Sandstone provides beautiful colour variations that make it perfect for featured stonework and paving. A soft stone, sandstone is easy to work with and has a high porosity so it can quickly discolour if it is not professionally sealed. Readily available in most states of Australia, including Melbourne, sandstone has been used in construction since the early settlement times.

Sandstone is generally faun in colour, matching the white sand colour that the stone gets its name from. Most variations darken the stone in bands of deeper browns, but some can be more yellow of even pink. Sandstone is best suited for low traffic situations where it doesn’t get worn down. Private residences are an example of this. Sandstone is used for both residential and commercial projects alike, where it is often used for pool surrounds, patios, retaining walls and feature walls. Many of the older buildings and churches around Melbourne have sandstone facades.

With every tile being unique, slate brings an elegant, timeless character and a natural feel to any floor. It naturally comes in thin sheets perfectly suited for use as flooring, although it has historically also found use as roof tiles. Slate has beautiful colours and variations that produces a natural dappled appearance.

This natural stone will readily absorb moisture when not sealed, so when used for external surfaces or in wet areas (like kitchens) it is highly recommended that slate be professionally sealed. Slate sealant also brings out the stones colours, making them more vivid and the sealant will prevent fading to maintain these colours significantly longer.

Bluestone is a timeless Australian classic and has been used in Melbourne since the early 1800’s. It’s high density provides a long lasting durability for foot traffic that has resulted in its use for footpath pavers, cobblestones, kerbstones and driveway pavers. 

Bluestone has consistent colouring which makes it a neutral product that allows for creativity in its use through textures and contrasts. Bluestone pavers and tiles are the perfect material to complement any architecturally designed landscape as it will beautifully match other natural materials such as timber, metal or stone. This makes it an excellent choice for all residential and commercial projects where it is often used for pool surrounds, patio pavers and alfresco tiles.

Ceramic tiles are the most cost effective option for your floors. They are available in almost any decorative glaze and are a durable tile. They are usually made from either red or white clay and are heated to about 1400 degrees to become permanently hardened. Ceramic tiles are so versatile, they can be installed almost anywhere in the home or office. Ceramic tiles are usually compared to porcelain tiles, but, in reality they are extremely different tiles. Ceramic tiles have loosely packed molecules in comparison to porcelain and therefore, are less dense and more absorbent. They are prone to discolouration over time due to wear and tear or exposure to the elements of mother nature. They are also easier to cut making them easily installed in a variety of places; which makes it a popular option in any circumstance.

Ceramic tiles come in two varieties: Glazed ceramic and Unglazed ceramic.

Unglazed ceramic tiles was the popular option in the past. They are the same colour throughout the tile and have no print on them unless a pattern was carved or molded into them before the hardening process. Usually handmade, unglazed ceramic tiles have a lot of character in each individual tile. Although beautiful in its own way, Unglazed ceramic tiles are prone to absorb almost anything and having them professionally cleaned and sealed is in the best interest of anyone who owns them.

Glazed ceramic tiles are the most popular tiling option for homes today. Made in the same way as unglazed ceramic, glazed ceramic gets its name from entering the furnace for a second blast after a customised print is embedded on its hardened surface. This glazed surface may provide more protection then its unglazed counterpart, but don’t be fooled, nothing is 100% resistant to dirt and staining.

To protect the beautifully printed patterns or images on its surface, a layer of topical sealer will provide an added layer of protection; almost eliminating wear and tear from the surface of the tile and creating a buffer for unexpected mishaps such as scratching of the surface.

Whether it be on your living room floors, shower walls or balcony floors, porcelain tiles are a great and versatile option in any home or workspace.

Porcelain tiles are made from the same clay as ceramic tiles but also contains Silicate minerals which gives procelain’s characteristic white seashell colour. The only way to bond the clay and mineral together to form the porcelain is to heat it up to temperatures around 1500 degrees celsius. Because of this specific composition and extremely high temperatures, porcelain tiles are extremely dense making them heavier and almost non-porous.

With such extreme processes required to make porcelain, the finished tile is one of the hardest flooring surfaces you can have; even harder than granite!

The colour of porcelain tile is not just on the surface but runs down through the tile. This means that the color will stay the same as it wears down which will take some considerable time and the hard wearing nature of porcelain allows it to be used in any area, be it wet or dry.

