Advantages and Disadvantages of Marble Flooring | Types of Marbles Floors| Italian & Indian Marble

Advantages and Disadvantages of Marble Flooring | Marble Flooring Problems | Marble Flooring Cost Per Square Foot | Is Marble Floor Slippery?

What is Marble Flooring?

The marble flooring is one of the most luxurious kind of flooring in the world and its history dates back to the ancient times.

Marble is a natural stone, which was first found in Rome, Italy. It was first used as a building material and later it became a highly valued decorative material.

For many centuries, marble was mined close to Rome, but in modern times, marble is being extracted all over the world.

Marble is a metamorphic rock, which is a combination of limestone and diatomaceous earth, and it is largely composed of marine sedimentary carbonates.

Today, marble is one of the most expensive and luxurious materials to be used for flooring.

Marble flooring has been known as one of the most expensive types of flooring options. With a heavy price-tag and high maintenance costs, marble floors are not ideal for every homeowner.

The cost of marble flooring will depend on the thickness, color, quality and how it is installed. A thicker marble will cost more, with a 0.5-inch slab costing anywhere from $6-$10 per square foot. With a thickness of 1- 2-inches or more, this cost will increase to $10-$50 per square foot.

The color and quality of the marble will also affect the price. White or cream marble is less expensive than one with a pink or red hue.

Types of Marbles used in Flooring

There are several varieties of marble flooring. They are available in a variety of colors, styles, sizes, and finishes, and have a fairly wide price range. Marble is priced from $3 to $50 per square foot, depending on the color and kind.

Because of the fact that each stone varies in price according to its grade, size, and quality, it might be impossible to predict your ultimate cost until you pick the precise marble you like.

Marble flooring is not only an elegant design element, it is also one of the strongest natural stones in the world. Marble is a natural stone made up of calcite and quartz. It is one of the most luxurious materials to use for flooring because of its natural beauty and reddish color.

There are two types of marble. One looks like a solid surface with no visible veins. The other is made up of various minerals which can be seen in different colors due to layers of minerals.

The rarest type of marble is called veined marble and is called so because of the veins, often in blue or white that appear through the stone.

Marble is one of the most lavish stones available and is widely sought after for its natural grain patterns and high shine, which provide a rich and beautiful appearance.

Marble is roughly categorized into two types:

• Italian marble, which originates in Northern Italy, and
• Indian marble, which originates largely in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Types of Italian Marble

The are several types of Italian Marble; They include

1. Carrara Marble

Carrara White marble is one of the world’s leading marbles. Because   to its stunning white-gray background and delicate gray veins, this marble has been mined for generations.

It is a timeless stone that complements both classic and contemporary flooring designs.

2. Fiorano Marble

Fiorano marble is a light-colored white marble with defined veins, the result of the marble being located in an ancient marine environment.

This stone is extremely hard and resistant to stains, making it a popular choice for commercial applications.   The stone is quarried near the town of Fiorano Modenese, whose name it took from due to its popularity.

This type of marble tile has been used in prestigious projects such as Buckingham Palace and Versailles Castle.

3. Black Marquino Marble

Black Marquino marble is a stunning stone that features dark black veining. The name itself derives from the town of Marquino where this stone is quarried.

It has been used to create floors for the royal residences of the Italian and Spanish royal families, making it one of the most sought-after marble types on the market.

4. Beige Marble

Beige marble is another type of white marble that has been quarried in Carrara. It is famous for its creamy beige color and distinctive mottled background.

5. Green Marble

Another type of white marble on the list, green marble features a green-gray background and veining that gives the stone an unusual look.

The stone is widely used in floors, walls, columns, and countertops due to its natural warmth and striking appearance.

6. Statuario Marble

This type of marble is similar to Beige marble, but it features a blue gray background instead of a white one. It is therefore also known as Blue Marmor.

Part of the reason this stone looks unique is because it was quarried in the Valle dei Cimbri, which means it comes from the valley of the Cimbrian Mountains.

