Limestone, a sedimentary rock with both hygroscopic and porous qualities, has long been a favourite of designers, like interior decorators and landscapers for instance, and due to its numerous qualities: durability, natural appeal, strength and versatility both indoors and out, it’s a material that you’re advised to take into consideration when outfitting or renovating a restaurant. Limestone is quarried all over the world with some of the finest examples of limestone quarried in central and southern France, home to some of the strongest and most resilient forms of limestone, along with Tuscany where travertine, a hard and resilient form of limestone, is commonly sourced. 

The positive qualities of limestone 

Limestone has long been amongst the most prominent choices as a material for use both indoors and out, so taking into account the fact that many hospitality establishments offer both indoor and outdoor dining, it should come as no surprise that limestone is a very popular material indeed. 

Offering both durability and strength in abundance, limestone has long been a favourite amongst builders and designers, so using limestone as flooring or walling material is an astute choice. As it’s such a durable and strong material, limestone is the perfect flooring material because it can withstand the weight of anything, like heavy outdoor tables for example, which is placed on top of it. 

Limestone also offers an elegantly natural look that renders it perfect for cafes, especially those that provide their clientele with both indoor and outdoor (alfresco) dining, and it’s also a material that lends itself very well to cafes and restaurants that are looking for a Mediterranean style look. Furthermore, limestone is also very low maintenance and scratches and dents, provided that they aren’t overly noticeable, blend right it and give it a slightly weathered look that’s actually very attractive in a rustic sense. 

Why use limestone in restaurants?

Due the qualities discussed above, limestone is an excellent material to use in cafes and restaurants, from the floors and the walls to the bench tops and counters. Limestone is very easy to keep clean and hygienic, which are also qualities that render it an excellent choice for use in hospitality establishments, especially when sealed correctly by using a sealant that penetrates beneath the surface. There are different varieties of limestone flooring available, some of which are more popular in cafes and restaurants than others. This is because some varieties of limestone, particularly the polished varieties, are slippery when wet whilst others are slightly rougher rendering them the more pertinent selection for alfresco dining areas. 

It should be mentioned that as limestone is a porous material it isn’t suitable as a flooring or worktop material for kitchens, though it is however, an excellent choice for dining area floors and as a material for serving bench tops and counters. Due to its earthy, warm colours, limestone adds a touch of rustic warmth to any area in which it is a feature, so it’s often used not only as a flooring material but also as wall cladding, lending a Tuscan effect to the dining areas of cafes and restaurants the world over, especially when used as paving. 

Using limestone for alfresco dining 

Limestone is a popular flooring material because of its earthy appearance and durable qualities but it is prone to flaking if it isn’t sealed correctly. Should you wish to use limestone in an alfresco dining environment, and limestone has long been used to great effect in such dining environments, don’t overlook the inherent importance of using a sealant that penetrates beneath the surface of the limestone to ensure lasting results.

Zoe Ferguson writes articles for Mandarin Stone – UK based company that provides a wide range of marble, slate, granite, and limestone flooring to clients. They have showrooms in Bristol, Cambridge, and more.