Granite flooring

Why granite makes a great floor

Granite is hard and dense. Dirt, grit and many footsteps do not wear it down like a soft floor, and the colour does not fade in the sun. It feels cool in hot weather. It also passes heat well, so it works over underfloor heating.

From a quiet bedroom to a busy shop, granite floor tiles and slabs give you a clean, rich surface that is easy to keep.

• Hard-wearing: hard and dense, it handles daily foot traffic.
• Cool: it feels pleasantly cool in hot weather.
• Easy care: sweeping and a damp mop now and then keep it looking good.
• Choice: tiles, cut-to-size slabs and big pieces in many colours.

Polished, honed or flamed: finishes and thickness

Polished granite gives the shiniest floor, but it can be slippery when wet. For doorways, bathrooms, wet kitchens and anywhere outside, pick a honed, leathered, brushed or flamed finish. These grip better.

• Thickness: 18–20 mm is common for floors inside, fixed on mortar or adhesive. 30 mm is better for heavy traffic, big pieces and outdoor floors.
• Slip safety: if the floor will get wet, ask for the slip rating of the finish, not only how it looks.
• Size: big pieces have fewer joints. But they need a flatter base and more care to handle.

Laying and details

How the floor is laid matters as much as the stone. The base must be flat, firm and clean. Every tile or slab needs full support from its bed of mortar or adhesive.

• Bedding: mortar or adhesive must touch the whole back of the stone, with no hollow spots. Edges chip and tiles crack over hollow spots.
• Joints: keep them thin and even, with grout that suits the stone. Ask for white adhesive under light stone so nothing shows through.
• Movement joints: big floors need small gaps at the edges and at set spaces. Your fitter will tell you where.
• Edges and skirting: finish edges and skirting to match the floor. Do the same where the stone meets another material.

Sealing and care

Sweep or vacuum often. Fine grit scratches any floor. Mop with a mild stone cleaner. A doormat at each door stops most dirt before it reaches the stone.

• Sealing: a sealer is a good idea for light stone, soft-surface stone, honed stone and kitchens.
• Do not use: acid cleaners, bathroom cleaners, bleach, scrubbing powder, or wax on polished floors.
• Furniture: put felt pads on chair and table legs. Lift heavy things. Do not drag them.
• Spills: wipe oil and coloured liquids fast.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using polished granite in wet doorways, bathrooms or outside.
• Fixing the stone on an uneven or damp base.
• Leaving hollow spots under the stone.
• Leaving out movement joints on big floors.
• Using dark or coloured adhesive under pale stone.
• Picking tiles from one small sample without checking how much the colour changes.