Stone Flooring Costs 2024
Written by Craig B

Stone Flooring Costs 2024

The cost of stone flooring can vary greatly depending on several factors, including:

Type of stone: Different types of stone have different prices, with some of the more common options being:

  • Granite: $5 – $20 per square foot (durable, heat-resistant, but can be prone to etching)
  • Marble: $7 – $30 per square foot (luxurious, beautiful, but requires more maintenance)
  • Slate: $5 – $15 per square foot (waterproof, naturally textured, but can be fragile)
  • Limestone: $3 – $10 per square foot (porous, good for rustic styles, but needs sealing)
  • Travertine: $4 – $12 per square foot (popular for bathrooms, warm tones, but can be slippery)

Here’s a breakdown of potential costs associated with stone flooring:

  1. Cost of Stone Material:
    • Natural Stone: Natural stone flooring materials such as marble, granite, limestone, travertine, and slate vary in price depending on factors such as rarity, quality, and source. Prices can range from $5 to $30 or more per square foot for the material alone. Exotic or premium-quality stones may command higher prices.
    • Engineered Stone: Engineered stone, also known as composite stone or quartz, is made from a mixture of natural quartz crystals and resins. Engineered stone flooring can range in price from $10 to $150 or more per square foot, depending on the brand, style, and quality of the material.
  2. Installation Costs:
    • Labor Costs: Labor costs for installing stone flooring can vary depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the project, the type of stone used, and local labor rates. Installation costs typically include surface preparation, laying the stone tiles, grouting, and sealing. Labor costs can range from $5 to $15 or more per square foot, depending on the scope of the work.
    • Additional Materials: In addition to labor costs, you may need to budget for additional materials such as adhesive, grout, mortar, and sealant. These materials can add several dollars per square foot to the overall cost of the project.
  3. Subfloor Preparation:
    • Subfloor Repair: Depending on the condition of the existing subfloor, you may need to repair or replace damaged or uneven subflooring before installing stone flooring. Subfloor repair costs can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the materials required.
    • Leveling: If the subfloor is not level, it may need to be leveled before installing stone flooring to ensure a smooth and even surface. Leveling costs can vary depending on the size of the area and the leveling method used.
  4. Additional Costs:
    • Delivery and Transportation: If you’re purchasing stone flooring materials from a supplier, you may need to budget for delivery and transportation costs, especially for large quantities or heavy materials.
    • Finishing Touches: Depending on your preferences and the requirements of the project, you may also need to budget for finishing touches such as trim pieces, thresholds, and transition strips.

Here are some average costs to give you an idea:

  • 500 sq ft of granite: $5,000 – $20,000 (installed)
  • 1,000 sq ft of travertine: $4,000 – $12,000 (installed)
  • 200 sq ft of marble bathroom floor: $2,800 – $6,000 (installed)

Ways to save on stone flooring:

  • Choose a less expensive type of stone: For example, slate is generally cheaper than granite.
  • Buy larger quantities: You may be able to get a discount for buying in bulk.
  • Install the stone yourself: This can save you a significant amount of money, but it is important to be sure you know what you are doing.
  • Look for used stone: You can sometimes find good deals on used stone at salvage yards or online.

Pro’s and Con’s of Stone Flooring

Pros:

  1. Durability: Stone flooring is highly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic, making it suitable for high-traffic areas like entryways, kitchens, and living rooms. With proper care, stone floors can last for decades or even centuries.
  2. Natural Beauty: Stone flooring adds a timeless and elegant look to any space with its natural variations in color, texture, and veining. Each stone slab or tile is unique, creating a one-of-a-kind flooring surface that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the room.
  3. Low Maintenance: Stone flooring is relatively easy to maintain and requires minimal upkeep compared to other flooring materials. Regular sweeping and mopping are usually sufficient to keep stone floors clean, and periodic sealing helps protect the surface from stains and moisture.
  4. Heat Resistance: Stone flooring is naturally heat-resistant, making it an excellent choice for rooms with radiant heating systems or areas exposed to direct sunlight. Stone floors stay cool in warm weather and can help regulate indoor temperatures.
  5. Versatility: Stone flooring comes in a variety of types, including marble, granite, limestone, travertine, slate, and quartz, offering homeowners a wide range of options to suit their preferences and design styles. Stone can also be cut and shaped into different sizes and patterns to create custom flooring designs.

