Sandstone Flooring (Pros and Cons & Designs)

Here’s our sandstone flooring guide including the pros and cons, tile types, cleaning and maintenance tips, and if sandstone floors are best for your home design.
Redesigning your house takes a lot of work. But the satisfaction you feel when you enter a newly renovated home is priceless. 

When it comes to renovating your house, one of the most common parts that get replaced is the floor tile. Homeowners have a lot of choices for their flooring materials. There’s wood, granite, and marble, and then, there’s sandstone.

What Is Sandstone Flooring?

Sandstone is a natural floor covering with shades that range from brown to gold. The color reminds you of the beach or the desert. 

Because of its durability, it is often used in high-traffic areas like the kitchen. It is also popular as a paving material in lawns because of its porous quality.

Sandstone Flooring Pros and Cons

Here we share the advantages and disadvantages of sandstone floors.

Sandstone Flooring Pros

There are several reasons why sandstone is a popular flooring choice. Here are some of them.

Beautiful

The natural beauty of sandstone adds character to your flooring and the whole interior design. Sandstone has a wide range of exciting hues than synthetic stone flooring materials, yet it maintains its earthy, natural feel.

Durable

Granite and slate are still kings when it comes to durability. But sandstone can hold up to its own when it comes to strength and longevity. It can withstand wear and tear for a long time, especially when properly maintained. 

Unique

Since sandstone is natural, each type’s colors, hues, and patterns are individually unique. Sandstone is quarried from the mountain and cut out in giant slabs. 

Then, they are processed into small pieces as tiles. In other words, each tile is a random sample of an incredible masterpiece of nature. See more tile shapes for ideas here.

Easily replaced

Since sandstone tiles are installed individually, replacing them when broken is easy. You don’t have to tear off all your flooring just to fix it. But that would probably happen after a long time since sandstone is durable.

Eco-friendly

Unlike vinyl and other synthetic flooring materials that have plastic components, sandstone is natural. Therefore, it is very environment-friendly and biodegrades over time. 

Sandstone Flooring Cons

Just like any other flooring material, sandstone also has its downsides. Here are a few of them:

Easily absorbs water

Sandstone is a porous material, so it quickly absorbs water. Compared to other stone flooring, it has an absorption rate of around 6 percent, leaving it prone to molds and micro bacteria. Therefore, sandstone is not an ideal material for bathroom flooring. 

Prone to scratch

Sandstone is a rock, but it’s a soft rock. Because of its delicate nature, it is prone to dents and scratches from chairs, high heels, and strong impacts. 

Tends to be Slippery

It depends on the sandstone finish you purchased. But the more polished the surface is, the more slippery it is when wet. So be careful when there’s water on its surface because you can slip and hurt yourself.

Prone to stains

Because sandstone has a high absorption rate, liquid can easily seep through the material. If liquid stays on the floor for a long time, it can cause permanent stains. 

Also, be careful of the cleaning material you use. Acidic cleaners can damage your sandstone flooring. 

Weathers with age

Your newly installed sandstone floor won’t look the same after a decade, even when appropriately maintained. 

Unlike marble and granite, sandstone’s softer quality cannot withstand the general wear and tear. And its exposure to natural elements will eventually take its toll, causing the sandstone tiles to discolor. 

Sandstone Floor Tiles

Sandstone’s natural colors are charming. Some of the most preferred colors are grey, brown, yellow, white, tan, and red. These vibrant hues complement almost any colored interior of a house. 

Here are different types of sandstone floor tiles:

• Black sandstone: Most of this sandstone type comes from the areas around Madhya Pradesh, India. It has a rough texture with a medium color variation. 

• Autumn brown sandstone: Also known as Autumn Blend, this type has a wide range of color variations from earthy brown to plum. Its rough texture and unique patterns make it a favorite paving material. 

• Modak sandstone: This type is also called Modak Rose Sandstone because of its pinkish colors and warm yellow undertones. Its rustic look makes it one of the garden and patio tile ideas that work well.

• Buff sandstone: It has a high variation of natural color tones like orange, yellow, and cream. Its warm colors and unique swirls complement any contemporary or traditional interior design. 

• Camel dust sandstone: It’s the most preferred paving and landscaping sandstone type because of its natural color — creamy and yellow with dark brown hues on the surface. 

• Fossil sandstone: Also referred to as Mint Fossil Sandstone because of its blend of yellow, cream, orange, and mint tones. 

• Rainbow sandstone: It got its name because of its unique, colorful patterns, resembling a rainbow. 

See our gallery of the tile patterns on this page.

How to Clean Sandstone Floors

While it is easy to clean sandstone floors, proper care is imperative to maintain its look and condition for a long time. 

For one thing, you have to be careful when using large quantities of water. To avoid deterioration from happening, seal sandstone.

Here are some tips on how to clean your sandstone floors:

• Wipe or vacuum the floor to remove any loose dust. Don’t use water or any chemical cleaner when doing this. 

• If the sandstone floor has some stain spots, use a cleanser with a neutral pH. Since sandstone is alkaline using highly acidic cleaners will damage the surface. Rinse the area with clean water and wipe it dry immediately. Never let it dry naturally. 

If the grime or dirt is heavy, the floor needs a deep cleaning. Vacuum the surface first to remove all the loose dirt. Then, use a light solution cleaner and let it stand for a few minutes to loosen up the dirt. 

After that, get a dry cloth to remove the solution and the grime. Follow up by swirling the surface with clean water. Wipe it immediately using a dry cloth. 

Is Sandstone Slippery When Wet?

Generally, sandstone is naturally slip-resistant, making it an ideal paving material in gardens and different types of patios. 

However, the type of finish you purchase for your flooring is a significant factor — the smoother the finish, the more slippery it is. 

Is Sandstone Easy to Maintain?

Sandstone is a porous material, so proper care is needed. First, you need to seal your sandstone every year to make it water or liquid-repellent. 

Second, don’t use highly acidic cleaners because they will damage the surface. If you want to enhance the color of your sandstone, use a solvent-based sealer. It will give the surface a “wet look.”

Does Sandstone Break Easily?

It depends on the type of sandstone. There are 4 main types of sandstone:

• Gray: not as hard as other sandstone types. Its edges are relatively weak, crumbling easily at even minor impact.

• Crystallized: very hard and brittle. The grains are welded together to create a polished and smooth appearance.

• Carbonate cemented: these are rare sandstones with a hard core.

• Hard sandstone: it is a cross between gray and crystallized sandstone. Like crystallized sandstone, it is hard and brittle. 

Is Sandstone Good for Flooring?

Sandstone is one of the best stone materials recommended by home design experts. Even though it is softer than other stone floors, sandstone floors will last longer when properly cared for. 

See more related content in our article about the types of flooring materials for interior design on this page.