Durable stones gain niche in interior decor

The stones that have different irregular shapes can be transformed to suit the intended purpose, either on walls, or floors. Their popularity has soared.

Driving along Ngong Road one will find Jemkos Investments, dealers of mazeras stones. Stephen Muteti is one of the dealers and says mazeras stones have gained popularity in recent years.

“More and more people are including it to their final décor on walls, as claddings, chimneys, pavements, driveways, swimming pools and for aquariums,” he says when we found him at his place of work.

Different tiles

The stones are popular for their durability. Compared to tiles, they last longer and are easy to remove and transfer to another space. 

They naturally come in different colours, mainly black, gold, grey and brown. They can be cut to whatever shape and size required, hence their appeal.

In Kenya, there are about 15 different types of stones and colours, ranging from Galana tiles, maji ya chumvi tiles, coral stone facing, Machakos stone, black stone from Lunga Lunga, Tanga yellow stone which resembles the timber parquet, Nairobi grey, blue and yellow stones.

Wall cladding, which is cutting into slates and laying them on walls using cement as opposed to painting are mostly popular indoors and outdoors.

Abraham Owino of Henotch General Merchants says that the use of wall cladding has gained popularity with most home owners who are willing to spend a fortune on this.
It can be costly but it is a durable way of decorating any of your walls and flooring as they do not require constant renovations.

“The more the mazeras stone withers the better it looks, all it needs is to be polished to give a glossy finish and it can last for 20 more years,” he says.

Bars and restaurants are using these stones on counters, reception, swimming pools and bathrooms.

The use of tiles in bathrooms has often been ill advised as they cause accidents due to their slippery surface unlike mazeras stones which can be used.

The cost of the stones is at Sh110 per square feet, which is the same cost as that of tiles. There is however a difference in prices of the mazeras stones.

Those from Mombasa are most costly that those from other regions due to transportation cost as well as their durability.

The mazeras stone is also one of the affordable natural stones available compared to others such as granites, limestone, marble, quartzite, slate stone and sandstone.

The texture of the stone is usually rough in its natural form, although one can enhance the appearance and give it a shiny look by applying Merisel liquid or waterproofing silicon.

Also known as galana stones, from Tanzania and Kajiado County, the stones come from seasonal river beds and have similar characteristics as sandstones.