7. Botticino Marble

Botticino marble is another type of white marble that is very hard and smooth to the touch. It is a popular stone for flooring because it has a glossy surface that’s easy to clean.

8. Statuario Marble

Statuario marble is lighter than Botticino marble and has longer veining. This type of white marble also isn’t as hard as Botticino, but it still has a glossy finish. Statuario marble and Botticino can both be used for countertops, floors, or even walls.

Types of Indian Marble

The are several types of Indian Marble; They include

1. Makrana marble

Makrana marble is highly prized for its translucence, which gives it a pleasing appearance. It is quarried in the Makrana region of Rajasthan, India.

2. Black-White Marble

Black-white marble is another popular type of Indian marble that features irregular black and white veins on a white background.

The stone has been used for flooring, walls, countertops, and even interior design projects throughout the country.

3. Malabar Stone

This type of stone is quarried in the Indian region of Kerala. Malabar stone can vary in color depending on where it’s located in the country.

Some stones may be white, while others have a beige or a green-gray background. This makes it easy to find a variation that complements the decor and flooring of any home.

4. Black Makrana marble

Makrana black marble has a glossy appearance and is one of the most sought-after types of marble in India. It requires little maintenance and is very durable, making it a popular choice for homeowners.

5. Olacapatti Marble

These stones are quarried near the city of Coimbatore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Olacapatti marbles have a light-colored background with dark-gray veining, which gives them an interesting appearance when used in flooring or wall applications.

6. Black-Gold Marble

Black-gold marble is an unusual type of stone that’s popular all over India. As its name suggests, it has a black-gold background with colorful veins of gold throughout.

Black-gold marble is commonly used for flooring, countertops, and wall applications.

7. Indian Red Marble

Indian red marble is a striking reddish-orange color that’s quite popular in the country. The stone’s coloring and veining make it easy to find a variation that complements the décor of any home.

8. Nero Marquina Marble

Nero Marquina marble is a stunning black-gray stone that’s been quarried near the town of Mottura in Italy. This type of marble is very popular in India and has been used to create a variety of home décor items. It is also used for flooring, countertops, and wall applications throughout the country.

Some marble varieties are harder than others; this means they are more suitable for flooring than wall applications or vice versa. The type of application you’re using it for will have an impact on your choice.

Why choose Marble Flooring?

Marble offers a refined and luxurious look for any home. This hard and durable stone doesn’t require any major maintenance and stains can usually be removed easily. Among other features, stain resistance is a key feature for marble floor.

Here are some of the most popular reasons why people choose marble flooring in their homes:

• Durability: Marble is one of the hardest stones, which gives it a durability that can’t be matched by other stones.
• Affordability: Although marble flooring can be expensive, it is still a lot less expensive than other types of stone and it offers a high level of elegance.
• Stain resistance: Marble is highly stain resistant, which can be attributed to its composition of calcite.

Precautions To Ensure the Durability of Marble Stone:

• It is preferable to avoid using really large pieces of marble. Most stones up to 4 sq ft are safe, but larger stones would require extra reinforcing.
• Double the thickness of stone around the edges of countertops and stairwells.
• Use a taper or a half round to ensure the top edge is not damaged.
• When attaching the marble stone, ensure that it is precisely aligned; otherwise, it will break.
• If you are concerned about the expense and durability of marble stone, avoid using it in moist and high-traffic areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and balconies.
• Spilled coffee or tea left on these soft stones overnight becomes absorbed and would be tough to remove even after grinding.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Marble Flooring/ Pros and Cons of Marble Flooring

Advantages of Marble Flooring

1. Mable Flooring Is Durable

Marble is a natural stone that has developed a reputation for durability over the course of hundreds of years.

Marble is very robust, scratch-resistant, and long-lasting, withstanding any traffic, external forces, and weight fluctuations.

Apart from domestic applications, they are well-suited for high-traffic locations such as commercial buildings, hotels, and other organizations.

2.  Marble Is Easy to Maintain

As a result of its durability, marble is very easy to maintain. Its natural shine and lustrous surface make it an attractive option for high-traffic areas such as schools, hospitals, commercial spaces, and other shops.

