Above: Travertine coping tile, with an anti-slip honed finish, makes for a great pool deck. Photo: Courtesy of Daltile

Freedom of choice: It’s a fantastic thing. Especially when it comes to remodeling. There are more options in stone, tile and concrete on the market than ever these days, with varieties to suit every taste and budget. But wading through the possibilities can be tricky. We’re here to help you chisel through the hype with this handy glossary.  

Basalt

Use it on: countertops, driveways and walkways.
One of the most common natural stones on Earth, basalt is dark in color and can resemble slate or granite, depending on the finish. In polished and honed (satin or matte) finishes, basalt can be used in place of black granite for countertops, according to Layla Dedrick, of Bella Pietra. Outdoors, when given a brushed finish (for an appearance of natural wear), basalt works well as an exterior veneer. It’s a long-wearing stone that “fits in well with our local moss-rock aesthetic,” according to Dedrick.

City View porcelain tile, available at Daltile, (shown here on the floor and wall) is a durable, beautiful option for the bath. Photo: Courtesy of Daltile

Ceramic Tile

Use it on: lower-traffic floors, pool walls, backsplashes, bathtubs, decorative surfaces and shower surrounds.
Ceramic tile is made of a mixture of clays that are pressed and fired at high temperatures. The top layers of most ceramic tiles are then glazed to achieve their desired color or design. It is easy to clean and is therefore an excellent surface for showers and pools, where soap scum and calcium deposits tend to linger. Ceramic tile works best in areas that don’t take an extensive beating, as chipped tiles tend to reveal the bisque color below the glazed surface, creating a noticeable blemish.

Concrete

Use it on: pool decks, driveway pavers, kitchen and bathroom countertops, flooring, bathtubs, bath and shower surrounds, bowl-and-basin sinks and decorative areas.

Because it can be poured, molded and shaped to comprise almost any object or surface, concrete has seemingly limitless applications. It can be dyed, scored, brushed, honed, polished, laquered, stamped and even inlaid with treasured objects like seashells or glass tile. Concrete is prone to natural wear and tear and thus is most at home with those who appreciate surfaces that patina with age.
Concrete should be treated with a sealant periodically (ask your installer for more advice on your particular surface) and should not be exposed to direct extreme heat (such as the heat emitted by a pot or pan just out of the oven).

For the budget-conscious, “Concrete is the best value around a pool deck,” says Clifton Crawford, of C & J Contracting Inc. Lorene Mitsunaga, of Futura Stone, loves concrete pavers for the driveway. “The pavers can take up to 8,000 pounds per square inch of pressure, so they’re great for housing heavy vehicles,” she says. Concrete pavers are also semipermanent and can be removed and rearranged for repair or redesign.

Cultured Marble

Use it on: bathroom countertops, bathtub and shower surrounds and bathroom basin sinks.

Made of a polyester resin blend, cultured marble has the look of natural marble but at a fraction of the price. When cared for properly, cultured marble can last for more than 30 years, according to Tammy Nakamoto, of Naka’s Marble. Cultured marble is non-porous, thanks to its gel-coat finish, and is easier to install because it weighs less than natural marble. Cultured marble should only be used in the bathroom because it’s not equipped to handle kitchen wear and tear. 

Flagstone

Photo: Courtesy of Bella Pietra

Use it on: walkways, driveways, garden paths and exterior-wall veneers.

Flagstone (above) is defined as any irregularly cut natural stone. It comes in a variety of colors, from warm-beige to gray and reddish-pink tones. It’s a tried-and-true material that can be applied to driveways, walkways, lanai and other outdoor surfaces. Flagstone surfaces should be sealed for protection at least once every two years. Note: Because flagstone comes in varied thicknesses, professional installation is recommended.

Glass Tile

In addition to shower and pool walls, glass tile works beautifully on interior walls (left) and kitchen backsplashes (right). Materials used to create the quilt pattern (left) are from the Bisazza line, available at Tile Warehouse. Photos left to right: Courtesy of Bisazza, iStockPhoto.com

Use it on: floors, pool walls, backsplashes, bathtubs, decorative surfaces and shower surrounds.

