Beautiful marble flooring was once limestone before making its way into our houses. The dense, variegated stone that resulted through millions of years of metamorphosis—intense heat and pressure—can be polished to a brilliant sheen. Since it is a natural commodity, marble is now mined worldwide and is highly valued for worktops and floors. Polished marble reflects light to add a sense of refinement and make spaces appear larger. Similar to many other forms of stone flooring, marble is frequently put in "wet" areas like bathrooms and kitchens, where frequent water splashes may be easily wiped away without doing any harm. 
Marble is, however, prone to stains, particularly from very acidic and alkaline substances, such as coffee, juice, wine, soda, vinegar, berries, tomato products, cigarettes, oil and grease, baking soda, ammonia, harsh detergents, bleach, and, in some regions of the country, "hard" tap water. Marble is not the best material for homes with pets since it is highly susceptible to pet pee stains, which can permanently etch the floor and cause irreversible damage. The easiest way to maintain your marble's pristine appearance is to buy a high-quality marble sealant and quickly blot up any spills with a soft, absorbent cloth. Be cautious about blotting the stains rather than rubbing them; if you scrub or rub marble too vigorously, you risk damaging the surface and dulling its appearance. If you're considering adding this gorgeous flooring to your house, keep reading to learn more about the numerous types of marble available, how to select the one that will fit your needs and budget, and some DIY advice in case you decide to install marble flooring yourself. There are several marble flooring variations, which can be divided into three primary groups. Tiles made of marble are available in various hues and surface patterns. The veining is the term for the lines of contrasting color that run through the surface; it can be strong and obvious or subtle and hardly perceptible. Although there are more than a hundred different kinds of marble, there are only three basic types, each of which is distinguished by its appearance. 
Carrara: Ancient Greece and Rome employed Carrara, a common white marble flooring option, for their colossal pillars and ornate statues. Today, Carrara marble flooring tiles are only available in a few shades, ranging from light to warm white, and they have medium to light gray veining on their surfaces. Calacatta: While Carrara and Calacatta are both white marbles, Calacatta is closer to pure white in hue and has darker gray veining, which gives it a striking contrast. Breccia: If black marble floors have captured your attention, you probably want to look at Breccia. Compared to Carrara and Calacatta, Breccia marble is more colorful and hospitable. It comes in a variety of darker tones, such as warm golds, tans, dark browns, black, and reds. Breccia marble's dark gray and black veining frequently takes the form of elaborate swirls and includes precisely round outline veins that resemble bubbles trapped beneath the surface. 
Buying Marble Flooring
Another thing to know before buying a marble floor is neither should marble floors be polished all the time. Depending on the area, either a high gloss or a matte finish can be applied to the aforementioned types of marble. The marble that has been polished has been ground using a stone-polishing machine to produce a high-gloss look, making it the most preferred choice for marble flooring. Marble's veining is highlighted by polishing, giving the floor a gleaming, opulent appearance. With the proper maintenance, the polished marble will maintain its reflective finish for many years. Honed marble is a finish with only a minimal amount of polish applied, just enough to make a flat, smooth surface but not enough to produce a shine. Honed marble floor tiles provide a sturdy surface with a gentle matte texture that some people find more approachable than glitzy polished marble. The most typical size of marble tile used in residential installations is less than 2 feet wide. Marble flooring is available in a variety of tile sizes, from tiny 2-inch by 2-inch squares to enormous 6-foot by 8-foot slabs. Marble tiles are rarely larger than 2 feet by 2 feet for household use because larger slabs, which are very heavy, need professional installation. Large slabs are typically only found in public and commercial structures. Residential tile thicknesses range from 14 to 34 inches, whereas commercial marble slabs can be up to 2 inches thick. 
Density and surface design both affect quality. Although there is no industry standard, a few things can hint at the tile's quality. Tiles with mesh backing are put on a fiberglass resin backing. These marble tiles are often of lesser quality, less solid, and more prone to scratching or shattering. Mesh-backed tiles are appropriate for spaces with minimal activity, such as restrooms, but they are less attractive in high-use areas since they could become worn out more quickly. Tiles of lower caliber could have filled sections. If you turn the tile at a 45-degree angle, you might detect irregular dull patches that show holes in the tile's surface have been filled with a resin compound. You might not notice any difference if you look at the tile. The filled regions could become loose with use, leaving surface holes that must be patched. Deeply split marble tiles are more likely to crack under the weight of large appliances or pieces of furniture. Turn a marble tile over and examine the backside to determine its quality; if a fissure is visible on both the front and the back, the tile may crack if something heavy is placed on it. 
