How to buy the best marble tiles for your home
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 stood out for its durability and elegance.
Marble applications vary and can be used for flooring, countertops, wall cladding, fireplaces, and exterior facades. While it is a common notion for people to characterize any polished stone finish as “marble”, there is a strong possibility that they are looking for a different type of stone, because marble is not suitable for certain applications.
How marble works for home applications
Because marble has been found to be not the hardest of natural stones, it would not be well suited as a floor covering in areas with extremely high traffic volumes. Although in typical residential and light commercial applications, this natural stone material would be a perfect fit.
The only application for which marble is not suitable is for kitchen countertops, because the composition of this material deteriorates when it is 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 cladding, backsplashes, tub and shower enclosures.
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 cladding, and much more.
There are some types of mosaics that are processed for 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 become rounded 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 the tiling of your house, it would be 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 mosaic you want to use and check with your local natural stone or mosaic supplier, or your installer if you have 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 make sure you quote for these as well as the main tile, for example hand painted tiles and other specialty tiles can be quite expensive. Lastly, get multiple price quotes from competing vendors for the tile or marble materials you’ve chosen.
Cost effective and low maintenance
Marble is considered very profitable in many respects. With care, it is low in maintenance. With durability, all you need to know, or look at, is the condition of the Parthenon’s immense pillars to see how true this statement is. This material is widely available from most natural stone dealers and manufacturers around the world, and also at very competitive prices.
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