Basalt and volcanic stone: types and uses
Cooled lava turned to stone: dense, fine-grained and even in color. Grays, one near-uniform black and one pink tone, for floors, facades and kitchens that work hard.
- 4basalts with a photo
- 4from Italy
- 3colors
4 basalts
Gray basalt
Fine-grained greenish and violet grays, with scattered white specks.
Black basalt
An almost black, even gray with a very fine grain.
Brown basalt
A fine-grained pinkish brown, understated and matte.
There are no basalts with those filters in the catalog. We can still source one for you.
Where does basalt work?
- OutdoorsFloors, terraces and facades: it takes sun, rain and frost
- Interior floorsDaily traffic; a matte finish is not slippery
- WallsEven-grained cladding, indoors or out
- KitchenMatte countertops, sealed
- TablesTables for everyday use and outdoors
- BathroomsBathroom floors and walls in a matte finish
How it holds up
- ScratchesHigh
- StainsMedium, with sealer
- AcidsHigh
How to care for it
- Neutral soap and water; a brush outdoors
- Sealed in the kitchen, where there is grease
- In full tropical sun, the dark tone heats up
For a pool edge in full sun, a light basalt or a travertine stay cooler than a dark tone.
Basalt finishes
Basalt is almost never polished to a mirror: its strength is in the matte and textured finishes.
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Honed
Matte
Smooth, with no gloss, for kitchens, bathrooms and indoor floors.
KitchenBathroomsFloors -
Brushed
Matte with texture
A soft texture that is not slippery when wet.
FloorsOutdoors -
Flamed
Rough
A surface roughened by fire, for outdoors and steps.
Outdoors -
Bush-hammered
Matte and rustic
Bush-hammered, with the look of an old street stone.
OutdoorsWalls
Where the basalts come from
Most of the basalts in the catalog come from Italy. For all of them, slab quality matters more than the country.
Where the 4 come from
- 4 Italy
Questions about basalt
Are basalt and volcanic stone the same thing?
Basalt is the most common volcanic stone: lava that cooled fast and stayed dense and fine-grained. In the trade, several rocks of this origin are called volcanic stone or lava stone, some with small pores you can see.
Does basalt work for outdoor floors?
It is one of its best uses. It takes foot traffic, rain and sun without losing color. With a brushed or flamed finish it is not slippery; in very hot climates, remember that a dark tone heats up in the sun.
Can basalt be used in the kitchen?
Yes, with a matte finish and a sealer. It is hard and resists kitchen acids far better than marble; the sealer protects it from grease.