As natural stones becomes more prevalent in today’s housing, the selection of commonly used stones is growing. Gone are the days when the only considerations were granite, marble and limestone.

There are hundreds of types of stones in various colors available today, such as:

·         Soapstone

·         Travertine

·         Slate

Soapstone

Soapstone is a soft, talc-based stone typically used as a countertop. It is not very absorbent and is seen in black or blue-gray with a honed, plain finish. "Soapstone is making a resurgence in kitchens and baths,” said Andrew S. Levine, president of Stone Care International, a Owings Mills, Md.-based manufacturer of stone care products. "It's just something different."

Travertine

Travertine is similar in appearance to limestone, but has holes in it. The holes do not polish well, creating a more rustic, inconsistent look. It typically has a cream or red-toned color and is used on kitchen floors.

Slate

Slate has a fine grain and is very thin and easy to break. It typically is black, gray or green, but the selection has expanded in recent years to include most colors. "If you have a pink granite countertop, you can have pink slate floors," Levine said.

Slate often is less expensive than other natural stones because there is less labor involved in acquiring it. "With slate you just pull it out of the ground," Levine said. "Marble and granite are cut."

Helpful Tips

·         When deciding which stone to use in a room, also consider the type of lighting in that room and surrounding areas. Black granite, for example, will look gray under fluorescent lights and black under incandescent lights.

·         After making a decision about what type of stone to use, visit the supplier and select the individual pieces themselves. As each stone is unique, so are the color, texture and grain variations. As a result, the same color of stone could look different at each supplier.