Natural Stone
Natural Stone Tile Installation in San Diego
Travertine, marble and slate for floors, showers, fireplaces and walls across San Diego County. Stone takes different setting materials and more care than porcelain, and we price it that way up front.
Stone is not just expensive porcelain
Every piece of natural stone is a little different in color, veining and sometimes thickness. It can stain, polished marble can etch, and some light marbles show a gray mortar through the face. None of that is a reason to skip stone. It just means stone has to be installed like stone.
Before setting, we lay the pieces out so color and veining spread across the room instead of bunching up in one corner. We use setting materials that suit the stone, including white mortar where a light marble needs it, and we seal the stone when the job is done if it calls for it.
Because stone takes more time and care, the written estimate reflects the stone you chose from the start, so the price does not change halfway through.
How a Stone Job Goes
- 1Visit and estimateWe look at the room and the stone, and talk about how much upkeep each option needs before you commit.
- 2PrepThe floor or wall is flattened. Stone shows uneven edges more than porcelain, so this step matters more here.
- 3Blend and setPieces are mixed for color, dry-laid, then set with the mortar that suits the stone.
- 4Grout, seal and walkthroughGrout, sealing where needed, cleanup and a walkthrough with care tips.
Stone We Work With
Each stone has its own look and its own upkeep. Here is the short version.
Travertine
Warm, earthy tones with natural holes that are filled before or during grouting. Honed travertine has good grip for floors and patios.
Marble
The classic bathroom stone. Polished marble dulls from acids like lemon juice and some cleaners, so a honed finish is often the better pick for floors.
Slate
Dark, textured and slip resistant. Pieces can vary in thickness, which takes extra work to set flat.
Stone-look porcelain
If you like the look but not the upkeep, porcelain made to look like marble or travertine is an option. We install both and can walk you through the difference.
Common Questions
Does natural stone need to be sealed?
Most natural stone is porous, so a sealer helps it resist stains. How often depends on the stone and the room: a shower or kitchen floor needs it more often than a hallway wall. We tell you what your stone needs when the job is done.
Can marble go in a shower?
Yes, with proper waterproofing behind it and a bit more upkeep. Honed marble on the shower floor gives better grip than polished, and a pH-neutral cleaner keeps the surface from dulling.
Why does stone cost more to install than porcelain?
Sorting and blending the pieces, flattening for stone that varies in thickness, using different setting materials and sealing at the end all take time. We include all of it in the written estimate.
Where We Work
We are based at 2712 Transportation Ave. in National City and work across San Diego County, including:
Not sure we cover your area? Call (619) 259-2291 and ask.
Thinking About Stone?
Tell us which stone and which room. We will come out, look at the space and give you a written estimate at no charge.