Marble tiles are natural stones that are popular and well-known for their versatility and durability. These natural stone materials are ideal for constructing structures, sculptures and other materials for the home. This stone is also bes for use as wall and floor tiles. The monuments, statues, sculptures and floors made up of these materials are known to look extremely beautiful.
Marble Tiles Can Be Custom-Made For Homes
They can be created to provide a unique and distinctive shine to your home's floors. This helps enhance the overall look and feel of a particular room where it is installed. If you install this stone in the right manner, you need to pay only little attention to maintaining the beauty of this flooring material.
Since these types of floor tiles and countertops are considered to be resilient and durable materials, you need not worry much about taking good care of them. All you are required to do, is to take special care when installing this material. You could purchase this stone in a wide array of colors such as green, peach, different shades of white, black, gray and other colors. The many colors available help to add a distinctive look to this stone.
These Tiles Are A Good Decorative Choice
These types of tiles are not only the perfect options for your floor, but also for several other places, as these perfectly work as a decorative alternative. Marble tiles would make any interior beautiful to look at. Marble flooring works towards adding up to the elegance of any interior. You can easily choose the best marble for your home due to the extensive varieties available under the category of this stone. You have several shapes, designs, patterns and colors to choose from. You can easily choose the one that matches your home style and design.
Standard Marble Tile Prices
These types of tiles are generally used for both interior and exterior flooring purposes. Floor tile sizes vary, and usually range from 305 x 305 mm, 500 mm, to 800 mm. The tile finish may also vary from being either polished, gauged or beveled. This natural stone, like limestone, has prices ranging from $5 to $20 per square foot, and are more preferred for use in higher-priced renovations. Glass tiles on the other hand, may reach as much as $25 to $50 per square foot, depending on the patterns.
Buying These Tiles Online
Today, there are many, perhaps hundreds, of marble tile dealers on the Internet, and they offer different types of marble flooring options. There are also sites that give advice to builders and home owners on the proper installation and care of these materials. For best results, ask for advice from industry experts and established online dealers and manufactures, so that you will get the best tile materials at the most affordable, and competitive prices.
There's also one good site on the Worldwide Web where you could ask for reliable information and advice, and this is the Web site of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), which is a nationwide industry association. The association's site helps buyers and floor tile owners get expert advice on tile cleaning and care, installation guidelines, and in finding reputable tile contractors and dealers nationwide.
There are many marble floor tile dealers on the Internet today, and in these sites, consumers may be able to choose the best designs, ask for advice, and buy the tiles. Whatever the color, design, price or which store you buy them, these floor tiles perfectly compliment small and medium-sized homes, as well as the really large ones.
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Buying Marble Tiles On The Internet
Taking Care Of Your Marble Tile Flooring - Some Advice
A shiny and polished marble floor tile is a truly beautiful sight to see. On one hand, marble is a hard and durable material, and could last for years. On the other hand, the polished surface can be marred by chemicals, stains and abrasions. The art of keeping marble in its pristine, shiny and original state takes a lot of continuous care and attention.
Stuff That Could Do Damage To Marble Floor Tiles
The exquisite components of marble present for a shiny, durable coat. However, its sensitive nature presents a lot of hazards that could wreck, or probably deduct some of the elegance and shine that it should always possess.
A number of porous and soiling material present dangers to marble's luster, and among these are sand and soil. Sand and grit carried from outside by shoes can easily scratch and grind the marble floor tiles' surface like sandpaper. Unprotected furniture legs may leave scratches too, and dragging heavy objects or sharp items on the floor can cause very visible and deep scratches or gouges that could be permanent.
Liquid or food containing acid when spilled on marble floors could also etch, or leave a dull mark on marble surfaces. Examples of these are lemon juice, orange juice, carbonated beverages, cranberry juice, apple juice, wine, tomato, etc. The dull mark or stain may either be as large as a coin size or could spread over several tiles. Another terrible source of etch marks and stains are cleaning detergents which contain acid. Examples of these are tile cleaners, vinegar, Ajax, Soft Scrub, etc. Marble floor tiles are porous and can easily be discolored by spills from food, sitting pots, metal furniture legs, oil, ink, water damage, etc.
In addition to chemicals which contain acid, there are mixtures that contain high alkaline or bleach can damage marble floors to loose its shine and elegance. Tap water could also be damaging to a marble floor tile. Local water could contain chlorine, salts, magnesium, potassium and other minerals. When water is used regularly to clean the marble floor, it may ruin certain types of marble by causing pitting, spalling and yellowing. It is important for homeowners to protect the floor with a premium sealer.
Marble Floor Tile Cleaning Tips
* Cover the furniture legs that come in contact with the marble floor tile with special felt pads or plastic. These can be purchased in home centers or appliance shops. Appropriate protection will reduce the damage from scratches and dents.
