Sandstone Floor Tile Pricing

12”X12” - $2.00 - $10.00 Per Square Foot
16”x16” - $3.50  - $14.00 Per Square Foot
24”x24” - $5.00 - $16.00 Per Square Foot

Remember all pricing with sandstone will be calculated in square feet, even when dealing with 16” or larger tiles.

Big Box Hardware Stores: The reason for the wide price discrepancy has to do with the quality of the tile and the circumstances of its attainment.

In many cases large box hardware stores are able to get very low prices on sandstone flooring from overseas manufacturers who have drastically lower labor costs. They do this by purchasing in huge bulk containers.

The problem with this is that in such vast quantities it is impossible to maintain consistent quality of the material, and it is not cost effective for the company to do so. This means you can see a beautiful sample piece of sandstone on a wall, then get home to find you purchased boxes of irregularly shaped, or differently colored pieces. You also have to be very careful to check store policies on returns of “used” construction materials.

Direct Source Retailers: In some cases you will also find low prices being offered online by retail websites. This is usually the result of a manufacturer or importer having overstock, or of an overseas company doing drop shipping directly to customers. One drawback to this is that there is often a very high minimum quantity required to get that low price.

If you are dealing with overseas companies then customer service, returns, and high shipping rates may be a problem.

Tile Stores: The prices in a real flooring tile store will be higher but what you get for that price is a lot more knowledgeable customer service and quality. The materials tend to be better quality, from more trustworthy manufacturers. You need to check, but they often also have a pick and choose policy where you can buy extra and return tiles that you don’t like specifically. That can be important when dealing with natural materials that can vary in color vastly piece to piece.

Installation Costs

$3.50 per sq foot - $6.00 per sq foot including removal and disposal of old materials.

Installation costs can add significantly to the price of a sandstone floor tile installation. The particular amount being charged will vary based on your location, as well as the size of the space being tiled, and the size of the tiles themselves. You also want to make sure removal, and possibly cleanup are also included in any price charged.

Sandstone flooring can be installed by an amateur in order to save money, but it is a relatively difficult job that is very labor intensive. Stone is heavy, and lifting and placing that many tiles into the location, and then into place, and making sure everything is right is difficult. The material is also expensive, and a mistake can cause irreparable damage adding to the cost of the entire project.

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Sandstone Sealant

Sandstone flooring needs to be treated with both a below surface penetrating sealer to clog its pores, and a barrier sealer to create a layer of protection over the floor. An optional finish layer can be added for more protection and additional shine. This process should be done during the installation, and then again annually every year. In some cases you may be able to find a stone sealant that is both penetrating and barrier forming in one.

Generally you will pay about $20 - $30 per gallon for stone flooring sealant. This should be able to cover roughly 200 square feet of flooring.

Life Span

When considering costs you also have to consider the lifespan of a sandstone floor.With moderate traffic and regular maintenance these materials can generally last 10-20 years before you have to start thinking about replacement. However, it is a natural stone, so with regular maintenance and the right conditions a sandstone floor could theoretically last forever. It all depends on the application of sealer and the amount of weather from foot traffic it receives.

Size Options

12x”12”, 16”x16”, 24”x24”
Larger tiles have to be thicker, and so are more expensive per foot, and heavier to transport and install. All tiles can be cut down into even squares or rectangles such as 4”x4”, or 8”x8” using a wet saw. Diagonal triangle cuts are difficult to achieve with sandstone and often fray the corners. Uneven cuts such as 5”x5”, and 7”x7” are possible but will cause waste.

Texture Options

Gauged / Natural / Cleft: Gauged refers to the process where the sandstone is cut into tile form and then sliced to be smooth enough for flooring. This leaves a natural feeling to the surface which is suitable and safe to walk on, but still clefted enough for that dimensional look. Natural cleft sandstone can also provide traction for floors, even when wet.

Polished / Honed: With further refining, sandstone tiles can achieve a smoother, more even surface. Some materials can also be polished to gain a glistening sheen. The drawback to this is that smoother sandstone flooring tends to be easier to scratch, and have less natural traction.

Color Options

One of the best features of sandstone flooring is that the colors found within each tile are completely natural, and the way they form is unique, making every piece of every floor a one of a kind natural masterpiece. While these colors will vary by lots based on where the material is quarried, sandstone tends to have soft sandy colors such as reds, browns, tans, and golds. At the opposite end of the spectrum sandstone can also be charcoal gray and black.

While the unique variation of sandstone is a selling point it can also be a problem. Different lots of materials that may have the same name can look drastically different. You always want to get as many samples as possible of the color you choose, and see how the colors work in the space where they will be used. Also be aware of the vendor's return policy in case all or some of the material isn’t to your taste when it arrives.  
 

General Material Facts

Density: The weight of the material per cubic foot.
130- 150 lbs / cubed foot

Absorption: Refers to how much water by percentage the material retains when immersed for a set time in a tank.
1%-6%

Compressive Strength: How many psi of energy does it take to break an inch of the material.
10,000psi - 15,000 psi per square inch.