There are two types of porcelain tiles installed in the average home – glazed porcelain tiles and unglazed porcelain tiles.

Glazed porcelain tiles undergo an extra process in which liquid glass is bonded on top of the porcelain. This allows for a variety of different patterns and colours to be given to the tile other than your usual earthy mineral colours that unglazed porcelain characteristically has. Glazed porcelain is practically non-porous so the need for sealing them is eliminated. The only downside is that the grout between the tiles are so porous that any imperfection tends to show up right away. A professional clean and a good quality sealant will help keep your Glazed Porcelain floors and grout lines looking fantastic for years to come.

Unglazed porcelain tiles undergo a polishing process from the factory to refine the overall aesthetic look. This process, although it brings up a shine, opens up the pores of the tiles just enough that they become absorbent. All unglazed porcelain tiles require a quality penetrating sealer in order to stop staining and absorption of dirt over time. In most cases, a professional clean of unglazed porcelain tiles will bring them back to new again and then a quality penetrating sealer will keep them looking that way for years to come.

Due to the dense nature of porcelain, the surface is very smooth and floors can become extremely slippery when wet. One the best ways to combat this is an anti-slip treatment applied by a professional. When applied by a professional, it won’t deflect from the aesthetics or shine that porcelain gives.

Limestone is a popular natural stone option for floors, walls, steps and outdoor pavers. It’s formed under the sea and is pressurised, which makes it durable, yet porous. While limestone is soft underfoot, luxurious and has a medium range durability, it’s cost-effectiveness and ease to cut into when building has long made it popular among architects and home-renovations.

Limestone’s softer and porous properties can result in surface wear and loss of polish in high traffic areas. We recommend sealing your limestone tiles or flooring with a good quality sealer every 2 or 3 years.

Comprising of calcium carbonate and other collections of calcite, aragonite materials and marine fossil debris (e.g. shells, coral and bones), it has a subtle natural blend. This makes it popular with current minimalist trends while still imbuing warmth. Due to it’s porous and soft properties, it’s extremely absorbent and should be sealed to prevent staining and deep dirt build up. While most limestone is resistant to salt build-up, making it ideal for pool areas, acid can dissolve the calcium carbonate properties. If acid attacks polished or fine-honed limestone it can leave etching marks on the surface.

Some sealers are thinner than others, due to their active ingredients, which is why they’re cheaper. A DIY solution from home hardware stores, such as Bunnings and some competitors may quote you on this. We recommend you ask any company who quotes how often you’ll need to re-seal the area. Cheaper options will see you resealing every few months, whereas a good-quality sealer, which is matched to your floors properties and area in the property, should protect your floors for a minimum of 2 or 3 years.

If you’re facing dirty, stained or darkened limestone floor tiles or pavers, contact us today for a free competitive quote. We beat any written quote by 10%. Our technicians have degrees in nano and biochemistry, understanding the unique properties of natural stone and tiled floors.

Acclaimed for its beauty, elegance and style, marble has graced mansions of the elite for centuries, making it a high-end, luxurious option for interiors. It’s timeless appearance, elegance and durability make it a popular choice for homes and businesses.

From hotel entrances to residential kitchens and bathrooms, marble flooring makes a statement in any space and like all stone tiles, it requires maintenance. Marble is porous, which means it stains, scratches and wears easily. It is especially vulnerable to household acids like vinegar, mustard, citrus and other food-related products. Acidic substances can cause deep stains, etching in the tile and can remove the marble’s natural, stunning shine.

Like all natural stones, marble needs to be sealed regularly. Since cleaning products for deep stains on marble are limited, it’s worth the time and effort to hire a restoration professional.

While marble was once rare and exotic, due to it only being imported from Italy, it is now mined throughout the world, making it more accessible. It is available in smaller tiles, compared to the large slabs that once required custom-fitting. However, it is still a valuable commodity and regardless of the marble’s origin, it conveys its unique characteristics that people desire  – individuality, natural shine, timeless qualities and sophisticated finishs

Quarry tiles provide a hard wearing brick like tile for flooring which are manufactured from clay in a manner similar to bricks. Like bricks, quarry tiles are porous and will soak up spills if they aren’t sealed and waxed.

Wooden floors have been a staple since houses have been built. The different types of timber produce different colours and the grain produces different patterns so no two floors look the same. The versatility of the material means you can build an entire house from wood, but it is the preferred surface for dances.