* Shield the marble floor tile with a good penetrating sealer to reduce etch marks, gouges and prevent stains and moisture from filtering into the marble. In applying the sealer properly, ask for a professional stone care company to guide you.
* Be sure to utilize only neutral cleaners or stone soap liquid specifically designed for natural stone that will not harm the surface or erode the luster.
* Remove spills and stains with paper towel. Do not wipe because doing so will spread the spill. Flush the area around the floor and then when the floor dries, it will streak or appear grimy. However, if the marble tends to streak every time that you mop the floor, try drying the marble with a clean terry cloth towel or buff with a residential buffing machine.
* Damp mop the floor regularly 1-2 times weekly to eradicate dirt and soil. Mix cleaning solutions by following manufacturer's directions. Remember to always use clean cold or warm water. Do not use hot water since this will cause the marble floor tile to streak. Place all plants on a special base or stand to prevent deep stains and scratches
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Should You Use Marble Tile Flooring For Your Front Porch?
Marble floor tiles are generally the choice for homeowners who want an elegant, glossy add-on to their home flooring requirements. Marble floor tiles are certainly not a cheap option for homeowners, and they do have a long way to go before they become as common as wood parquet or vinyl floor tiles.
However, one good reason for utilizing marble in exterior or interior home use is that marble has the best all round value for money, design, durability and enduring style, according to interior designers, engineers and home decorators. This type of stone has been a staple for good quality construction and design, and used on opulent homes, front porches and court yards for centuries.
Marble tiles are not just being used on the floors though. Some have installed beautiful cast-iron fireplaces which have a classic style marble mantle, The contrast between the rustic design and nature of a house and the old-world allure of marble floor tiles gives a distinctively elegant feel to it, and adds up to relaxing, formal feel to any home.
Marble floor tiles are not only considered appealing to the senses, but they also have general health benefits. The dense surface of the marble tile does not have pores that allow allergy-inducing irritants to gain a foothold, in contrast with some types of wood, rugs and carpets.
Marble floor tiles are considered easy to clean, they can be quickly washed with a single sweep of a mop. Because of this, marble floors make for a perfect quality flooring both indoor or outdoor and requires basically little maintenance, and still does not fail to show off a constant, natural sheen.
Marble tile surfaces could also be easily treated with disinfectants that work best on hard surfaces. Interior design consultants find it better having sanitary marble floor tiles as opposed to wood flooring in kitchens and bathroom areas. Marble tiles are also advisable fort use in entry ways, since this areas are often filled with dirt and germs as people come and go.
It is unwise to think that marble tiles could just be used indoors. These types could be considered ideal patio coverings and for use in front-porch stoops. One can permanently match the marble tile to precast concrete walking pads to create wonderfully crafted garden stepping stones. However, should one decide to use marbles floor tiles outdoors, it is advisable for one to check if these tiles meet standard slip-resistance requirements, since exterior tiles have surface textures that allow them to be slip- resistant.
Reputable tile providers often produce special outdoor tiles that have a slightly gritty, semi-coarse surfaces, even though the tile is glazed. The invisible grit surface provides excellent traction when the tile becomes wet. In order to be used outdoors,the marble tile must be frost-proof and unglazed for floor use, and the moisture absorption rate should be around 0.5% or less.
It is advisable that slip-resistant tiles be used outside in areas exposed to the elements such as heat, moist and rain, or around swimming pools. Exterior tiles are generally rated to indicate their particular slip-resistance modes. It would be prudent to keep in mind that there would always be a trade-off between slip resistance and maintenance and cleaning, since slip-resistant tiles will accumulate more dirt and will generally need more caring and constant upkeep.
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Properly Installing Marble Tiles On Bathroom Floors
Marble floor tiles are one of the best flooring options in large homes, offices, and even common single-family units.
The choice of flooring material for your home's many rooms carries a major role in creating a wonderful aesthetic look and appeal, as well as employing a unique functionality element. The flooring serves the same vital purpose, as vital as the other furnishings that you have installed in your home. Since these types of floor tiles help to create a healthy mix of elegance and functionality, it is considered to be one of the finest natural stone materials to be used for flooring.
Choose The Tiles Which Best Suit Your Preferences
There are a lot of different varieties and designs of marble floor tiles for bathroom floors and tubs, and these are sold in shops and hardware stores, with each one varying in textures, patterns, color schemes and finish. The different marble tiles available today offer a wide array of uses and applications, which makes some individuals prefer certain types of marble tiles over the others. major positive aspect of marble floor tiles is the look that it will give your home.
These tiles are most popular in the kitchen, however, many individuals also use them for their bathrooms as well. For those who want their tiles to remain sturdy and gleaming, you may also wish to combine it with a countertop to match. This serves as a great way of giving your kitchen or bathroom a completely unique feel, in addition to the elegant look that these tiles offer.