“The longest-lasting product for vertical surfaces in showers and walls is glass mosaic tile,” says Crawford. “We’re doing it on pool surfaces,” he continues. Glass mosaic tile can last for 25 to 50 years with proper installation, and its beauty continues to go unmatched. But make sure you have the budget for glass tile. “If a pool costs $10,000 to tile completely [with a different product], you could pay $50,000 to tile the pool with glass mosaics. It’s a high-end product,” says Crawford.

Looking for a more budget-friendly way to use glass mosaic tile? Try a medallion or other decorative mosaic for embellishment. “We offer different sizes and finishes that can create art on the floor or wall,” says Kevin Nip, of Selective Stone.

Granite

Photo: Courtesy of Bella Pietra

Use it on: kitchen and bath countertops, tub and shower surrounds and decorative areas.

Resistant to heat, scratching and etching (wearing away and discoloration of the surface due to chemical reaction), and available in an almost infinite number of shades and designs (all those beautiful swirls and curls are termed “movement” by the pros), granite (above) is both beautiful and naturally occurring. With its natural variation, no two granite slabs are alike.

“It’s supposed to be the densest material on the market for natural stone,” says Bob Stark of Sunset Tile and Stone. As this material has become increasingly popular, inferior granite has been introduced to the marketplace. Such granite hasn’t been given the proper time to mature. Therefore, it is often softer and less resilient to stains than harder, more mature stone. So, before you buy, make sure the slab in question can pass a water test. “If the granite absorbs water and shows a stain quickly, you know you’ll be using stone sealers to combat the issue,” explains Stark. Regardless of the hardness of granite you choose, yearly cleaning and sealing is advisable, says Chad Teixeira, of Ohana Building Supply. Most natural-stone retailers carry sealing products and can advise you on how to use them.

Limestone

Photo: Courtesy of Daltile

Use it on: bathroom counters, nonwork surfaces, flooring, tub surrounds and walls.

Limestone is resistant to humidity, which makes it a great choice for kitchens. However, due to its high calcium content, it is prone to etching. Thus, “limestone is sometimes used as an accent in the kitchen—either on an island or a bar top,” says Allen Giles, of Tile Warehouse, instead of as a food-preparation or work surface. Giles recommends smoother, honed limestone for countertops and interior-flooring applications for a more informal look, and a brushed surface for either interior or exterior floor surfaces. Limestone is also a beautiful choice for bathroom surfaces (left). But tread carefully: “Limestone is one of the most challenging stones to keep clean and scratch-free,” says Giles.

Marble

Use it on: bathroom countertops, bathtub and shower surrounds, and pastry work surfaces.

Out of the trio of calcium-based natural stones (including travertine and limestone), marble is the hardest, according to John Pasternak, of Daltile. That’s why marble polishes so well—it can stand up to the friction. However, when it comes to work surfaces, marble is still relatively soft and prone to wear and etching. Marble works well in bathrooms, where it isn’t bothered by high-acid cooking substances, but isn’t advisable for more involved work surfaces like kitchen countertops. The exception? Pastry work surfaces, where its cool surface preserves the consistency of delicate butter in fragile pastry dough.

Marble Veneer

Use it on: bathtub and shower surrounds, bathroom countertops.

Marble veneer is made of an aluminum “honeycomb” situated between two layers of netted resin and topped with a thin layer of real marble. Because of its lighter weight, it’s easier to install than solid marble and costs, on average, at least 30 percent less than its natural stone counterpart. Available at LF International Trading Co., marble veneer is an economical choice for bathrooms, where the material rarely encounters potentially damaging acidic chemicals or high levels of wear and tear.

Metal Tile

Use it on: decorative surfaces.

Relatively new to the scene, metal tiles add a bit of glint to decorative surfaces such as walls or backsplashes. They can be made of copper, bronze, pewter—even stainless steel. Avoid using metal tile on floors or any other surface prone to scratching. For more on metal tiles, visit daltile.com.

Porcelain

Use it on: high-traffic floors, pool decks, walls and decorative areas.

