Natural stone is an excellent investment for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and commercial spaces. Various options include marble, soapstone, granite and quartzite. Each is naturally durable and can enhance the visual appeal of any area.
You can choose the right option for busy spaces by considering the unique properties of each durable natural stone, including heat and scratch resistance. Sealing and maintenance are also factors for keeping stone floors and surfaces in the best condition.
Understanding the Demands of High-Traffic Areas
The durability of natural stone means it can withstand heavier use in high-traffic areas of homes and buildings, such as:
- Kitchens: Counters and backsplashes must hold up against high temperatures, scratches, impacts and staining from cooking.
- Hallways and lobbies: Entranceways and hallways need to withstand heavy foot traffic and cope with abrasion from the resulting dirt.
- Bathrooms: These high-humidity areas should be able to handle excess moisture and regular cleaning. Surfaces need to be water repellent and stain resistant.
- Outdoors: Tile patios must be strong enough to sustain regular foot traffic. Outside, stone must resist fading from the sun’s UV light and handle rainfall.
Each type of natural stone is durable in different ways.
- Hardness: The Mohs scale helps measure the relative scratch resistance of natural stone. The minerals present in natural stone are ranked 1-10, from talc (1), the softest, to diamond (10), the hardest. You can scratch talc with a fingernail, while you’ll need a masonry drill bit to scratch quartz.
- Porosity: The less porous a stone, the more stain-resistant it is naturally. A less porous stone has fewer pores on its surface, meaning liquids are absorbed less. You can also seal stone to improve stain resistance in high-traffic areas.
- Abrasion resistance: This refers to the stone’s ability to withstand wear and tear. Abrasion tests determine how well the stone can tolerate high-traffic areas by resisting scuffs, rubbing or scraping.
- Heat resistance: Natural stone can withstand heat at different levels, which is essential to consider when designing a kitchen. Some stones can crack, chip or discolor through thermal shock when exposed to very hot temperatures.
- Chemical resistance: Stones are either calcareous or siliceous, depending on their mineral content. Calcareous stones are more sensitive to the acid found in everyday cleaning products, while siliceous stones are more resistant to chemicals and spills.
How to Choose Material for Busy Kitchens and High-Traffic Areas
Selecting the right natural stone for busy kitchens and high-traffic areas involves understanding its unique properties. Whether you’re looking for durable stone flooring options or heat-resistant natural stone, each offers a distinct blend of durability and aesthetics.
Marble
Creating marble requires limestone to undergo a metamorphic process. The mineral calcite gives marble its classic white coloring, which is naturally stain-resistant because of its tight structure. Measuring around a 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, marble is softer than other natural stones like granite. This means marble can take on nicks and etches. Over time, marble surfaces can become unique through use, charmingly showing their history.
Synonymous with opulence and prestige, marble is also great for impressing guests as wall art, sculptures or other decorative purposes in high-traffic areas. Marble is also highly heat-resistant and safe to use for kitchen countertops. You can find marble in different colors to fit your aesthetic.
Sealing marble after installation and refreshing it yearly helps prevent scratches and stains. Clean marble with nonabrasive, neutral pH cleaning products only, and minimize any acidic products touching the marble. Any changes in color or luster from etching can be polished out if needed.
Soapstone
As a metamorphic rock primarily composed of talc, soapstone is soft and easy to carve. This makes it easier to work with and allows you to make joints seamlessly to achieve your design goals.
Over time, soapstone can develop a beautiful patina. This occurs naturally and requires very low maintenance. You can use mineral oil to enhance its beauty with no sealing required. The nonporous and hydrophobic nature of the talc in soapstone means it’s highly stain-resistant and water-repellent. Soapstone is also chemically inert, which means acidic substances don’t affect it. This makes soapstone an excellent choice for high-traffic areas, from sauna rooms to tile patios.
This heat-resistant natural stone is also a popular choice for busy kitchens. Soapstone can tolerate hot pots and pans without any heat-related cracking, discoloration or damage. Combining its resistance to heat and stains, soapstone makes for a stunning stone backsplash that combines durability and aesthetics.
Soapstone ranges from 1 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes it softer than other natural stones. To keep your soapstone looking its best, you can use mineral oil or sandpaper. To clean soapstone, you only need soap and water. Any remaining water on the surface should evaporate without leaving a mark, making soapstone an excellent material for high-traffic bathroom features like countertops.
Granite
Granite is one of the hardest substances in the world. Scoring between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale, granite is resistant to wear, heat and household chemicals. This makes it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas and can be used for shower walls, countertops, flooring and more. Because of its durability, granite is also a fantastic material for outdoor spaces.
With the right care, granite can last a lifetime. The best practice for maintaining granite is to seal it on application and yearly afterward to maintain its appearance. Otherwise, this durable natural stone is low-maintenance.
Granite comes in a range of colors depending on the mineral makeup, including black, dark green, tan and gray. This gives you plenty of flexibility in your color palette.
Quartzite
Another natural stone that has stood the test of time is quartzite. This metamorphic stone is usually light in color because it contains quartz sand. Due to the presence of other minerals, quartzite can also take on hues of green, blue and red.
Quartzite ranks at around a 7 on the Mohs scale, making it even harder than granite. This makes it versatile for use in any high-traffic area, such as for bathroom fittings, feature walls or kitchen countertops. Quartzite is a durable stone flooring option that’s also naturally nonslip, making it suitable for luxury floor tiling.
Little maintenance is required to keep quartzite looking good. Sealing quartzite regularly helps increase its natural stain resistance.
Natural Stone Maintenance Tips
Follow these guidelines to keep your natural stone in great condition for years to come.
Natural Stone Sealing Frequency
Most natural stones, including quartzite, granite and marble, can be sealed to further enhance their stain-resistant qualities. Sealing should be carried out at installation and every year after to maintain the natural stone’s appearance. For soapstone, apply mineral oil when needed.
Cleaning and Care
Whichever natural stone you choose for your high-traffic areas, you can care for it with these tips:
- Always use a neutral pH cleaner.
- Take extra care to clean up spills immediately.
- Use coasters for drinks.
- Prepare food on cutting boards.
- Vacuum floors regularly.
Find the Finest Quality Natural Stone at Modul Marble
With the right care, many natural stone options are visually stunning and incredibly durable. Each stone is made up of different minerals, which affect how hard, porous and resistant it is to temperature and chemicals. Because of these factors, finding the right natural stone for high-traffic areas can take time.
At Modul Marble, we’ve been sourcing the highest quality natural stone slabs since 1989. We only work with our trusted partners to source the natural stone you need for your projects. When you partner with us, we make the selection process simple. Our expert team will guide you through the process, helping you find the perfect, high-quality slab for your vision.
Browse our world-class natural stone live inventory today to get started.