Properly Ionstalling Marble Flooring In The Bathroom
- For starters, start the process with a bare floor. Ensure that the subfloor is sturdy and stable, because if it shifts, the grout could crack. Check the floor for stability by having someone stand on one end of the room, while you stand on the other and bounce up and down. If your partner feels little or no vibration, then the floor should be quite sturdy.
- Ensure that the floor is level. Most tile manufacturers suggest that the floor slope no more than 1/16" for every 3'. Use the longest level available to check. You can also tell whether the floor has any dips or valleys by looking for gaps between the level and the floor.
- Lay out the tile in a test run, or dry run. This will ensure that you plan ahead for where the tiles will go. Start by placing a tile at one corner of the center point and working your way to the wall. If you end up with only a sliver of marble at the end, shift the run so that the starting tile straddles the chalk line.
- To begin tiling the bathroom floor, place one tile on or near the center, depending on the location that was determined by your test layout, and trace around the perimeter. Apply thin-set mortar within the borders, and set the tile in place. The tile will act as a reference point, or barometer of sorts, when you start to lay out the rest of the floor pieces.
- Start to apply thin-set mortar to the floor, notching it with your trowel, and applying the tiles. Fill any spaces when applying the mortar.
- In measuring tiles for cutting, place one tile directly on top of the full tile that is closest to the wall. Then place a second tile against the wall so that the edge rests on the first tile. Use a utility knife to score a line on the first tile, and make your cut along that line
Installing these natural stone varieties can be quite costly. The tiles themselves already cost significantly, and without utilizing the proper installation techniques, there would be a chance that something wrong could happen during the process. It would be much safer that you know the right tools, methods, prepare the adequate materials and safety measures as well, when installing these floor tiles for your bathroom.
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Where To Find Cheap Marble Tile Flooring Materials Online
Marble is a trusted material for flooring and wall tiles, as it has always been so for centuries. Invigorating the beauty of one's home through utilizing marble tiles for flooring helps to create stunning front terraces and uniquely designed living rooms and foyers.
Today, there are a lot of marble floor tile designs, as well as online stores where consumers could choose designs, ask for advice, and purchase the tiles. Whatever the color, design, price or which store you buy them, marble floor tiles perfectly compliment a small home, as well as a large estate.
Popular Marble Tile Designs
Marble floor tiles these days have a wide offering of designs and color patterns. There are tiles that are available polished, tumbled or honed. Honed marble tiles are utilized to provide more floor traction, whereas polished tiles are used to provide a more elegant look, however they could become slippery when wet, necessitating the placing of bath mats to prevent accidents.
Tumbled marble, on the other hand, with its old-world feel and rustic look, is also becoming a popular design for homeowners.
How To Get Advice On Buying Good Marble Floor Tiles
With the proliferation of hundreds, or thousands of online stores selling marble flooring material, it would be best to seek advice from industry experts and long-time dealers and manufactures, in order for consumers to to get the best tile materials at the most affordable, and cost-effective prices.
Wherever you may be located, one good start in asking for reliable consultation and advice is the local chapter or the office of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), which is a nationwide industry association. The association's website helps consumers get advice on tile cleaning and care, installation guidelines, as well as finding reputable tile contractors and dealers nationwide.
The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association, is also a good industry group that would assist homeowners regarding the rules and practices covering the aspects of floor covering. Another reputable organization would be the National Tile Contractors Association (NCTA). This organization is committed to improving the floor tile installation industry, as well as helping consumers have informed choices regarding tile flooring materials and installation options.
Tile Colors And Prices
Marble tiles are generally utilized for both interior and exterior flooring applications. Floor tile sizes usually range from 305 x 305 mm, 500 mm, to 800 mm free length. The tile finish could also differ from polished, gauged or beveled.
Natural stones, such as marble and limestone, have prices ranging from $5 to $20 per square foot, and are more preferred in higher-priced renovations. Glass tiles on the other hand, can range as much as $25 to $50 per square foot, depending on the design.
Among the different marble tile colors sold in stores are white, red, black, mottled and banded gray, pink and green. For each color noted, there may be some variations in the mixtures or texture, and these are mostly available at your neighborhood home décor shops or in hardware stores online.
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Marble Tile Flooring For Small Homes
The elegance of marble has long been noted in architecture and home design annals, and has been utilized in large buildings, churches, mansions and small homes as well for centuries.
There are several different types of marble tile used in residential and commercial applications. Their uses vary widely and include flooring, countertops, wall covering, fireplaces and exterior facades. Since marble is not the hardest of natural stones, it would not do well as a floor covering in specific, extremely high traffic areas, although they are perfect floor tiling for typical residential and light commercial applications, and marble holds up fine.