Flame-finished porcelain contains feldspar, a form of granite that contributes the backbone, or strength of the material. Clay is mixed in for color, and then other ingredients are added to comprise porcelain’s “special recipe,” according to Stark. “When it’s all fired, you come out with a very dense material that can be equal to a tough granite, or harder,” he says. “The porcelain tile is going to wear like granite, so it’s great for durability.” That’s a plus for pool decks that take a beating outdoors. When manufactured well, porcelain can replicate the look of natural stone. Tile Warehouse also carries a porcelain product that doesn’t need sealing, is resistant to heat, scratching and thermal shock from pots and pans and can fit curved walls on rooms with a minimum of a 15-foot radius, according to Giles.

Quartzite

Use it on: decks, lanai, walkways and pool decks.

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock composed of a network of small quartz crystals. “Quartzite is dense, hard and naturally textured to provide excellent traction,” says Nip. Such traction is important for outdoor surfaces, where tropical rain and wet feet around pools often create slippery situations. What’s more, “Quartzite blends handsomely with our tropical setting,” says Nip, who also points out that quartzite’s lighter hues are less heat absorbent, so the stone stays cool underfoot on hot days.

Radianz® Solid Surface

Use it on: kitchen and bath countertops, wall and work surfaces and windowsills.

Available at Pacific American Lumber, is composed of 93 percent quartz, one of the hardest minerals found in nature, and 7 percent resin polymers. Unlike granite, Radianz® Solid Surfaces do not require yearly sealing. The material is available in more than 30 colors and boasts a nonporous surface that is both bacteria and cooking- stain resistant. Radianz® products are covered by a 10-year limited warranty and are also priced to accommodate a variety of budgets. For more information, visit staron.com.

Slate

Use it on: backsplashes, walls, outdoor surfaces and select bathroom surfaces.

“Slate was popular in the 1990s and is enjoying a slow comeback,” says Giles. Like granite, slate is a silica-based natural stone. However, slate is composed of uneven layers that, when chiseled into pieces, tend to shale, or flake off. That unevenness makes it difficult to clean. Nevertheless, slate enjoys popularity because of its gorgeous, dark colors and natural feel. If you love slate, advises Stark, “just be prepared for the wear, maintenance and upkeep.” Also, check out new varieties of slate from Brazil, available at Tile Warehouse, which, according to Giles, offer more consistency in thickness and less surface wear.

Soapstone

Use it on: kitchen and bathroom countertops, bowl and basin sinks, bathtubs, bath and shower surrounds and floors (most commonly as tile).

Made mostly of talc, soapstone is softer than many other varieties of natural stone on the market. By contrast, it’s still incredibly dense, making it highly impermeable and easy to maintain. Soapstone is known for its ease of maintenance, according to Dedrick, and often requires nothing more than periodic mineral-oil treatment. Soapstone has a creamy, matte finish that gains a natural luster and tends to darken with use and over time. Soapstone is comparable in price to lower-priced granites.

Staron® Solid Surface

Use it on: kitchen and bath countertops and tub and shower surrounds.

Made of 100 percent acrylic material, Staron® Solid Surfaces are man made. Some of the more than 70 colors available are made of post-consumer waste product. A variety of finishes is also available, making this product highly customizable. Acrylic surfaces are less heat- and scratch-resistant than granite, but are also reparable and can be professionally refinished to look like new. With proper care, these surfaces can last a lifetime. Staron® surfaces are covered by 10-year limited warranties and are priced to accommodate a variety of budgets. Find it at Pacific American Lumber. For more information, visit staron.com.

Travertine

Use it on: interior floors, interior walls, bathtubs, bathtub surrounds and shower surrounds.

We’ve seen lots of travertine in baths, where its warm, golden hues create a spalike look. Harder than soapstone but softer than granite, travertine can tolerate a medium level of wear and tear. Travertine is still a bestseller for flooring as well. Whether its tiny holes are filled for a smoother look or unfilled for a more earthy appearance, or whether it’s brushed, honed or polished, it’s beautiful. But before you buy, consider your lifestyle. Travertine, like its cousins, marble and limestone, is calcite-based, which means it’s prone to etching from acids and scratching, says Rick Lau, of Hawaii Home Expo.