Limestone

About Limestone

Stone slabs and tiles can replace a broad range of other, less durable materials. Even when porous, many stones hold great for decades without showing prominent signs of damage.

Limestone is a type of organic sedimentary rock formed from algae, shells, coral, along with direct water crystallization. Their fossils accumulate on a seabed, exposed to hundreds of years of heat, pressure, and compression, slowly turning to a rock formation. 

Limestone Advantages 

• Reliability: This material is strong and dense. Its low porosity makes it resistant to freeze, water, and scratches while providing an anti-slip surface at the same time. 
• Appearance: It’s available in a variety of colours, including black, grey, cream, brown, red, pink, and even gold; suitable for various design solutions.
• Versatility: Being softer than marble or granite, this rock is easier to cut and manipulate, making a good fit for all kinds of applications. 
• Cost-effectiveness: Along with the flexibility of installation comes a lower upfront cost compared to luxurious stones. It requires minimal maintenance and can last for decades.   
• Eco-friendliness: It’s an energy-efficient solution, easy to obtain - from a straightforward mining process to simplified finishing methods in the factory. 

Limestone Applications

• Stairs: This material is easy to work with, while its texture provides decent slip resistance. 
• Kitchen countertops: While granite and quartz make the most popular choices, limestone worktops are more affordable, easy to clean and care for.
• Fireplaces: Resistance to flame and fire makes it ideal for framing hot areas such as fireplaces. 
• Patios, terraces and garden paths: Limestone paving is excellent for gardens and other outdoor spaces, due to its naturally rough finish with good anti-slip. 
• Bathroom: Adequately sealed, it’s waterproof and stain-resistant, suitable for humid areas.
• Limestone backsplash: Easy to clean with a practical finish at an affordable price, sealed tiles won’t absorb damp, dirt or mould like many other materials.
• Limestone flooring: Ideal for a traditional farmhouse kitchen look, this style of flooring can also fit many modern decors. 
• Feature wall: Large tiles provide a discreet yet visually interesting feature. 

Types of Limestone

Sorted by Structure

Limestone is a sedimentary stone composed largely of calcium carbonate, typically in the form of aragonite or calcite. The rest of the compound is magnesium carbonate, with minor percentages of clay, pyrite, iron carbonate, feldspar, and quartz.  

• Chalk: This light-coloured, fine-grained version is formed from an accumulation of calcareous shell remains of microscopic marine organisms. It features a delicate, easily crushed texture in white or light grey shade. 
• Coquina: A variety composed mostly of sand-size fragments of a calcareous shell with a minor content of coral debris. 
• Crystalline limestone: This metamorphic rock is formed when its structure is exposed to heat and pressure, resulting in the creation of marble.
• Dolomitic limestone: Mainly composed of calcite. Dolomitization is a process that completely alters the original rock composition, turning it into dolomite.
• Fossiliferous limestone: Distinguished by a high content of obvious fossils, mainly marine invertebrates.
• Lithographic limestone:  A dense rock with fine, uniform grain size and smooth surface.
• Oolitic Limestone: The concentric accumulation of tiny clasts of calcium carbonate with a spherical to ovate shape. 
• Travertine: This variety is white when pure but mainly found in tan, cream, greenish, and brownish hues.
• Tufa: A porous rock often formed at hot springs and places with waters saturated with calcium carbonate.

Sorted by Origins

Limestones can be found in a number of locations worldwide, from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It forms wherever shellfish, algae, and corals are abundant, producing a large amount of calcium carbonate. All versions are rich in fossil content. 

The style, look, colour and structure of rock are prevalently determined by its origin and location conditions. One of the most famous African types is Tura limestone, used in Egypt for the Great Pyramid together with the Mokattam version. Another example could be Galala marble that is limestone by structure, although called a marble. 

Jerusalem Grey Limestone is an Israeli variety, highly sought after. Australian Tamala and New Zealand’s Oamaru stones are also quite popular among architects and homeowners. 

Types Of Limestone Tile Finishes

Polished 

Limestone is a moderately to very porous material, requiring a specific filling that will reduce those pores. After the sealing process, polishing makes the surface uniform and ready for application. Polishing makes the surface brighter, glossy, and more reflective, ideal for indoor use on walls and floors.

Brushed 

The brushed finish is the simplest of all, making a subtly coloured surface. The process uses wire brushes in order to create a clean, matte finish, ideal for outdoor spaces.

Flamed 

As the name says, the flaming process involves a hot torch flame creating a textured, semi-rough surface with a non-slip finish. Only certain types of limestone can be flame finished.

Tumbled 

Tumbling is an additional part of the finishing process. A flamed finish can be tumbled further for a more matte appearance and slightly rounded edges of the individual tiles. Tumbled finishes are easy to maintain, slip-resistant, and ideal for use on driveways and patios in place of slate. 

Things to Consider When Buying Limestones

When buying limestone flooring, it’s important to decide on tile size. If the subfloor is uneven, stones in a smaller format might help to conceal it. Otherwise, large-format tiles typically define a more contemporary look, with fewer grout lines. 

While most versions are of natural origin, it’s also possible to find it as engineered stone.

Limestone chips and peels are not a big issue. The separation of tiny pieces happens due to the deterioration. Repairs include poaching, slicing, and detachment repairs.