There is one however, one application that marble is not well suited for, and it is on kitchen countertops. This is because marble's composition deteriorates when regularly exposed to acidic foods. The most popular and common residential uses of marble are for window sills, fireplaces hearths, decorative foyers and bathroom floors. Other bathroom applications for marble tiles include wall covering, backsplashes, tub decks and showers.
Marble Floor Tiles Have Been Renowned For Centuries
Marble tile flooring is especially utilized for its ornate, refined beauty, and marble floor tiles were once a common fixture in the spas of the ancient Greeks and Romans, to Renaissance courtyards in medieval Europe, all the way to the Trump Tower and other skyscrapers in the United States.
For centuries, marble tiles have been intertwined and alluded to as symbols of affluence, as builders and architects favor them for exuding sophistication and an air of artistry that make marble tile a classic favored material. The reputation that marble tiles have for their opulence has not diminished through centuries.
Marble Floor Tile Applications For Small Homes
Marble floor tiles are available in a variety of different colors to suit each homeowner's aesthetic and practical tastes and uses. Marble floor tiles are veined with rivulets of subtle color on varied background of earthy tones, and can offer a quite subtle or a distinct, bold feature in the modern designer's vision. These types also offer an assortment of colors ranging from beige, brown, white, and even red. Marble floor tiles are popularly and generally used in modern kitchens, hallways, bathrooms and foyers.
Utilizing a marble floor tile at home brings some of the unique aesthetic elegance and practical use to residential and commercial projects, as well as providing an increased value to properties when the time comes to resell their homes.
Natural stone tiles such as marble floor tiles can easily be stained by spilled liquids such as soft drinks, juices or acids. The floor tiles must be sealed and periodically resealed with a commercially-available sealant in contrast to ceramic tiles which only need to have their grout lines sealed. However, because of the complicated, non repeating patterns of marble floor tiles, small amounts of dirt on natural stone floor tiles like marble do not show.
Most commercial tile vendors and suppliers emphasize that there will be variations in color and pattern from one batch of tiles to another, of the same description and variation within the same batch. Stone floor tiles tend to be heavier than ceramic tiles and, and are usually more prone to breakage during shipment, so extra care is necessary when shipping or transporting marble floor tiles to their destined areas.
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Marble As An Elegant And Durable Material For Home Flooring
Marble is one of the commonly-preferred natural stones for use in many residential and building applications. This natural stone material is suitable for flooring and other tiling and architectural purposes.
At present, there are many varieties of marble floor tiling materials to be chosen from, with each offering unique designs, shades and color patterns. These tiles also range from being polished, tumbled or honed. These materials could easily be sourced from tile dealers, home depot shops and on the Internet as well.
Characteristics Of Polished, Honed And Tumbled Marble
Honed marble tiles are materials generally utilized to give more floor traction, while polished tiles are used to provide a more elegant look to homes or offices. However, these types could become slippery when wet, and may necessitate the placement of mats to prevent accidents like slipping.
Tumbled marble is quite a popular choice these days, and is usually sought after for its old-world, rustic appearance and feel, and is quickly becoming a popular design pattern for a lot of homeowners today.
How Much These Natural Stone Variety Costs
Marble, whether for bathroom or living room tiling, has different varying sizes and measurements , and they could usually range from 305 x 305 mm to 500 mm and more. The tile finish could also vary from being either polished, gauged or beveled.
This natural stone material, like limestone, could cost starting from $5 to $20 per square foot, and is a sought-after material for higher-priced home renovations. These types of tiles are seen to offer more than just elegance and durability, as well as its ornate and refined beauty. Historically, these materials have been raised firmly in the annals of architecture and design, and were usually seen as potent symbols of affluence, sophistication and artistry.
Suitable For Most Home Applications
This natural stone material is generally suited for installation in bathrooms, kitchens, foyers and hallways, and will generally withstand everyday wear and tear, as well as heavy volumes of traffic, although it requires a regular maintenance and shining routine to help it last longer.
Though the cost of using this flooring material may be a bit high, especially when the materials are sourced from overseas, you could find a suitable local dealer if you take some time to research and shop around your area for the most affordable and lucrative choices. Do some comparisons, and research around first before buying one, so that you would be able to find the most suitable price ranges, and get only good-quality flooring materials for your home.
Marble has always been noted to be a durable, tough and elegant material for home flooring purposes. As tiles for the home, these can effectively create a more appealing, unique and elegant shine and glow to the floors of your home.
Using these materials also helps enhance the overall look and appeal of the room where it is installed, and will surely help increase your homes resale value, whenever you wish to put it up for sale someday. Whenever these tiles are installed in the right manner, you only need to pay minimal attention to properly maintaining the elegant appeal of this unique flooring material.
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