The Pros & Cons Of Marble Floor Tiles For Your Home

Popular as bathroom tiles, marble floor tiles are often chosen in a property for their elegance and shining appearance. In this guide, you can discover everything you need to know about marble floor tiles and whether they are right for your home.

What is Marble?

A metamorphic rock, marble is a natural stone product that is formed from limestone or dolomite. Marble is known for its striking appearance, which is typically white or pink, however, there are various other colours of marble too. The material itself is mined from quarries.

Historically, marble has had a wide range of applications. It has been used to create sculptures, including famous pieces such as Michelangelo’s David and Discobolus by Myron.

Pros

There are many advantages to marble floors, making them a worthwhile choice for many properties. Below, discover some of the pros of choosing marble floors, which may help you decide whether it could be right for you.

Unique Style

Marble is a natural stone material like no other, known for the stark veins that can run through the surface. The veins within natural marble are a result of mineral deposits within the original limestone that have since crystallised to become veins. These unique patterns can make your property’s flooring one-of-a-kind while still fitting in with any style.

Easy to Maintain

Unlike carpeting, marble floor tiles are simple to care for. To maintain marble floor tiles, you need to regularly sweep or vacuum the floor to remove dust and debris, the same as any other hard floor. Additionally, weekly mopping will also keep the marble floor tiles shining.

Polished Appearance

Marble typically has a shine to it, which can add elegance to a property. The tiles can easily be polished, creating a smooth surface that helps to enhance the stone. The traditional white colour helps to reflect sunlight, brightening a space too.

Adds Value

Due to its costly nature and elegant appearance, marble can easily add value to a property. The investment in marble flooring, countertops, or other features can significantly enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and perceived luxury of a home. Its timeless beauty and durability make it a sought-after material for potential buyers.

Cons

While marble floor tiles are aesthetically pleasing, they aren’t always advantageous. The reality of owning genuine marble flooring often involves a significant financial investment, demanding maintenance routines, and concerns about potential damage. Read on to learn more about some of the cons of marble floor tiles to be aware of, preparing you before purchase.

Slippery

Especially when wet, polished marble floor tiles can be slippery. Slipping on a hard floor can often lead to injuries, making it important to keep the marble floor tiles consistently dry. This can often be challenging, especially when laid in bathrooms and kitchens where water sources are found.

May Scratch Easily

Softer than porcelain flooring, marble floors can become easily scratched. For households with pets with sharp claws, marble floor tiles will typically scratch with ease. This can significantly impact their appearance.

Often Expensive

While the investment is often worthwhile, marble floor tiles are typically expensive and can therefore be out of price range on construction projects. Marble is a natural stone, and its extraction, processing, and transportation contribute significantly to its cost.

Cold

While often pleasant in the summer months, the cold quality of marble can be uncomfortable to walk over barefoot throughout the year. While socks, slippers and other indoor footwear can make walking over the flooring more comfortable, if you prefer to walk around your home barefoot, it is unlikely that marble floor tiles will be right for you.

Deciding Whether Marble Flooring is Right for You

As a result of the disadvantages of marble floor tiles, they aren’t right for everyone. While their beauty is undeniable, they are significant investments and they can demand maintenance. Read on for some key considerations that can help you decide whether marble floor tiles could be right for you.

Your Flooring Requirements

Before deciding on which flooring you will choose for your property, it’s important to consider the members of the household. For example, should you have pets and small children, a hard surface that can be easily scratched and painful to fall on might not be right for your home.

Placement

While marble tiles for bathrooms are beneficial, some rooms may be less suited to marble, for example, living rooms. Designed to offer comfort and a relaxing environment, you might not want to step barefoot into these spaces, particularly during the winter months.

Alternative Uses for Marble

If you don’t think that marble flooring is right for your property, there are a variety of alternative ways to use marble. Often, you might like to incorporate marble into your property, helping you to include its aesthetically pleasing appearance without the downsides of using it for flooring. This could be for your kitchen countertops, for example.

Marble Effect Alternatives

Still unsure whether marble is right for you? There is another option for you to choose from! Porcelain marble floor tiles have the appearance of marble, without the disadvantages. These can be great for homeowners looking for an alternative to true marble flooring that is still elegant.

The Benefits of Marble Effect Products

If you're drawn to the luxurious look of marble but seek a more practical and budget-friendly solution, marble-effect tiles offer a compelling alternative. Find the key advantages of opting for marble-effect tiles in this section.

Affordable

Compared to true marble floor tiles, marble effect flooring is a much more affordable option. As a more cost-effective option, this solution allows you to incorporate the marble appearance into your property without worrying that it will go significantly over budget on your renovation project.

Wide Range

There is a wide range of marble-effect floor tiles available, allowing you to choose between a wide range of colours and finishes. This means you can achieve the perfect flooring, which fits in with your colour scheme.

Low Maintenance

Marble effect floor tiles are often easier to maintain than marble itself, making them a worthwhile choice. High-quality porcelain marble tiles are also often more durable than natural marble, making them a great choice for busy households and those with pets.

Versatile

Marble-effect floor tiles can be used in multiple rooms and spaces throughout a property, from bathrooms to kitchens. The versatile nature of marble-effect floor tiles is great for creating a cohesive and luxurious look throughout the entire home. They can be used to tie different spaces together, creating a sense of flow.

Marble at Tiles Universe

Interested in the appearance of marble, but not its disadvantages? Have the best of both with marble effect tiles, a great alternative to completely marble flooring. We have a range of marble effect products at Tiles Universe, which easily offers the aesthetics and appearance of marble.

Shop our complete range of tiles on our online store today. While on our website, why not explore our other helpful blogs? Alternatively, for direct advice from the experts, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us now.