It can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water. Marble flooring coating or sealer is also available to prevent streaks and dirt from ruining the smooth surface of the tiles.

3. Versatile Designs and Natural Elegance

Marble flooring is a natural material, giving a luxurious look, warm and sophisticated to any room. It looks incredible in lobbies, restaurants, and hotels because of its warm aesthetics.

Marble is available in various shades of browns as well as black. It can also be cut to various designs for different uses.

4. Marble Is an Eco-Friendly Material

Marble is an eco-friendly building material that helps preserve the environment through its water absorption qualities during construction. It has a low carbon footprint as it is one of the most renewable materials.

5. Marble Adds Value to A Home or Business

Marbles add value to any property. Their elegance and natural beauty make them a wonderful addition in high-traffic areas like restaurants, hotels, and schools. This also increases the properties aesthetic appeal.

6. Ease of Cutting and Molding

Marble is very easy to work with when it comes to cutting tiles and shaping them into moulds. Secondly, marble is a natural material that does not require any other materials apart from sand and a hard mortar.

This makes it easier for companies to cut the marble into various shapes and designs, thus saving on time and money in the process.

7. Elegant and Refined

Marble has a refined elegance that makes it a perfect choice when it comes to interior design. The natural beauty of the material is unmistakable and cannot be replicated or improved upon by any other means.

It does not have the same “worn-out” look as some natural stones such as limestone and granite, which can sometimes make them less appealing for use in construction.

8.  Marble Stone Flooring Is Available in A Great Range of Designs, Patterns, And Colors

Because marble is a natural stone, it has unique variations in color and texture. As such, it can be cut and carved to a variety of different patterns for installation in homes, offices, schools and other commercial buildings.

This makes marble stone flooring versatile and appealing to more people.

9. Marble Is Long-Lasting

Marble tiles are very durable and they have been known to be able to withstand years of foot traffic without much wear or damage taking place to them at all.

They are also resistant to scratching and stain, making them the perfect choice for high-traffic areas such as busy lobbies and restaurants.

10. Easy to Install

Marble is very easy to install as the tiles have a high tolerance level for fluctuations in temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Once installed, they are easy to maintain, and there is little risk of any cracks or chips forming in them.

In addition to this, marble has a high-water resistance level making it hard to break down or deform from any water damage or fluctuation.

11. Diverse Range of Colors

Marble is a natural stone that is extremely versatile and can be shaped into and held together with little effort.

As such, marble stone tiles are very easy to clean and can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.

They also come in a diverse range of colors, polishes, patterns, and textures making them perfect for any residential or commercial application.

Disadvantages of Marble Flooring

1. Marble Is Known to Be Extremely Heavy

Marble is known to be a heavy and bulky material that is not very light to move. In addition, marble is also known to be extremely expensive.

This makes it very expensive for homeowners and companies to install in commercial spaces.

Because marble tile flooring is made up of a block of stone, it can easily become difficult to transport.

In addition, it can also be difficult to install because of its weight. The solution to this problem is pre-made marble tile floors that are easier to move and transport.

Another disadvantage of marble flooring is that it can easily become dirty with time due to foot traffic and other factors.

2. Marble Tile Flooring Can Be Quite Expensive

The main problem with installing marble tile floors is its extremely high cost of installation. The costs involved in installing a proper design are quite high, making it unaffordable for many homeowners and companies.

The high quality of marble tile flooring makes it very expensive and unaffordable for most homeowners and companies to install.

For example, choosing a marble tile flooring rather than a cheaper alternative will add a lot to the overall costs of installation.

3. Does Not Suit All Design Styles

Marble has an elegant look that not all people love or prefer as it is quite staid and traditional in its appearance.

This makes it more suited to family focused environments rather than shops or restaurants with more modern designs.

4. Slippery Surface

The smooth and polished surface of marble tile flooring can make it very slippery and dangerous to walk on.

The risk is increased when the floor becomes wet. As such, it is important that marble floors are always dry and clean when people walk on them to avoid causing accidents.

