interior red Quartzite floor entry hall

Installing Rosso Fiorentino Quartzite as a floor is a magnificent but significant undertaking. Here's a detailed guide on what you need to learn before you buy.

Before Buying: Selection & Vetting

The Critical Question: Is it Suitable for Floors?

Confirm the Finish: For an entry hall, a honed or leathered (textured) finish is highly recommended over a polished finish. A polished floor will be extremely slippery when wet and will show every scuff and scratch more easily. A honed finish provides more traction and hides wear better.

Check the Hardness: Quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas like an entry hall. However, confirm with the supplier that the specific Rosso Fiorentino variety is recommended for flooring.

Slab Selection & Layout:

View the Entire Lot: You must see the full batch of slabs available. Natural stone has variation, and you need to ensure the color and movement are consistent enough for your floor or that you appreciate the intended variation.

Plan the Layout: Work with your designer or fabricator on the slab layout before cutting. This ensures a pleasing flow of the veining pattern from one tile to the next and allows you to avoid placing slabs with unwanted features in high-visibility spots.

Vet Your Installer (This is Crucial):

Specialized Experience: Do not hire a standard tile setter. You must find a installer with proven experience installing natural stone slab floors, not just small tiles. Ask for references and photos of previous projects.

They Must Understand Substrate Prep: The success of a stone floor is 90% dependent on the substrate (the base underneath). It must be perfectly flat, rigid, and free of any flex to prevent cracking.

Installation: The Most Important Phase

Substrate Preparation:

The concrete subfloor must be level, clean, and crack-free. Any movement will translate to the stone and cause cracks.

Cracking (Fissuring) Note: Quartzite can have natural fissures. A proper installation will not cause these to crack, but a poor one will.

Installation Method:

This is typically done with a full-bed mortar application. This means a thick layer of mortar is spread over the substrate to ensure 100% support underneath the stone, leaving no air pockets that could lead to cracking under pressure.

Sealing Timing:

The stone must be sealed after installation but before grouting. This protects the porous stone from absorbing pigments from the grout, which can stain it. A second seal coat is often applied after grouting is complete and cleaned.

Grouting:

Use a high-quality, non-sanded or fine-grained grout recommended for natural stone. The color should be chosen carefully-a closely matched color will make the floor look more seamless, while a contrasting color will emphasize the pattern of each slab.

Maintenance: Long-Term Protection

An entry hall floor faces the most wear and dirt in the house.

Immediate and Robust Sealing:

As mentioned, sealing is non-negotiable. Use a high-quality, impregnating penetrating sealer designed for high-traffic stone floors.

Maintenance Sealing: The floor will need to be re-sealed periodically. The frequency depends on traffic. Test it every 6-12 months by sprinkling water on the surface. If it darkens (soaks in) within 5-10 minutes, it's time to re-seal.

Daily Cleaning:

Use a Soft Broom or Dry Dust Mop daily to remove abrasive grit and dirt.

Wet Cleaning: Use only a pH-neutral stone cleaner diluted in warm water. Avoid steam mops, which can degrade the sealer and force moisture into the stone.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS: Vinegar, ammonia, citrus cleaners, or any generic acidic or abrasive cleaners. They will etch the surface, dulling the finish and breaking down the sealer.

Protection:

Rugs & Mats: Place high-quality, non-staining walk-off mats at all entrances to trap dirt and moisture. Ensure the rug pads are breathable and not made of rubber or vinyl that can trap moisture and cause discoloration.

Felt Pads: Use felt pads under all furniture legs and frequently move the furniture to prevent compaction of the sealant.

Wipe Up Spills Immediately: This is especially important for anything acidic (juice, wine) or oily.