Cons:

  1. Cost: Stone flooring tends to be more expensive upfront compared to other flooring materials like laminate, vinyl, or carpet. The cost of stone flooring depends on factors such as the type of stone, quality of the material, installation method, and labor costs.
  2. Porosity: Most natural stone flooring materials are porous and can absorb liquids if not properly sealed. This makes them susceptible to staining from spills, especially in areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Regular sealing is necessary to protect the surface and prevent staining.
  3. Hardness: While the durability of stone flooring is a benefit, it can also be a drawback for some people. Stone floors are hard underfoot and may not be as comfortable to stand on for long periods, especially in areas where people spend a lot of time standing, such as kitchens.
  4. Maintenance Requirements: While stone flooring is relatively low-maintenance, it does require periodic sealing to protect the surface from stains and moisture. Sealing frequency depends on factors such as the type of stone, level of foot traffic, and exposure to spills.
  5. Susceptibility to Damage: Despite its durability, stone flooring is susceptible to damage from heavy impact or sharp objects. Dropping heavy items or dragging furniture across stone floors can cause chips, cracks, or scratches, requiring repair or replacement.

Check out Urban Customs’ full offerings right here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Considering Stone Flooring Installation In Phoenix, Arizona?

Urban Customs is Phoenix, Arizona’s premier natural stone flooring installer with the experience and knowledge necessary to make your flooring installation a breeze. Check out our flooring installation services.

Contact us today to speak to one of our flooring experts and find which natural stone tile will work best for your project.

cleaning-flagstone-walkways
Written by Craig B

Durability of Stone Floors

For millennia, natural stone has been utilized as a flooring material all throughout the world. Natural stone is a sustainable flooring option because of its durability, minimal care profile, and recyclability, in addition to its timeless aesthetic attributes. This case study looks at the advantages of using natural stone flooring in high-traffic areas.

Various flooring materials age at different rates and in different ways. Vinyl composition tile, for example, requires periodic refinishing and quickly loses its surface quality. Natural stone flooring, on the other hand, matures gently and can last for generations, as many historical examples demonstrate. While some estimates put the lifespan of flooring at 50 years, the National Association of Home Builders thinks that natural stone, especially granite, marble, and slate, can endure up to 100 years with adequate care.

Though natural stone flooring will outlast a building, its useful life does not have to end there. Natural stone’s longevity makes it a perfect material for reclamation and reuse in a range of applications; for ideas, see the National Stone Council’s case study on the use of salvaged stone. (Be sure to evaluate the stone as you would for virgin material before using it in a structural project.) This capability results in cost reductions not just in terms of installation but also in terms of environmental expenditures. When stone is given a second life, it saves energy, water, and materials that would otherwise be used in its extraction and processing.

Repair & Maintenance

Unlike vinyl flooring, coated concrete, or ceramic tile, natural stone has a consistent color and structure throughout. Surface scratches and damage are less visible with this integrated finish. Integral finishes are more easily repaired and consequently have a much longer lifespan than surface finishes. This feature, when combined with its durability, contributes to a minimal maintenance and repair profile for the product. However, due to foot activity and grime, natural stone installed in high-traffic areas may gradually fade. To remove the abrasive forces that cause dulling, stone floors merely need to be swept or cleaned on a regular basis. To prevent abrasive particles from entering the building, entry mats are recommended. Chemical solutions can be used to clean stone floors more thoroughly if necessary; contact your stone provider for a suitable product. In circumstances demanding high-gloss finishes, such a basic maintenance program will significantly reduce the requirement for polishing.

The Life-Cycle Cost is the price paid over the course of a person

Stone flooring’s somewhat high material and installation costs may prevent some designers from investigating it further. Natural stone, on the other hand, is cost-effective due to its long useful life and low maintenance requirements. Although high-quality stone, such as marble and Turkish travertine, have installation costs of $21/ft2 and $12.50/ft2, respectively (as opposed to under $10/ft2 for most other products), their annual expenses are less than those of some competing materials, according to a life-cycle cost (LCC) study commissioned by the Tile Council of North America. Sheet vinyl and vinyl composition tile (VCT) are more than twice as expensive as travertine or marble.

 

Air Quality in the Home

Due to the creation of dust, allergens, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), several flooring products may contribute to poor indoor air quality. Dust and allergens can cause respiratory, cutaneous, and ocular discomfort, while VOCs can cause everything from headaches to respiratory irritation, and some are suspected or proven carcinogens.

Volatile organic compounds found in flooring are more often connected with the products used in its manufacture, installation, and maintenance or refurbishment than with the flooring itself. Adhesives, such as those used on carpet padding and tile, and chemical finishes, such as polyurethane for hardwood, are examples of such items. Even with frequent cleaning, carpet harbors particles that may be allergens or transmit bacteria, and binders commonly employed in carpet manufacture generate VOCs.

