Marble Floor Tile Pros And Cons

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Marble has been used for as flooring for thousands of years and is well-known for its stunning good looks. However, before deciding to use this favorite you’ll want to know all the marble floor tile pros and cons.

Marble Floor Tile Pros:

Durable

Because marble is a naturally dense material it’s perfectly suited for use as a flooring material. Marble flooring can even be installed in areas that have high foot traffic without a problem. This durability also means that it is long-lasting, often up to a lifetime. Although like all-natural stones tiles will need to be properly maintained and cared for.

Wide Spectrum Of Colors

One thing you won’t have to worry about with marble is a lack of color. There is what can seem to be an infinite range of colors and shades to choose from to meet any preference or match any interior. While white marble floor tile is the most commonly available gray, yellow, brown, pink, red, green, black, and many more colors are all options to choose from for your floors.

Natural Variation And Veining

To add to the many different colors and shades of marble, as a natural stone each tile has its own totally unique markings. And in addition, marble is also famous for its veins. These veins run through the tiles creating gorgeous one-of-a-kind patterns.

Each floor tile can therefore really be looked at as an individual work of art. Veins can also add a visually striking appearance to floors particularly when their color contrasts the color of the stone itself. Black floor tile with white veins would be one such example.

Elegant Looks

One of the most well-known advantages of marble flooring is its ability to create a highly elegant appearance. For this reason, it’s often the flooring material of choice in upscale hotels, businesses, and homes. Regardless of where it’s installed it always adds a look and feel of both class and status.

Increased Value

Installing marble floor tiles can help to increase the value of a property. This is partly due to its high-end appearance but also its durability. Homebuyers know that when purchasing a property with marble tile flooring it will last for many years into the future without needing to be upgraded. And because its looks are timeless it will never go out of style.

Keep Cool

A very helpful feature of marble is the fact that it can stay cool even in very hot weather. It has a high thermal mass, which allows it to absorb heat while keeping its own temperature. This is one of the reasons marble is often used as fireplace tile. When used on the floor it means that your tiles can help to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

They can even keep you physically cool as they can absorb heat directly from your feet. Interestingly the thermal properties of marble also allow it to conduct heat very well when used with an underfloor tile heating system. So if you want marble flooring but don’t like the thought of cold tiles on a winter morning, keeping them heating will make things cozy.

Marble Floor Tile Cons:

Cost

Marble is a highly desirable natural stone and this is reflected in its cost. It will cost more to purchase and install than standard options such as ceramic. However, it has become much more affordable in recent years. Because the tiles will usually last longer than many other materials this can make up for the difference in price.

Acids

Marble is made of the mineral calcite which reacts to acids. When it comes into contact with them a very small amount of the stone is dissolved. This is known as etching and causes a dulling of the stone or a slight color change. Although etching can usually be polished out or even blend in with the natural variation of the stone.

Scratches

Marble generally scores around a three on the Mohs hardness scale, a scale which measures the hardness of minerals of their and ability to be scratched. In contrast, granite tiles would be a seven. And although scratches can usually be buffed out you’ll still need to be careful when doing things like moving heavy furniture for example.

Cracks

When something that’s both heavy and hard falls on marble floor tile it can crack. While this does not typically crack the body of the tile it can result in small cracks on the surface. These are known as stun marks or star cracks and are caused by small explosions in the crystals of the stone from the impact.

Slippery

Unfortunately one of the most famous finishes for this stone, polished, can also be extremely slippery when wet. A fall on a hard stone surface such as marble can be very painful and even cause serious injury. For this reason, polished marble tile should not be used on bathroom floors or where they will be exposed to water and moisture on a regular basis. Be sure to choose tiles with a different finish instead.

You now know all the marble floor tile pros and cons. And with this info, you’re much more prepared to make an accurate assessment of whether or not this luxurious material is right for your space.

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