Installing Marble Flooring
Neither polished marble loses its desirable luster. Unfortunately, polished marble is inappropriate for houses with inhabitants in danger of falling because of the slide problem. Consider utilizing various area rugs with non-slip backing or coating the floor with a non-slip treatment, such as Stone Grip Anti-Slip Treatment from SlipDoctors, to lessen the tendency of polished marble to slip. Non-slip products are made to improve a floor's grip traction without dulling its gloss. Compared to polished marble floors, honed marble surfaces are inherently less slick. Regarding labor and material expenditures, marble is one of the most expensive flooring options. Even lower-end marble is expensive because it requires a lot of labor to quarry and finishes the stone. Depending on density and veining patterns, higher-end marble tiles can cost anywhere from $10 and $40 per square foot. The most affordable marble tiles start at around $5. (Fine veining is preferable to heavy veining). Additionally, a tile’s price per square foot increases with its size. When comparing the cost of porcelain tile to that of marble, the latter can be purchased for as little as $1 to $3 per square foot. Flooring with a marble appearance is a cost-effective option; thanks to advancements in printing and finishing techniques, you can have a marble appearance in ceramic tile as well as vinyl and laminate flooring. Ceramic tile with a marble-like appearance can be purchased for $1 to $3 per square foot, while vinyl tile or laminate plank flooring can be purchased for $1 to $5 per square foot. 
Depending on the going cost for labor in your area and whether additional work is required, installing marble tile professionally can increase your budget by $3 to $7 per square foot. The following variables could increase the price of your installation: Removing and discarding the current flooring. Specialized installation techniques, such as adding borders or artistic tile designs. They are altering the current subfloor. Because marble tiles are so heavy, the flooring will need to be reinforced if it isn't strong enough before the marble is put in place. Don't DIY marble flooring unless you have prior tile-setting knowledge if you want to save money. Like ceramic and porcelain tiles, homeowners trained in tile installation fundamentals can install marble floors inexpensively. However, if you've never installed tiles before, it would be best to hire a pro to do it. The following advice should be kept in mind if you decide to DIY the project: The subfloor must be completely flat, without any peaks or valleys that can cause the tiles to crack. Applying a self-leveling compound will fill in divots and smooth out the surface if the floor isn't perfectly flat. Over cement board underlayment, which resists moisture damage, marble tiles should be laid. For the installation of tile, ordinary plywood subfloors are not acceptable. Marble tiles can be pressed closely together for an incredibly smooth appearance or left with spaces that grout can fill. If you decide to use grout, make sure to select unsanded grout since sanded grout might damage marble during installation. 
Buying Marble
Daily cleaning, quick response to accidents, and routine sealing are all necessary for marble flooring. Despite being resilient flooring, marble needs a little more attention to keep its beauty. Daily sweep marble floors to get rid of grit or sand that has been tracked in. On a marble floor, stepping on sand particles can cause scratches. Clean up spills right away. Marble can become stained by acidic liquids like vinegar or orange juice. Water won't discolor marble, but it can eventually make the surface less shiny. At least once a year, protect polished marble floors with a high-quality stone sealant, such as Miracle Sealants' 1-Step Natural Stone Sealer and Color Enhancer. Since honed marble is more porous than polished marble, it's a good idea to seal it twice a year to make it more stain-resistant. For routine mopping, use a mild, non-acidic floor cleaner. The product's label needs to state whether it is suitable for marble floors. Alternately, you can manufacture your own mild floor cleaning solution by mixing a gallon of water with a half cup of ammonia and a tablespoon of dish soap. 
More than a marble floor repair kit is frequently needed to fix scratches, stains, and cracks. Marble is a natural stone. Therefore, the damage is usually recoverable. Using the right method and supplies, smart DIYers can mend marble floors. If doubtful, consult a professional. Marble dulls and scrapes easily. Many marble repair treatments can fix imperfections and restore a floor's brilliance. High-quality marble polish often works; however, wash and buff the surface first. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for applying polish. It may take several applications of polish to fill in scratches and restore the marble's luster. Hiring a professional to hone and polish the floor if it is worn or scratched is preferable. A 200-square-foot marble floor typically costs between $600 and $1,000 to polish, with an average price of $800. Depending on the extent and depth of the damage, deeper scratches and chips may need professional marble repair. Cracks in stone need to be professionally repaired because chips frequently cause them. Crack repair often entails sealing the crack with high-quality glue, cementing it in place, and then refinishing and polishing the surface. 
Installing Marble
Are you feeling uneasy about installing marble flooring? Think about heated marble flooring. Marble can be chilly to the touch, but heat is effectively transferred from a heating system to the floor's surface because of its excellent thermal conductivity. Marble is an energy-efficient material because it retains a lot of heat. Toe-kick warmers and under-floor heating, available in hydronic or electric variants, are the two main ways to keep your toes toasty on heated marble floors. When it comes to installation, toe-kick heaters have an advantage. They are added to an existing marble floor because they are installed at the same level as the floor, frequently around the base of vanity or cabinet. 
The devices normally plug into a 120-volt circuit and start at around $50. Larger units might need to be installed by a certified electrician to guarantee a sufficient electrical supply. It is necessary to install underfloor heating, sometimes referred to as in-floor or radiant heating, before the flooring because it is installed beneath the marble floor. Electric underfloor heating employs cables under the floor, whereas hydronic underfloor heating circulates hot water through tubes under the bed. Although the price of under-floor heating can vary depending on the floor's square footage, a common "beginning kit" starts at $100.
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