If you are building a new home or planning a renovation project, you may be wondering what materials to use. If so, you should definitely consider natural stone. It has become a popular choice recently in home remodeling projects, and there are excellent reasons for it. Besides being so beautiful that the stone itself serves decorating purposes, there are many more benefits of using natural stone in your home.

Nero Marquina Honed Marble in Elongated Hex on floor
Calacatta Gold Honed Marble 3" Eclipse Mosaics on wall
from Z Collection

Reasons to use natural stone in your next home improvement

There are several good reasons why natural stone has become a premier building material in recent years, both in new constructions and home renovations. These qualities make it an excellent choice for your home:

• Uniqueness
• Versatility
• Cost-effectiveness
• Durability
• Sanitary properties
• Eco-friendliness

Rockmount Mayra White Limestone Ledger Panel 6x24 from MSI

You cannot duplicate natural stone

Natural stone, as the word suggests, is a natural material formed within the earth. Thus, it is impossible to duplicate it. You can attempt to mimic its beauty and quality, but you will end up with a cheaper, inferior product. While many manufactured products may be aesthetically appealing, you can see pretty easily that they are artificial. There is a unique quality to natural stone that no manufactured material can reproduce.

Andhra Black Gauged 12" X 24" slate floor from Bedrosians

A perfect example of this is all the architectural masterpieces worldwide that simply wouldn't be the same had they not been created with natural stone. Try to imagine the Parthenon in Athens, the Colosseum in Rome, or Egyptian Pyramids. What would they look like if they had been made of artificial material?

Natural stone is incredibly versatile

There are no two identical stones. They vary in color, hue, texture, shape, size, and markings. As a result, natural stone is one of the most versatile materials you can use in your home. Also, it allows you to express your distinctive taste, add a unique character to any space, both indoors and outdoors. You can use it for your kitchen backsplash or countertops, flooring, or your fireplace; it's all up to your imagination. And due to its uniqueness, you can be confident that no one will be able to duplicate or imitate your design. 

You can use natural stone indoors and outdoors to create different and unique designs.

Moreover, natural stone has an incredible ability to combine well with other building materials, allowing for infinite design possibilities and combinations. You can add decorative stone accents and create a one-of-a-kind design. And you can achieve any vibe you want. If you wish to make a grandiose and imposing living room, you most definitely can. On the other hand, if you want a more welcoming and cozy space, the stone will prove perfectly capable of doing that.

Cost-effective and durability come together

Although the initial investment may be higher than some other alternatives, the value you get exceeds it multiple times. One of the most significant benefits of using natural stone in your home is its durability. No other material matches its strength and weather resistance. Different elements and everyday events that would cause wear and tear on other materials barely affect stone. The same goes for stone tiles and mosaics.

If you need to move heavy furniture, hardwood floors may suffer considerable damage. If you accidentally hit a plaster wall, you will leave a dent. On the other hand, the stone will not bend, scratch, warp, splinter, chip, or swell. Also, harsh weather will not impact it whatsoever. These properties give it incredible longevity and a huge advantage over other types of materials. Again, remember all those medieval churches and other structures around the world.

In addition, natural stone doesn't require regular maintenance as hardwood floors or laminate. And on top of that, new technologies have made quarrying and processing more efficient, making it more affordable. Finally, it will add value to your home should you ever decide to sell it.

Using natural stone in your home means easy maintenance, durability, and cost-effectiveness

Knowing all those benefits, who wouldn't want natural stone floors in their home? Remove all your furniture and other belongings so the craftsmen can work unobstructed while making you a home that can stand the test of time. Since you will probably install natural stone throughout your home, placing your belongings in storage would probably be the wisest solution. Thus, make sure you have a unit during the project to be sure everything is safe from dust, dirt, and debris.

Using natural stone in your home will ensure you don't suffer from allergies

You know how much dust, allergens, and other pollutants carpets can gather. Anyone who suffers from allergies knows the struggle this can cause. Stone is a hygienic solution that is water and mold-proof, and it's effortless to maintain. And if you want to use stone for your kitchen remodel, it is perfectly safe to use near food.

Natural stone is a sustainable building material

Eco-friendliness has become one of the essential home features and a very desirable quality for homebuyers. The world we live in demands that we become more environmentally conscious and do our best to reduce our environmental footprint. One way to do that is to use natural materials for your home, and natural stone is undoubtedly a green solution. Firstly, it is a natural material, and most importantly, there is no shortage of it. Secondly, its sourcing, extraction, and production require little energy, which also lowers environmental impact.

Moreover, stone will make your home more energy efficient because it absorbs the temperature in its surrounding, making it a naturally insulating material. So, you will notice your energy bills decrease since you will not spend so much energy cooling and heating your home. It also doesn't produce any harmful gases that could compromise air quality. Finally, natural stone is easy to recycle and reuse.

Final comments

The benefits of using natural stone in your home are numerous, and it's easy to see why it has become so widespread in new constructions and home improvements. It is beautiful, combines well with other materials, lasts practically forever, and saves you money in the long run. It being sustainable is another highly beneficial quality. Also, it is a timeless material that adds a note of authenticity to any home while keeping you connected to nature. Lastly, given how vital texture is in home design, natural stone will allow you to incorporate it effortlessly. 

Author: Daniela Coleman, Specialized Content Writing