Now stone purveyors take new stone and try to imitate years of wear and tear. It's called undulated and it's done with limestone and marble. In fact, real stone has become so popular that tile manufacturers are striking back, making ceramics that imitate stone. Fortunately for homeowners, the cost of these look-alikes is very affordable. People want the look of stone, whether they get it by paying the price of real stone or buying something that looks like it.
Ceramics do have their advantages, often being more durable and easy to maintain.
Real slate scratches, but fake doesn't. As a raw material, one of the drawbacks of natural stone is its availability. Some materials, like granite, are plentiful. But others, like certain types of marble, are not. Mrs. Salzman said she had no idea if certain stones were endangered, like certain hardwoods, but some, she said, are difficult, if not impossible to obtain.