Published on Thursday, February 18th, 2021

Do you know that marble was an incredibly popular material in Ancient Grecian times? The ancients loved marble because it offered a unique combination of color, beauty, and durability. Things have changed over the years, but marble still remains prized for its elegance and style. Once used only in the luxurious kings and queens chambers, marble flooring is now present in many residential and commercial spaces. But what this flooring type has to offer, and how to know whether it’s suitable for you or not? We explain everything in the following list of pros and cons of marble tile.

Marble Tile Pros

Marble tile is a natural stone cut into slab and tiles for residential and commercial flooring applications. It’s usually installed in kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, and hallways to create a glamorous first impression and make the room stand out. Here are some of the main benefits of marble tile:

Unique Appearance

One of the biggest advantages of a marble floor over other flooring options is elegance. This flooring type instantly elevates the appearance of every space, no matter how small or big, making it more unique and aesthetically pleasing. Marble tiles come in multiple colors and even multicolor mixes, so you can easily find the one that suits your home’s interior. 

Even more important, every piece of marble tile is one-of-a-kind; there’s no other like it anywhere else, meaning you’ll have a unique and glamorous flooring in your home. Also, tiles can be cut to rectangles or triangles of various sizes to create a stunning mosaic in the room. 

Eco-Friendly

Marble flooring is made from natural stones and doesn’t require any chemical processing. It’s a completely environmentally-friendly option safe for every room in the house. If you prefer natural over synthetic materials for your flooring, marble tile might be a perfect option for you. 

Smooth and Shiny

Unlike most of the other natural stone tiles, marble can be polished to high levels, which results in a sophisticated and glamorous look. Polished marble marvelously reflects light and creates a beautiful illuminating glow, making a stand out from other floor types. Those who would like to have smooth, silky and shiny surfaces should definitely opt for marble tile. 

Ideal for Radiant Floor Heating

Marble is a great conductor of heat, which makes it perfect for a variety of below-surface radiant heating systems. The truth is, marble tile flooring is quite cold underfoot, and you get to eliminate this disadvantage by installing the radiant heating system. This way, you can also enjoy cool floors during summer and increased warmth and comfort during winter. It’s just a win-win situation.

Adds Home Value

Considering all of the above stated, marble tile can significantly boost your home’s value. Just try to imagine the first impression of potential buyers when they see a kitchen or bathroom covered in unique marble tile flooring. You’ll almost instantly get a higher property value on the elegant look of marble. 

Marble Tile Cons

Although marble tile flooring has an unmatched appearance and a long lifespan, it still comes with a couple of drawbacks you should be aware of. Here are some of the marble tile cons:

Challenging Installation

Marble flooring installation is not that difficult, but it does require some knowledge and experience. DIY installation is not recommended because the process includes several tricky steps. First of all, a layer of cement needs to be placed over the subfloor and tiles should be glued down to it. Secondly, the joints between the tiles should be filled with grout after the adhesive dries. Lastly, marble tile flooring needs to be sealed right after the installation.

As you can see, these steps demand the highest precision and can be challenging for a regular DIYer. To avoid mistakes and ensure a successful marble floor installation, hire a professional flooring contractor. 

Tricky to Maintain and Repair

If you’re looking for an easy-to-maintain flooring option you can swipe now and then to perfection, marble tile might not be for you. Although it’s fairly easy to sweep and mop marble surfaces, you have to be very careful during the process. The material is highly porous and can get easily ruined with lots of water. Standing water tends to penetrate the stone and change its color, affecting the entire aesthetic appearance of marble tile. 

Another bad thing about marble tile is the presence of pH values in the material base. That means the flooring will have a chemical reaction whenever acidic substances touch it, which includes a lot of foods, beverages, and cleaning products. To put things simply, you have to be very careful in picking the cleaning products for your marble floors. You’ll probably be stressed out whenever you spill food or drinks on the floor, too. 

Unfortunately, marble tiles also get scratched and scraped easily. Even if you reapply the sealant frequently, you might never return the initial color and looks of your marble tiles. Thus, this flooring option is not ideal for rooms with high foot traffic. 

Slippery and Cold Underfoot

Another drawback of marble tile is the temperature. Stone is cold, and if you want something soft and warm, you better go with carpet. Marble tile is also polished to perfection, which means it’s sleek and slippery. We don’t recommend it in large areas and spaces that can get wet because it can cause accidents. Carefully consider where you want to install marble tile and whether it will be convenient underfoot. 

High Price

Marble flooring cost is also something that drags people away from installing this flooring type. The luxurious and unique look of marble comes with a high price tag – usually, it’s $10 to $20 per square foot, but it can go as high as $40. Yes, you heard that right, and we didn’t even include the cost of installation. 

However, some flooring companies offer discounts and lower prices for easy layouts. If you’re in love with the uniqueness of marble tile but run on a tight budget, don’t give up on it immediately. Consult a professional and explore your options first. 

Get Your Marble Flooring at Scottsdale Flooring America

Now that you know all the pros and cons of marble tile, are you considering this flooring type for your home? Contact Scottsdale Flooring America for more information about your favorite flooring options. We are here to help you make an informed decision and pick the flooring that suits your home the most. 

Scottsdale Flooring America is a family-owned and operated business with over 20 years of experience in the flooring industry. We have the experts and knowledge to install any flooring option you prefer and make your home magazine-like glamorous. Our professionals will help you make the best decision for your home and handle all the work afterward, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your beautiful interior. 

For more information about marble tile or any other flooring option, contact Scottsdale Flooring America here.