In the construction of homes, offices, and other structures, there are several different types of natural stone that are used to create wonderful pieces for interior and exterior applications. Marble is a natural stone that has historically been noted for its durability and elegance.
Marble applications vary and can be used for floors, countertops, wall cladding, fireplaces, and exterior facades. While it’s a common notion for people to characterize any polished stone finish as “marble,” there’s a good chance they’re looking for a different type of stone, because marble isn’t suitable for certain applications.
How marble works for home applications
Since marble has been found not to be the hardest of natural stones, it would not be well suited as a floor covering in areas with extremely high volumes of traffic. Although in typical residential and light commercial applications, this natural stone material would be a great fit.
The only application for which marble is not suitable is for kitchen countertops, because the composition of this material deteriorates when regularly exposed to acidic solutions and foods. The most common residential uses for marble are for fireplaces, decorative foyers, window sills, and bathroom floors, and other bathroom applications also include wall coverings, backsplashes, tub and shower surrounds.
There is a wide variety of tile designs to choose from
The beauty of marble has been recorded in the annals of history, and its variety is abundant. The components and properties differ for the different types of marble, but generally do not match those of granite. However, it is popular, in demand, and commonly used in flooring, wall coverings, and much more.
There are some types of mosaics that are processed to get a finished look, and these are called tumbled marble. The process of making this unique mosaic design usually involves tumbling the mosaics with sand inside a large drum. After a period of time, the corners of the tiles round off and the edges look and feel slightly chipped, resulting in an aged and worn appearance.
Tips for choosing which variety of marble tiles to buy
To get the best materials for tiling your house, it is best to start by measuring the area of the house to be tiled, so you will know exactly how much material you need. Second, consider what type of tile you want to use and check with your local natural stone or tile supplier, or your installer if you’ve hired one. You must confirm that the material is suitable for use in your home.
Third, compile a list of tile suppliers in your area and consider both specialty tile suppliers and large home centers like Home Depot. Fourth, shop around and get a good idea of the exact costs for the type of tile you want. If you are mixing specialty tiles, be sure to price these as well as the main tile, for example hand painted and other specialty tiles can be quite expensive. Finally, get several price quotes from competing suppliers for the tile or marble materials you’ve chosen.
Cost effective and low maintenance
Marble is considered very profitable in many aspects. With care, it is low maintenance. With durability, all you need to know, or look at, is the condition of the massive Parthenon pillars to see how true this statement is. This material is widely available from most natural stone distributors and manufacturers around the world, and also at very competitive prices.
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