5. Skilled Installation Manpower

Installing marble tile flooring is a very complex task and requires highly skilled and experienced workers to do so.

It is also important that these workers have a good knowledge of cutting and installing marble, as mistakes can be very costly to fix in the long run.

6. Marble Tile Flooring Requires Regular Cleaning

If marble tile flooring is not properly cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, it can become very dirty and damaged in no time at all.

7.  Vulnerable to Acidic Substances

Marble has a tendency to be vulnerable to acidic substances. For example, vinegar and wine can easily destroy the surface of marble tile floors, reducing its life span significantly.

It is important that people make sure not to use acidic substances when cleaning marble tile floors as this could ruin them.

8. Can Become Dirty and Scratched Over Time

Because marble tile floors can be very slippery and rough in texture, they are also prone to being scratched with time due to feet walking on them. This makes them less attractive and less durable.

9. Not Recommended for Outdoors as It Can Easily Break Down

Marble tile flooring is not recommended for use outdoors as it will easily break down under the elements of weather and because of its lightweight nature.

10. Remains Difficult for Some People to Maintain

While marble tile floors are very easy to maintain, they can sometimes be very dull. This makes them less appealing when compared to other alternatives such as ceramic tiles that are not as hard on their surfaces but are easier to maintain.

11. Difficult to Replace

Marble tile floors can be very tricky to replace when damaged or scratched. It is also difficult to find an alternative if the original marble material is not available anymore. As such, it is important that marble tile floors are always well looked after and maintained properly to avoid any future damage.

12. Marble flooring are Cold and Hard

As with ceramic tile, marble flooring is an inherently cold construction material. In colder areas, the feeling underfoot might be quite uncomfortable, unless the marble floor is fitted with some type of radiant heating system.

Additionally, marble flooring is extremely hard, which means that any fragile thing that falls would shatter quickly. Or, in the worst-case scenario, the marble tile itself may break.

Marble Flooring Problems/Negatives of Having Marble Floors

What are some marble flooring problems?

Some people believe that marble flooring is the most luxurious type of floor. But just like any other type of floor, it can have its own set of problems.

Different types and grades of marble will react differently to spills and scratches so you’ll want to make sure that your chosen grade is resistant enough for your lifestyle.

For example, if you’re a smoker or cook in the home, then a low-grade marble may not be a good choice for you because these activities can cause permanent damage to the surface.

Here are three common problems associated with marble floors:

• Marble has a very low resistance to staining. They’re also more susceptible to stains than other types of flooring because the porous stone absorbs liquids so easily
• Marble requires expensive maintenance. Marble floors need constant care to stay looking good due to their delicate texture and high polish finish.
• Marble is not as easy to install as more modern materials like vinyl or cork tiles
• Marble floors are expensive to install and maintain, which means they may not work for everyone with limited budgets or space.
•  Marble can be delicate. Marble is very susceptible to scratching and chipping

Is Marble Floor Slippery?

When marble is polished, the surface is rather smooth, which makes it more slippery than a traditional tiled or vinyl flooring.

When a floor is slippery it can cause many injuries, which is why it is important to have a non-slippery surface.

If you’re considering polished marble flooring, bear in mind that the material is extremely slippery, particularly when wet, which increases the risk of falling.

This means it is not recommended for damp areas like as bathrooms, kitchens, or pool decks.

If you fall on the slick floor, you may be more likely to get a major injury, such as a broken bone, due to the hard surface.

Marble Flooring Cost: Marble Flooring Cost Per Square Foot

While prices vary by area, you may expect to pay between $10 and $25 per square foot for a professionally laid marble floor, while more specialized work can cost up to $50 per square foot or more. As a general guideline, the more personalized your design, the more per square foot you should anticipate to pay.

Additionally, some installers may charge extra for removing the existing flooring material, as well as relocating furniture, appliances, and fixtures.

The average homeowner will pay between $16 and $24 per square foot on simple marble tile installation. Labor costs increase when tile quality improves and job-specific installation variables such as patterning or removing existing flooring and trash increase.