Hotels are continuously filled with people every day. In lobbies, hallways, dining halls, entrance areas and even outdoors, the flooring material faces much more than merely a few footfalls now and then.

Choosing natural stone flooring for a hotel is not simply about selecting an aesthetically pleasing stone. The stone should be compatible with the environment, usage pattern and maintenance level of the space.

Let's start with considering the location of the stone in question.

First, Hotels Look at Where the Stone Will Be Used 

A lobby area and a guestroom may require the same elegant cobblestone but for quite different purposes. The entrance needs a more robust solution than the guestroom as it will be exposed to a lot of shoes, luggage, dust, and even rainwater. A restaurant needs to withstand more than the usual amount of spills and cleaning.

Therefore, before picking a stone, the project team usually considers:

• Anticipated foot traffic

• Exposure to water and moisture

• Risk of stains and spills

• Maintenance frequency

• Whether the stone will be indoor or outdoor

• Required finish
  

This helps in narrowing the range of stones before making the final decision based on aesthetics.

High Traffic Leads to High Wear

Movements can wear out any surface and when this is coupled with dirt and abrasives entering the building the problem becomes more apparent.

It is therefore important to measure the abrasion resistance of the flooring in high traffic areas. Depending on the project requirements it might also be useful to consider compressive strength, flexural strength and water absorption.

In the end it is critical to evaluate the real stone rather than assume that all stones of this type will exhibit identical properties.

Moisture Exposure Requires Attention

Hotel entrances, swimming pools, spas and other moisture-prone areas pose a special challenge to flooring.

Finish can play a great part in this case and polished, honed and textured surfaces have different characteristics so the finished surface needs to be evaluated according to its purpose.

When installing flooring in areas with moisture exposure it is advisable to pay more attention to performance testing than the looks of the finish.

Maintenance is an Integral Part of Selection

A floor in a hotel is cleaned many times more often than a floor in a regular house. At the same time, a floor in a hotel is required to always remain attractive even under constant use.

It means that maintenance is one of the critical factors that should be taken into consideration while choosing natural stone for a project.

This means that taking into account the cost of material alone may not give a full picture of the actual cost of a stone material.

Large Projects Have One More Consideration: Consistency

Selection of a natural stone for a hotel differs significantly from selection of a stone for a residential project.

A large hotel may require substantial quantities of stone for such places as lobbies, hallways, restaurants and other common places. Variation in color, size or finish may become visible when the same material is installed on large areas.

It means that selection of a reliable natural stone supplier is one of the key factors in this process.

Hotels and project teams should seek suppliers who are able to provide the following services:

• Quality consistency of materials

• Bulk supply of materials

• Timely delivery of materials

• Technical data and specifications

• Packaging & Handling

• Project Specific Needs Accommodation

• Testing Helps Make the Final Call

The natural stone can exhibit its colour and surface finish. Technical testing, however, provides more insight into the potential performance of the product.

Depending on the application, the testing can include abrasion resistance, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength and slip resistance. Indian Standards also specify testing and technical specifications for various natural stones.

It is important to avoid looking for the universal stone. It is about finding the natural stone whose properties meet the requirements of the particular application.

Performance and Design Have to Go Hand-in-Hand

Natural stone can create a distinctive visual identity for hotel public spaces. The most effective use of natural stone, however, is when it performs well while maintaining the design aesthetics.

The material depends on the space, traffic, environmental exposure, finish, maintenance and the size of the project.

When selecting the natural stone for a hotel, one must look for the material that performs as per the particular project's requirements.

FAQs

What are some of the factors that hotels should take into account when choosing natural stones?

Resistance to traffic, abrasion, moisture exposure, slip performance, the finish, maintenance, and supplier reliability among others.

Are natural stones good for hotel lobby floors?

Yes. The chosen stone should be analyzed based on traffic, moisture exposure, finish, and maintenance of the lobby area.

Why is it important that the hotel flooring has resistance to abrasion?

Since there is heavy traffic, carrying of luggage, grit, and other debris, this may wear the floor. Testing of the stone for abrasion resistance will tell whether it is suitable.

Does the finish of the stone matter?

Yes. Different finishes may lead to different maintenance and performance on the floor surface. The finish is selected based on the requirements of the floor.

Why should hotels choose a competent natural stone supplier?

For large hotels, a lot of stone is required. A competent stone supplier should be able to provide all the necessary services for large projects.