heat, the limestone as well of any surrounding materials literally melt it all together, and then recrystallizing into a beautiful stone. Through this organic process, it’s very rare to find a natural stone that’s one solid color. Of course, there is travertine, but here again, you won’t find anything as white and pristine-looking as the Marmo Glass.
Full Body Marmo Glass
Now, let’s talk about the Full Body Marmo Glass. What’s that all about?
It’s actually the same as the Laminate Marmo Glass…just without the laminate. So, if you’re looking for something that’s a bit toned down, but still want to maintain white flooring, order a supply of Full Body Marmo Glass.
With engineered stone flooring, you won’t have to worry about your floors getting scratched or scuffing—an immediate plus for commercial builds.
Commerical builds tend to take on a lot of foot traffic. Engineered stone flooring is tough enough to take all of it on without a single scratch while maintaining its lustrous surface and beauty. Furthermore, while an annual sealant won’t be necessary, the occasional buffing of the surface won’t be either. Marmo Glass tiles are heat tempered and are scratch resistant. They’re perfect for restaurant kitchens, having the wherewithal to withstand heat up to 400o.
Find Your White Stone Flooring at Nalboor Tiles
If you’re looking to install a light, bright, natural stone flooring that’s going to withstand the harsh conditions of foot traffic day in and out, consider Nalboor Tiles Full Body Marmo Glass or the Laminate Marmo Glass.
See for yourself what the differences are between these two gorgeous tiles. Order a free sample today, and then call one of our representatives to talk about bulk discount ordering. You can also contact us online or call 1-305-501-4548 today.