Having a nice marble floor sounds delightful since it looks and feels fancy. That’s why it’s no wonder that so many people out there aim to replace their current floors with a decent marble option.
Of course, marble floors are an investment, and before you think about buying or installing one yourself, there are a couple of important things you ought to consider. This article will cover 7 of the most important things to keep in mind if you decide on adding a bit of marble to your home.
1. Types of Marble and Marble Shine
There are more than a hundred different types of marble out there, each with its own set of colors and patterns. However, they generally fall under one of three categories:
- Calacatta (a nearly pure-white marble with dark grey veiny pattern)
- Carrara (a common white-gray combo with varying levels of color warmth)
- Breccia (a type of marble with the most color and pattern options)
In addition to the type of marble, you should also consider whether you want your floor to shine or not. If you opt for a glamorous shiny look, you will want polished marble. That polish is achieved by grinding the surface of the floor with a machine. Of course, you can always opt for the toned-down look of your marble tiles, also known as honed marble. It’s not as shiny as polished marble, but it will be far easier to maintain.
2. Tile Sizes
A marble floor tile can be as small as a 2 inch by 2 inch square or as large as a 6-foot by 8-foot slab. Broadly speaking, however, most houses will have tiles that are 2-foot by 2-foot and whose thickness ranges between ¼-inch and ¾-inch. In other words, unless you own a massive building, you will not need huge marble slabs.
3. Marble Pricing
The price of marble floors is measured by square feet, and depending on various factors (type of tile, size, thickness, grade, etc.), prices will vary. Very broadly speaking, the prices for different types of marble are as follows:
- Calacatta can cost $12 and above per square foot
- Carrara can cost between $6 and $12 per square foot
- Breccia can cost between $10 and $30 per square foot.
In terms of grade (the quality of marble and level of imperfections), a square foot of flooring can cost anywhere between $10 and $45, though the high prices mostly relate to specialty marble not commonly used for residential buildings.
4. Marble Maintenance
While marble tiles are sturdy and durable, they are not indestructible. For instance, acidic liquids like vinegar will stain a marble floor, while water could dull its surface over time. Furthermore, sand, grit, grime, and dirt can damage the surface through friction unless we remove them quickly. So, in order to keep your marble floor in good condition, make sure to mop it regularly and wipe away any liquid as soon as it drops on the floor. Furthermore, use a stone sealant to keep the floor shiny and glistening.
5. Marble Safety
Polished marble floors are a bit of a safety hazard since anyone can slip on them. So, make sure to place rugs with non-slip backing in different places, or even use a non-slip polishing product.
6. Installation
A lot of homeowners want to try installing the marble floor themselves, which is fine. In fact, there are detailed instructions online on how to do it. However, just to be on the safe side, get a professional tile setter to do the job.
7. Potential Disadvantages of Marble
Marble might look amazing, at least when compared to other flooring options out there. However, it does have its own issues. For example, repairing damaged or stained tiles is incredibly difficult, which is why it’s so important to regularly maintain it. Furthermore, the cost of installing a marble floor is rather high for most homeowners, especially if they first need to remove a different type of floor already there.
Final Thoughts
Buying and installing a marble floor properly takes a lot of time and prep work. However, if you do it right, your home will have an amazing and elegant addition to it that will last for many years.