Natural stone can help to prevent particle aggregation as well as the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Dust and allergens cannot accumulate on the surface of stone, especially when a regular cleaning plan is maintained; the tiny surface area of a sealed stone floor prevents this. Cleaning can be done with a water and soft (non-acidic) soap solution. Furthermore, to produce a glossy appearance, natural stone surface treatments require just abrasion (rather than chemical polishing compounds), and stone itself contains no VOCs. Even the cement and grout used to secure stone do not have an adverse effect on interior air quality. Stone sealant, which is traditionally VOC-rich, is nearly always required for stain and scratch prevention, but low-VOC alternatives are also available.

Summary

Natural stone has several advantages over other types of flooring. Stone is both low-maintenance and cost-effective, and its durability allows it to be rescued and reused repeatedly. Most importantly, if low-VOC sealants are used, natural stone flooring does not contribute to poor indoor air quality. Natural stone is a good choice for high-traffic areas because of these characteristics.

 

Automatic Transmission Exchange – Transmission Flush Costs 2021

Fluid is used to lubricate the internal clutches, gears, and bearings of an automatic transmission. It includes a torque converter in the form of a viscous coupling that transfers engine power to the gearbox input shaft via transmission fluid.

Fluid under pressure is also used to operate pistons in the valve body and engage clutches. Because all of this action generates heat, a transmission cooler is frequently included to maintain the fluid at the proper temperature.

Transmission Flush Costs on Average

A transmission flush might cost anything from $100 to $300. The cost is affected by the location of the job, as well as the amount of fluid required by the vehicle. Some vehicles have a transmission fluid capacity of up to 20 quarts, and if a vehicle-specific fluid is required, the transmission servicing cost can quickly rise to the top of the range. If a transmission filter needs to be replaced, it will be an extra cost.

Flushing of Transmissions

A standard service on any vehicle’s maintenance routine is changing the gearbox fluid. There are a few options for doing so. A transmission flush, which is performed by connecting a machine to the transmission cooler lines, is recommended by most well-equipped establishments (usually). Then, new fluid is pushed in while the old fluid is drained out, allowing for nearly complete fluid replacement. A drain and fill is an alternative, which entails removing a drain plug and draining old fluid before topping up the transmission with new fluid. The disadvantage is that only about half of the old fluid is removed, as most of it is trapped in the torque converter and elsewhere. It’s a good idea to replace the transmission filter if there is one, regardless of how the fluid is serviced. Dropping the transmission pan, which also requires a new gasket, accomplishes this. Nowadays, transmission cases without a pan or a changeable filter are more prevalent; instead, a drain plug is used. Some transmissions also have an external filter attached to a cooler line or to the transmission enclosure.

Recommendations from the manufacturer

For automatic transmission fluid, every manufacturer sets a minimum inspection interval. It usually happens every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. In regular service, most real service intervals are between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, while some manufacturers stipulate merely inspections and then service as needed. Transmission fluid wears at varying rates based on how a vehicle is driven, outdoor temperatures, load circumstances, and other factors, and a car that sees a lot of use may require service every 15,000 to 40,000 miles. CVT transmissions are also more demanding on the fluid and towing or hauling big loads causes additional wear. In general, transmission fluid that appears clean or only slightly discolored is fine. It should be replaced if it has darkened or thickened. It should also be replaced if it smells scorched. It’s also a good idea to err on the side of caution, as there’s no harm in replenishing fluid before it’s needed. Internal wear in the transmission, which is one of the more expensive and difficult to maintain sections of the car, is reduced by using cleaner fluid.

Drain and Fill vs. Flush

The majority of vehicle manufacturers recommend transmission fluid replacement but do not provide instructions on how to do it. When doing scheduled transmission services, however, most shops employ a flush machine to entirely replenish the fluid. For years, there have been some anecdotal warnings against cleaning the fluid out of a worn transmission. The flushing action, according to one idea, dislodges sludge and debris, which might later choke channels. Another theory is that old gritty transmission fluid increases clutch performance, and that removing the old fluid causes transmission slippage. Neither of these assertions can be verified. Flushing a gearbox moves fluid in the same way as flushing an oil pump does, so there should be no issues. If the gritty old transmission fluid is keeping the clutches operating, adding more grit would be a remedy to a slipping gearbox, which it isn’t. The alerts could be due to a number of factors. One is that transmission maintenance is usually overlooked until a transmission begins to show signs of failure. Flushing the fluid could be an option in this situation. That rarely helps worn or failed parts, but it can be a handy scapegoat after a service when the real issue is age or a lack of maintenance. Another issue with some flush machines is that the fluid pressure can be set too high, causing seals in the transmission to be damaged. This should never be an issue if the job is done properly. This is due to the ease with which the machine’s pressure can be set to be lower than the transmission’s usual operating pressures.

