Tiles or marbles which is better

Being one hundred percent natural and in most cases locally-sourced, marble tiles are commonly used in construction in Pakistan for flooring and countertops. Other tile material options available in stores include granite rock tiles and vitrified ceramic tiles. As design material, marble is a porous, soft rock that can easily be cut with precision into all sorts of shapes and sizes- especially uneven or angular shapes.

This aspect works well when builders install complex marble-topped, curving staircases. However, for the same reasons, the sole use of marble tiles in heavy-traffic areas such as the courtyard or foyer is discouraged as it can easily chip off.

Homeowners looking for a wide-range of colors and designs will be delighted with the options available in marble tiles. Not only is marble an attractive option for use around your home, it is extremely durable and can last up to twenty-five years.

If you are able to find a good quality marble, there is nothing that will look as elegant — be it for use as a kitchen countertop or as flooring throughout your home. The risk with opting for the less expensive marble tiles is that the tile patterns maybe erratic and irregular.

Granite originates from igneous rocks that, in turn, result from cooled-down magma. Granite tiles are most often found in gardens as accent tiles, in living rooms as the fireplace, in bathrooms as the vanity top or in kitchens as the backsplash. This stone-based tile is both waterproof and stain-proof; quite a contrast to the marble tiles discussed earlier!

As tile material, granite is denser and stronger than marble. This also means it is harder to cut granite into a customized size and shape. Soapstone Countertop Installation.

Solid Surface Countertop Installation. Stainless Steel Countertop Installation. Stone Slab Countertop Installation. Countertop Refinishing. Countertop Repair. Labor cost by city and zip code Compared to national average Albuquerque, NM. Anchorage, AK. Antelope, CA. Ashland, NH. Athens, GA. Austin, TX. Baltimore, MD. Chandler, AZ. Chicago, IL. Cincinnati, OH. Clarksville, TN. Clayton, NC. Coldwater, MI. Encinitas, CA.

Fairfield, IA. Fayetteville, NC. Fort Lauderdale, FL. Griffin, GA. Hartford, CT. Hollywood, FL. Huntsville, AL. Las Vegas, NV. Laurel, MT. Lockport, IL. Mashpee, MA. Miami, FL. Opa Locka, FL. Orlando, FL. Pacifica, CA. Pensacola, FL. Phoenix, AZ. Princeton, NJ. Reno, NV. Riverview, FL. Sacramento, CA.

Saint Louis, MO. Saint Petersburg, FL. San Diego, CA. Schaumburg, IL. Shreveport, LA. Smyrna, GA. The gleam of polished stone and its beautifully authentic, natural look adds to the aesthetic appeal. While vitrified tiles flooring is available in a huge array of eye-catching colors and finishes, the overall look is less authentic when compared to natural wood or stone. While it is possible to create a faux-marble effect using vitrified tiles, the grout lines in laying of floor tiles are more visible when compared to marble.

A naturally occurring material, marble tends to react very easily with most substances. Marble reacts with even dilute acids read vinegar, mustard, citrus and other common household items causing stains. You must clean any spills on marble flooring immediately to prevent permanent marks.

You can clean the floor with mild detergent and water, provided you wipe dry immediately. Marble flooring will also require periodic application of a sealant to protect it from moisture. Regular polishing can breathe new life into your old marble flooring.

Vitrified flooring tiles are relatively easy to clean and maintain. Thanks to their non-porous nature, these tiles absorb very little water and therefore are resistant to most stains. Regular dusting and wiping is enough to keep your tiles gleaming. Since tiles are readily available in standard sizes, one can replace broken tiles easily with identical alternatives. Vitrified tiles are extremely durable and weather heavy daily use.

These tiles are both discoloration and scratch resistant and thus will easily hold good for a span of years, when used with proper maintenance. However, vitrified tiles are prone to breakage if mishandled. Though considerably stronger than most other types of flooring, marble tends to develop a yellowish tinge after some years of usage. With regular maintenance and adequate care, marble flooring can remain intact for around 25 years. The cost of marble, being a naturally occurring material, is more than vitrified tiles.

The price of flooring will also vary according to the grade, rarity of color etc. Typically the cost of Indian marble flooring including the cost of the material, labor as well as cutting and polishing charges is around Rs per square feet while other varieties such as Italian marble can cost anywhere between Rs to Rs per square feet. The cost of vitrified tile flooring largely depends on the design and brand you choose.

The cost of flooring including the cost of the tile, cost of other materials and labor charges varies from around Rs per square feet to Rs per square feet. Nonetheless, being man-made, these tiles are more affordable when compared to marble. The installation process for marble is more time consuming and labor intensive. In most places in India, marble is usually not available in a ready-to-ship condition.

You have to place an order, followed by cutting and grinding of marble to your requirements. Apart from the time required to lay marble flooring, the time for polishing and finishing also adds to the overall installation time. Vitrified tiles are available in stores in a ready-to-ship condition and usually, it takes around 1.

These tiles also require less setting time and you can use them shortly after installation. Since they are pre-polished, there is no finishing required on site. One can cut vitrified tiles manually and therefore can be laid in a variety of patterns and combinations to suit your needs. General thickness of the tile is around 10 to 12 mm which reduces the overall thickness of your floor. Natural stone marble flooring is the best choice for indoor areas like foyers, halls and bedrooms.

Polished marble surfaces also tend to be slippery when used in bathrooms. Since marble absorbs water and stains easily, marble is not a practical choice for kitchens.