Natural stone tiles are not manufactured but instead quarried and include marble, limestone, travertine, sandstone, granite, and slate. Because they’re a natural product there is no way to predict or control exactly how it will look when ordered. Depending on the specific type of natural stone there’s varying levels of maintenance involved in caring for it. It requires sealing and cleaning only with stone cleaner. Marbles, limestones, and travertines specifically are calcium-based stones meaning they will etch (dulling finish & rough-up a bit) after coming into any contact with acids. There is no way to prevent etching. For this reason, people often opt for honed finishes as they are ‘pre-etched’ so to speak. Visit our tile and stone flooring showrooms in Bellevue, WA.