In any event, the main benefit of a transmission flush over a drain and fill is that more fluid is replaced. This is more of a problem if the fluid has been neglected, but it is less of a problem if it has been serviced on a regular basis. Even if the fluid is in horrible shape and a flush isn’t performed, leaving the majority of the old fluid in the transmission isn’t a good idea. If necessary, a drain and fill can be done twice in a row. The transmission is topped off and run through the gears for the first time after the first time. The fluid is then emptied once again. Doing it twice results in replacing 34% of the old fluid rather than half, which is a waste of both fluid and time. The only manufacturer that does not advocate flushing the gearbox fluid is Honda. This is mostly due to Honda’s proprietary fluid, which does not tolerate contamination well. To eliminate cross-contamination of fluids, a dedicated flush machine, such as Honda-only, would be required. Furthermore, keeping up with maintenance and performing drain and fill services as needed is often safer and easier in practice.

Urban Customs Installs Hardwood Flooring In Phoenix, Arizona

At Urban Customs we offer all types of flooring installation in Phoenix, Arizona, including Wood flooring, stone flooring, and bamboo flooring. Request a free flooring installation quote from Urban Customs today! Our address is 8050 N 19th Ave #127, Phoenix, AZ 85021.

cleaning-flagstone-walkways
Written by Craig B

Cleaning Flagstone Walkways

Whether they are interior or exterior flagstone walkways are beautiful to look at, practical and surprisingly easy to maintain. Read on to learn more.

Cleaning Supplies

Before jumping into the cleaning, one must make sure they are armed with the right cleaning supplies. Bamboo style flooring is much different than other common types of flooring; therefore some specific supplies are needed for the task. Start by knowing exactly what bamboo strand type and the finish type you currently have. Vertical or horizontal strand bamboo, for example, tends to be softer than other strands, making it much easier to dent. With these particular strands, we can’t stress enough how careful one should be when moving furniture in preparation of cleaning.

Spills And Scuffs

Be proactive by taking care of ordinary spills as soon as possible! Use a soft, dry cloth to clean up any accidents off the bamboo flooring. Afterwards, it is recommended to then wipe the spot with a fresh cloth, dampened with water. Dry the spot when the job is complete. Placing a rug around any sinks or areas prone to spills is recommended for homeowners choosing to lay bamboo flooring in their kitchen. Save yourself the hassle of cleaning by protecting this valuable surface. Always make sure to use the proper cleaning supplies when attacking a stain or spill. But, the good news is bamboo floors can be refinished, so all is not lost if you scuff the flooring.

Routine Cleaning

Indoor Flagstone Walkways

Indoor flagstone walkways are remarkably easy to clean and maintain. They are usually friendly to people who are even in bare feet because they normally have sealant and wax on the surface. providing this is the case all you will need to do is wet the flagstone walkway down and then take some all-purpose cleaning agent as well as some warm water and mop it down. Should you encounter scuffmarks, some light scrubbing combined with agents like Comet or Bon Ami will take care of it. Following the cleaning process if you observe there is a slight filmy residue a fifty-fifty mixture of water and vinegar, used in combination with a wet rag should take care of everything.

Outdoor Flagstone Walkways

Not often waxed or sealed outdoor flagstone walkways can become victims of erosion, dust and dirt. Regular mud and dirt stains need to be treated with some form of pressure washer and you can use the nozzle to spray the affected area until the dirt has washed off. In situations where the stain is more stubborn, dishwashing cleaner or dish soap can be utilized as well. Keep the spray on a lighter setting so you do not contribute further to any erosion of the surface. In cases where there are natural stains caused by tress, leaves or other fauna, organic stain removers can be utilized to great effect., but remember they will not work on stains that are non-organic. You may also wish to test the organic cleaner or a small piece of the outdoor flagstone to ensure discoloration does not occur.

If none of these methods have been successful, it may be time for something different and in this case we can commend muriatic acid. It is important to realize this is not a cleaning agent in any sense of the word but it does eat away anything it is applied too. This means it will remove the top layer of your flagstone and the portions of the flagstone that are stained will be eaten away or dissolved by the acid. Obviously you need to protect yourself when using this. So wear heavy clothes as well as goggles and obviously, gloves. Carefully read the dilution guidelines and ensure you have them completely correct. Then apply the muriatic acid to the area of the stone you want to clean. Let it sit for a few minutes while it does its job and then use a power washer or scrub it off. You need to make sure the entire area is soaked with ample enough water to fully dilute the acid. You can then finish the task by the application of masonry sealant to the stone that is now newly exposed.

Urban Customs Installs Hardwood Flooring In Phoenix, Arizona

At Urban Customs we offer all types of flooring installation in Phoenix, Arizona, including Wood flooring, stone flooring, and bamboo flooring. Request a free flooring installation quote from Urban Customs today! Our address is 8050 N 19th Ave #127, Phoenix, AZ 85021.