Marble was used by master craftsmen throughout the ages to adorn palace floors, walls and ceilings. Although it was a show of power and wealth, now marble tile is making its way more and more into everyday houses — bathrooms in particular — all over the world.
The question is, should it?
Since there’s a finite amount of marble from the world, it’s become more challenging to find quality marble for a home design project. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this beautiful material, and a few things that you need to watch out for if you’re thinking about placing it on your toilet.
Marble basics. Marble is a metamorphic rock that’s been used for thousands of years. Each piece of marble is different — that the variety in veining and colour is frequently considered its very best trait. Marble tile may have an even or less uniform look, based on the type and caliber of marble you purchase. Most high-end marble has a very even colour palette with gentle veining. The look — such as in this shower — is tasteful, soft and uniform.
CG&S Design-Build
This installation has a marble with a more pronounced vein (probably Calacatta) to get a less uniform look. This may be just as attractive, as a result of unique shapes and details the stone generates.
Learn about the gaps between Carrara and Calacatta marble
By a professional’s standpoint, the nearer to Italy and Greece a stone is sourced, the better it will hold up in a moist atmosphere. I have also noticed that more veining often signifies a higher iron content, causing the stone to change in appearance over time.
Tip: In case you can’t find or afford Italian marble, a top notch porclean tile might offer a similar look.
EuroCraft Interiors Custom Cabinetry
The benefits of marble. Marble is very easy to use. It is a softer stone that may be milled, machined and tumbled, which means it can have multiple uses. This bathroom has full slabs of marble for walls, counters and flooring, and smaller bits for the crown molding and door casing particulars.
Average cost: $100 to $300 per square foot, installed.
Brian Watford Interiors
The disadvantages of marble. Since it’s a soft stone, marble is very absorbent. For example, if you dye your hair in a marble shower, then the dye can stain your shower floor. A lot of people select a durable porcelain tile to complement marble (such as in this photo) for this very reason.
Marble is easily etched by acidic materials, such as lemon and specific cleaning products. If you want to use marble into your toilet, I suggest analyzing lotions and other bath supplies on samples to see if there’s a response. Because of this, marble isn’t the ideal choice for children’s bathrooms.
Millennium Cabinetry
Particular considerations. Since marble contains minerals, there’s always the danger that its iron content will turn into rust in a toilet. A beautiful installation can be ruined when the iron buried deep in the masonry discolors from humidity and moisture.
I suggest doing a boil evaluation to be certain that the marble you’re considering will work on your bath or shower. Simply set the tile you’re considering right into a bucket of water for 2 days, then take it out and let it sit for 2 more days. Celebrate any changes.
Pickell Architecture
Warning: If you are picking a sheet tile or small marble tile layout attached to sheets, know that in almost any shower renovation, then 95 percent of the back side of the tile needs to be in touch with the thinset (tile cement). Thinset is often installed using a notched trowel, and not all tiles — including many marble sheet tiles — could attain 95 percent coverage.
By Any Design Ltd..
Maintenance. In my opinion marble should be sealed with a quality sealer and maintained on a regular basis. Avoid using strong cleansers (nothing acid based) to reduce etching or damage into the sealer. Soap, water and a good nylon scrub brush will do the trick.
I offer porcelain tile as an alternative to marble. Many porcelain tiles look like marble and offer more durability in showers and steam showers.
By Any Design Ltd..
Here you may see the effects of a quality sealant on a Italian marble shower.
Tip: Be certain not to get sealant on the borders of the tile before grouting. This could lead to a poor bond between the grout and the tile’s edges.
Lizette Marie Interior Design
Sustainability. There’s simply so much marble in the world, and there are a few providers of poor-quality or unsustainable marble. Quarrying and transport can contribute to a major carbon footprint when you haven’t done your research.
Next: More manuals to tile