How to Prepare Your Home for the Winter with Natural Stone Tiles

Winter months are on its way and it is a perfect reason for refreshing your home designing. Installing natural stone tiles and incorporating varied colours of autumn and winter in your decor will be an ideal choice due to its versatility and ability to blend them naturally with any other material.  

Talking about natural stones, they are not only limited to kitchen countertops, and bathrooms, but also used for walls and floors in every room of the house. In addition, their tiling types can be combined to create an aesthetic look and can top everything from customised chairs to dinner and coffee tables. 

Nevertheless, if you haven’t welcomed this amazing material at your home yet, then this is the best time of the year to do so, because it not only enhances your energy efficiency but also makes your home look more warmer and cosier for the winter months.  

Leading Practices for the Implementation of Natural Stones at your Home

Installing natural stone flooring at home during winters brings unique challenges, like moisture control, freezing temperatures, bad impacts of the freeze-thaw cycle on both materials and surfaces. However, with the right planning and following chief practices, you can achieve a strong and pleasing installation that withstands winter conditions.

• Careful Preparation of the Installation Surface: Installing on a frozen or wet surface can lead to poor adhesion issues. Therefore, it is important to use a clean and dry surface to allow the adhesive or mortar to bond well, and ensure that the ground should be free from excessive moisture, snow, and ice which is crucial for long-term durability.
• Choose Frost-Resistant Natural Stone Tiling: As all the stones are unsuitable for winter conditions, so, choose a stone type which is less porous, and dense, like bluestone, or granite which are resistant to freeze-thaw damage. However, avoid highly porous stones like travertine or limestone in outdoor winter installations, as these can absorb moisture that can freeze and thus cause cracks.
• Use Cold-Weather Adhesives and Mortars: Choose an adhesive or mortar particularly formulated for low temperatures that works efficiently in low temperatures as 40°F (4°C). Alternatively, you can also choose other adhesives that contain accelerants or additives specifically designed to enhance curing times in cold conditions, and prevent weak bonds or cracks.
• Maintain Humidity Levels and Optimal Temperature: It is necessary to keep your working materials at a suitable temperature, therefore, if possible, try to maintain the temperature above 40°F (4°C), and avoid installation when temperature drops below freezing point.
• Plan for Extended Curing Times: Cold weather conditions slow down the curing process, so it is necessary to allow extra time for adhesives to set properly. If you rush the curing process, it can lead to weaker bonding, as some materials may need double time for the curing process to take place in winters.
• Manage Moisture with a Waterproof Membrane: Applying a moisture barrier or waterproof membrane can prevent water from entering into the stone or adhesive layer, which can freeze and cause damage. This is particularly useful in areas prone to moisture buildup, like garden walls, outdoor walkways, or patios.
• Avoid Direct Contact with Ice or Snow: Snow and ice can introduce moisture that can weaken the bonds between the stone and base. Hence, try to schedule installation during a time when there is no snow. However, if it accumulates, remove it carefully without using any sharp tool that could scratch or damage the stone.
• Protect Newly Installed Stone from De-Icing Chemicals: De-icing salts or chemicals can diminish the look of natural stones over time. However, using sand or any less abrasive material to increase its adhesiveness without damaging the stone. If de-icing is necessary, rinsing off any salt as soon as possible will prevent them from getting settled into the stone.
• Sealing Stone for Extra Protection: Choose a high-quality sealer for cold-weather and outdoor purposes and apply it to natural stone surfaces to prevent water from entering and freezing it, and reduce porosity. Nevertheless, you can also reapply the sealant as needed to protect the stone’s surface from the harsh elements and maintain a waterproof barrier.
• Using Safe Snow Removal Techniques After the Installation: To avoid the stone from getting damaged, it is crucial to use plastic shovels or brooms for removing the snow from the surface, and avoid the use of sharp tools, like metal shovels, that can scratch or chip the stone, thus, compromising its integrity and finish. However, for added safety, it is also suggested to avoid using heavy machinery  or equipment on the new installations, as this can also cause cracking on the stones.

If you are not sure about the above-mentioned practices or getting confused about what material should be bought that can work best in winter season, so, you can consult the local and best stone flooring installer near you who can suggest you about the materials and natural stone implementation. Hence, we highly recommend you to contact Urban Gaffa to choose the professional tile installers.

Anticipated Expenses For Stone Floor Installation in 2024 

Expected installation prices in 2024 for natural stone flooring will range from £105 per m2 for tiling to £650 per m2 for cut-to-size slabs.

Tiling: Average cost estimation of installing the natural stone floor tiling is £30–£55 per m2. However, the prices vary greatly with marble tiles costing you around £120 per m2, and mosaic tiling will cost you £107 per m2. 

Cut-to-size slabs: Approximate installation cost of cut-to-size natural stone slabs, including materials, will range between £250–£650 per m2. 

Roughly, you can expect to pay around £250-£400 a day, including £11 per m2 for grout and adhesive, and for unforeseen prep, removing tiles or finishing costs. 

Cost of stone floor installation typically depends on several other factors: 

• Size of the selected area 
• type of stone you have chosen. 
• Design and quality of your stone tiles 
• Tile installer’s experience 
• Your location