How to Differentiate between Natural and Artificial Stones

by Lisa C. Marketing Writer

Be it natural or artificial, stones are among the trendiest flooring, walling, and finishing material in the construction and interior design industries. People around the world are crazy about the gorgeous colors and patterns on stone tiles, slabs, and pavers.

Natural Stones

Marble is a natural stone. So is travertine. And so is granite. There are many other natural stones that can be used for building floors, walls, counters, backsplashes, and many other structural and design features in indoor and outdoor applications.

The reason why they are called natural stone is that that they are a natural material. To be specific, they are a piece of rock. Natural stone tiles are processed from large stone blocks that are cut into thin slides, slices, or tiles, which we use on our floors and walls.

Everything that you see on natural stone tiles and slabs is given to it by the Mother Nature. Veins, swirls, lines, colors, shades, and textures on stones – everything is natural. They are not achieved through a manufacturing or industrial process.

Artificial Stone

Natural stones are a heavy and heavily-priced material. Many homeowners are not a fan of this material due to its high cost, despite the fact that they love the heavenly elegance of natural stones.

So, they choose a material that looks like stone but is not a real stone. Artificial stones are cheaper than authentic stones.

They are an engineered product and they can be designed to have the look any natural stone. You can easily find marble look, travertine look, slate look, limestone look, and granite look tiles on online and offline tile stores.

Differentiating Real and Artificial

Here are tips to spot the differences between natural and manmade stone tiles –

Patterns – Each natural stone has unique patterns. No two tiles or slabs look exactly same. So, to differentiate whether a floor or wall is natural stone, look closely on the tiles. If each tile has identical veining or swirling patterns, it is made of artificial stones.

Rough Edges – If the edges of the tile have a flaky or layered appearance, they are real stone. Artificial stone slabs and tiles have smooth edges.

Looking to buy natural stones or stone-look ceramic-porcelain tiles? Visit MosaicsAndTile.com, one of the leading stone and tile suppliers in US.