Engineered Stone Tile – The Beauty of Stone for Less
Natural stone tile is elegant but not without concerns. Engineered stone tile offers the same looks and durability for less. And installation is a snap.
August 6, 2024 | By Robbins Product Expert
The Perfect Alternative to Ceramic and Porcelain
Ceramic and porcelain flooring exudes timeless elegance and enduring strength. However, its price tag, the tendency to stain and chip, and the challenging installation often leave homeowners searching for an alternative.
Well, that alternative is finally here with engineered tile flooring. It captures the essence of natural stone without the downsides, particularly cost.
So now, you can enjoy the uncompromising look of stone at an affordable price, and you can install the flooring in a fraction of the time.
What is Engineered Stone Tile?
Often known as reconstituted stone, engineered tile generally uses a stone composite base consisting of roughly 75% limestone. Limestone is an abundant natural resource, making it a good selection for sustainable flooring.
High-performance resins or adhesives bind the composite to create a core as strong as natural stone. A wear layer and surface treatment like aluminum oxide enhance the floor’s surface, making it durable, stain-resistant, and easy to clean.
Engineered Tile is Waterproof
In many ways, engineered tile is better than natural stone, ceramic, or porcelain tile flooring. For example, natural stone is porous, allowing liquids to pass through it. Sealing is required to prevent that from happening. Moreover, you must do so every three or four years.
Otherwise, you leave the surface vulnerable to absorbing foreign substances. Those substances can stain your floors, weaken the stone, and potentially lead to bacteria growth.
Engineered stone tile, however, is non-porous. So, you’ll never have to worry about substances staining or seeping into your floors, and you’ll also avoid the time and expense of resealing them. Engineered tile is perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other rooms where water is a concern.
Natural Stone Can Give Homeowners Cold Feet
Natural stone can give you cold feet. First, there’s the cost. According to HomeAdvisor, on average, you’ll pay between $10 and $15 per square foot for materials and installation.
Second, there’s your cold feet. Literally. Stone is cold underfoot so that you can expect a bit of a shock stepping onto the floors barefoot, especially in winter. As a result, you might need to consider the added expense of underfloor heating.
Engineered Stone Tile Gives You Happy Feet
You’ll be dancing at the cost of engineered tile versus natural stone. It costs similar to luxury vinyl tile for materials, generally ranging from $3 to $10 per square foot. Equally important, installation costs are far less than natural stone, as low as $2 per square foot. At the high end, installation is approximately $7 per square foot (Forbes).
If you fancy yourself a DIYer, you can install engineered tile yourself. With basic tools and DIY savvy, you can transform your space in a day, saving time and money.
Apart from the comfort of budget savings, you’ll love the comfort of engineered tile underfoot. The flooring has more give than natural stone, making it comfortable to stand on. You won’t feel a cold chill on your feet like natural stone, either.
Engineered Tile Flooring Installs Quickly
Installing natural stone tile is painstaking. It requires a level subfloor, tile adhesive, grout, exact placement, and curing. And, as mentioned, you must seal the flooring. Engineered stone tile is much less cumbersome.
First, you can install it over minor subfloor irregularities without fear of cracking. You also don’t have to worry about acclimating the tiles.
Second, you can install engineered stone tile as a floating floor without adhesives. However, some manufacturers recommend installation with a full-spread adhesive to better secure the flooring.
Third, some engineered tile floors have built-in grout lines to eliminate grouting. However, manufacturers like Robbins® let you install the tile with or without grout lines. The former makes installation easier while creating a seamless look, while the latter imparts a more true stone look to the flooring.
Finally, you don’t need to seal engineered tile. Depending on your room size, you can complete your installation in a day and even move back into the room. Try doing that with natural stone.
Durable, Lifetime Performance
Engineered tile resists scratches, chipping, and cracking. With stone floors, dropping heavy objects onto the floor is always a concern. Not so with engineered stone tile. The composite material adds resilience and flexibility to eliminate worry. Plus, an aluminum oxide coating makes the flooring even more worry-free.
Engineered tile is easy to maintain. To remove surface debris, sweep or vacuum the flooring. Occasional mopping with a gentle cleanser keeps your floors looking pristine.
If you encounter any issues with tiles, you can remove and replace them easily versus the same process with stone tiles.
In addition to all the benefits we’ve covered, companies like Robbins offer a lifetime warranty. Its new collection of Hearthstone engineered stone tiles comes in 12 colors. You can grout the 12″ x 24″ or 16″ x 16″ tiles for a more natural appearance.
Best of all, you’ll have gorgeous stone-look flooring that will last you a lifetime.
Get the Look You Want from Robbins®
From traditional hardwood flooring to engineered stone tile, Robbins® is your one-stop shop for high-quality flooring.
Explore our extensive collection using our interactive floor visualizer. Take a picture of your room, select a floor, and let the tool do the rest. Instantly see your flooring selection to eliminate the worries about choosing. Use our store locator to find the nearest Robbins dealer
Ready to shop for engineered stone tile flooring near you?
Use our retail locator to find where you can buy Robbins engineered hardwood flooring.
Find a Store