The use of natural stone as flooring has in the existence since years. There are many types of natural stones used as flooring. Marble is one of the natural stone, which has been used as a floor since the time of Kings. Marble stone, when properly finished radiates a rich look that will make any interior feel so luxurious. There are different types of marble flooring available in terms of colors. These floors can decorate a hallway, bathroom or foyer. The hues of colors and naturally formed patterns make the marble stone simply extraordinary.
Marble stones are classified based on their looks and patterns. There are three major classifications namely – dolomite, magnesium and calcite. Magnesium marbles are those that contain magnesium between 5% and 40%. The Dolomites are those that contain more than 40% of magnesium carbonate and calcite marble contains less than 5% of magnesium carbonate. Now let us look into some classifications on marbles based on colors and patterns.
Breccia is those that contains darker and warmer hues. Most common colors of Breccia are deep reds and browns. This type of marble is great for countertop or floor.
Carrara Marble is of classic types that are often seen in the Roman and Greek statues. This marble is characterized by their pure white look that lends a pristine aura. This is also one of the lightest marble available for flooring.
Calacatta type marbles have similar vein patterns like Carrara, but the former has bolder lines. Calacatte comes in warmer hues and they can add character to any room interior.
Limestone is a very popular type of marble that often comes in beige or tan. Limestone works great for bathrooms. This naturally occurring stone is soft and visibly porous. Due to these characteristics, limestones are prone to damage and hence they are not preferred in areas with high traffic.
Not all the floors that look like marble have to be real and natural marble. Cultured marble is a material that looks like a real marble. This made by mixing marble dust and cement. Though they don’t have streaks and veins, they look so real like the natural stone.
The look and feel of the marble can categorized based on the type of finishing. Polished marble are those that are finished to give a shiny and smooth look. This polished marble reflects the light and they are great to decorate the areas like foyer and hallways.
Honed marble is polished but not to the extent for polished marble. They have a matt-like finish and they do not reflect light much. The biggest advantage of this type of marble is that they are smooth and not slippery.
Sand marble, as the name says, is the mixture of marble and marble. This type of marble lends rustic and elegant charm to any interior.
There are few things to keep in mind before you want to invest your money in marble flooring. Marbles are naturally occurring stones and hence they have a porous surface, which can easily accumulate debris, dirt and moisture. In order to extend the life of the marble, you have to seal the surface every six to twelve months.
Polished marbles are can be more slippery when it is wet. So you have to be little cautious when you have installed in your bathroom. You can minimize the chances of slipping by strategically placing the rugs in different locations.
The naturally occurring vein patterns make the marble difficult to match in all rooms of your home. This is the reason why you should have the tiles cut from the same stone.
Marble is a reactive stone. It can react with any liquid that are acidic in nature. So do not leave spills like orange juice, floor cleaners on the surface for a long time. Otherwise, the surface could suffer irreversible damage.
Marble flooring requires regular maintenance as they are highly susceptible to damage due to elements, the acidic liquid, etc. You should keep the acrylic pad under the legs of the furniture to protect from damage. Marble floors are costly to buy and also require expensive maintenance. So, you should consider the overall ownership cost, before deciding to buy the marble. You have to do some research to find the ideal type of marble and finish for your home.