If you’ve been looking at natural stone tiles for your kitchen, bathroom, or home, and you’ve decided to settle on a durable limestone as your material of choice, you might now be left wondering just which type of limestone tile is right for your needs.
Jura, Dijon, and Jaipur; each of these styles can bring their own unique twist to your home’s style, which is why it can be helpful to know just what separates each type of limestone tile from the other.
In this article, we’re going to cover exactly what Jura limestone is, as well as why you might want to choose Jura stone over its other limestone counterparts, and how to care for it once it’s been installed.
What are Jura limestone tiles?
Originally hailing from the Jura Mountain range along the Franco-Swiss border, Jura limestone tiles have long been considered the king of European limestone flooring due to their unique colouration and additional aesthetic features.
Jura limestone in particular is characterised by its encapsulated ammonite fossils and intricate natural stone details, making this extremely durable and premium limestone a permanent favourite with homeowners and interior designers alike.
However, as a result, Jura limestone is a premium product available from only the very best high-street tile retailers at prices that might make your eyes water. But don’t let that turn you off; Jura stone is certainly worth such a price tag if you can afford it in your budget!
Why do Jura tiles contain fossils and veins?
Due to the sheer ancientness of their quarrying location, which dates back 168 million years ago, Jura limestone is uniquely dated to a time period at which fossilisation has had time to take effect.
Thus, as a result of tectonic plate movements, fossils once present on the seafloor have been pushed upwards and into the mountains, which is why you’ll often see ammonites, ammonite jaws (aptychii), feather stars, and various plant material residue in your tiles.
As for the veins of crystals present in Jura stone, these stylolites are ‘seams’ of calcite that have mixed with minor amounts of clay and minerals, such as pyrite, which have then been subjected to huge volumes of pressure, resulting in the formation of these seams.
Interestingly, the crystals of calcite play an important role in the compaction and hardness of limestone. Their presence is entirely natural and is no indication of defects or weakness in the rock.
Why choose Jura limestone?
So, we’ve touched on what exactly Jura stone is, but why might you want to pick this tile material type over its close cousins – Dijon and Jaipur – besides the novel addition of having entirely unique fossils and mineral veins across your floor?
- Durability: Jura stone is one of the toughest limestone options available in the Stone Superstore range. As durable as it is versatile, if you opt for a Jura tile set, your floor will last for decades – provided you care for it correctly.
- Versatility: On top of this low maintenance, Jura tiles also come in fairly neutral tones, ranging from light grey to beige. This makes them uniquely suited to a range of interior styles, both contemporary and traditional alike.
Dijon and Jaipur limestone tiles, on the other hand, tend to be limited to beige and orange tones respectively, while also leaning more towards a weathered and antiquated look, making them better suited for specifically traditional homes.
Of course, if you would like to find out more about our other limestone tile options, then why not look at our guide to Jaipur limestone or article explaining everything about Dijon limestone?
How to look after Jura limestone
When it comes to looking after Jura limestone, the good news is that there are no specific steps you need to take in order to ensure your tiles remain looking fresh and new all year round. As for how to clean your limestone tiles, you can read our blog on how to maintain limestone tiling to find out the dos and don’ts.
Now that you know what Jura limestone is, you’re ready to get started laying it in your home. Of course, you might still be looking for advice on exactly how to lay your new natural stone tiles, so contact our experts directly for tiling tips and tricks. You can also browse more guides to help you choose your next tile set with Stone Superstore.