From Palo Alto weekly in 2003 For those who love the look of ceramic tile, but hate the grout, a San Jose company manufactures large lava-stone tiles, under the name of Vulcanite. Volcanic lava is quarried, cut into 16-inch by 25-inch to 36-inch by 25-inch tiles, then glazed at a high temperature.
"It tends to soften the tile and give more of a hand-made look. Once you make something into a massive size, it develops a coldness," noted Paul Burns, president of Fireclay Tile. Of course, a counter made up of small tiles has even more warmth, he acknowledged, but then you've got all those grout lines.
Lava stone can tolerate hot pots, similarly to a high-fired glazed tile, Burns said. "It should last forever. The lava is actually harder than granite or clay," he added, and because there are very few grout lines, there are few edges that are vulnerable to chipping.
Maintenance of lava stone depends on the glaze finish. Some require just soap and water; others need to be sealed every six months with a penetrating sealer.
According to Burns, lava stone offers an alternative to granite, for people who want more color flexibility and a softer look. "It's not better, it's just different," he said.
Lava stone comes in 20 colors, as well as 200 custom colors. Price is on the higher side, at about $120 per square foot installed, Burns said.
