Soapstone flooring and PA bluestone in entryway (indoor)

Hi Maurizio, I read many posts on your website but have not really found an answer to my dillemas. 1. I see that you highly recommend soapstone for kitchen countertops, but what do you think about installing soapstone on the bathroom floor and shower floor? I like the look and the fact that nothing can stain or etch it - I tested lemon, bath products etc. I am prepared for the scratches. Any watch-outs? 2. I like the look of PA bluestone and was thinking to install it in the entryway inside, but I can't find many pictures or comments about it on the internet other than about the Belgian Bluestone, which I am not sure is the same thing (is it? - other than the origin). Is this stone not a good option for indoor application? We have a dog, and while I can keep him out of the soapstone in the bathroom, I won't be able to keep him away from the entryway so I excluded soapstone (scratches) and travertine (potential accidents). I like the blue-gray look. What do you suggest? Any other resistant stone in this color? Thank you!

 

Dear Patricia:

Considering that it will be installed in a low-traffic environment and that you're “prepared for the scratches”, you have my green-light. Just make sure that especially in the shower stall the installation is done properly. The way the stall is installed is vastly more important than the stone itself! Even the best stone will fail miserably if installed by some “Michelangelo”.

Belgian Bluestone is completely different from our domestic one and I don't know the first thing about it. I didn't even know that there were a bluestone from Belgium. I'm aware of a bluestone from Whales (UK), which is the one they used to build Stonehenge, and of another one quarried in Australia. But please realize that names are names and stones are stones. People make names, Mother Nature makes stones. No two stones could be the same if they come from a different quarry – let alone a different country – even if you name them the same, by basing the naming just on looks!

Personally, as a mechanic I would go along with bluestone (the domestic one, which is the only one I'm familiar with) for outdoors. Indoors?... I really don't know. But we go now into personal preferences, as well. For instance, why did I say that I don't mind bluestone outdoors?

Because I do know that's good stone for outdoors (no efflorescence, no exfoliation, no spalling – all problems with no solution) and, on the other hand, I really don't give a rat's behind if it get scratched or if it stains. (Hey, what can I tell you? I was born and raised in Italy… J )

Indoor, however, I'm more “Americanized” and I really don't know if I'd like the way that particular stone “ages”. I guess that the application of a good quality stone color-enhancer like MB-6 would take care of that, however. But I'm sure that you can appreciate the fact that I am not you and that therefore I can't guess the way you see things.

All that said…

Now remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. The issue of what you'll be doing day in and day out to your stone is – as it should be intuitive – vastly more important than its sealing (if and when possible and/or advisable) and it's all too often neglected. As you can tell by reading many of this site's postings, you're not likely to get good information about routine care from your dealer or installer. Don't become another statistic! By logging into the Helpful Hints section of our website at:   http://www.mbstone.com/HH_promo/helpful_hints.htm , you will be able to get the short version of our maintenance guidelines at no charge. The full version of it – a 7-page document considered by many as an industry benchmark – is available in pay-per-download format in our Educational Literature section at:   http://www.mbstone.com/literature/literature.htm .   In that article there are also priceless tips on how to properly install a natural stone shower stall.

And remember, every single penny of the cost of the literature will be used to support this site and its cause: your cause.

While you are in the “Helpful Hints” section, do spend some time reading all of the interesting FREE articles you'll find in there!

Finally, keep in mind that we need your support to help us helping you!

Will you please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?    

By spreading the word about this valuable site among your friend & family and the stone trades' people you've been dealing with, you will be rendering everybody a valuable service!

Thank you  

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri zio Bertoli

 

www.marblecleaning.org – The only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!