Marble is popular because it is a soft and can be machined, milled and tumbled, making it easy to work with. There are different types of marble, and it comes in different tile sizes. No two marble tiles tend to be the same, owing to different ‘veining’ patterns as well as color, although the same variety has a more or less uniform color or staining. However, this is also what makes it unique and preferred, as the plethora of different patterns all come together to give it that unique and special look, also lending a touch of elegance to your bathroom.
The problem with marble
The closer to Greece and Italy the marble has been sourced, the more likely it is to sustain its appearance in a damp and/or wet environment. More veining only points to an increased iron content percentage in the stone. This is not necessarily a good thing as we all know what happens to iron in such moist conditions as may be prevalent in a typical bathroom – iron oxide or rust tends to be form. The best way to check before installation is to soak a tile in a bucket of water for two days and observe for some days what happens to its color afterward.
Marble is also a highly absorbent material. Dropping your dye in a marble-tiled bathroom could result in the flooring getting stained. As such, it doesn’t make sense to use marble for children’s bathrooms. If you were thinking of getting marble for your bathroom, testing various lotions and acidic materials like lemon or floor cleaning liquids on the grade of marble you had in mind might help in making a more informed decision. Etching may also occur and maintenance might turn out to be harder than you think.
Why granite is better
Granite is harder, with a more uniform appearance throughout, and does not etch as easily. It is more expensive, but requires comparatively lesser maintenance, making the costs worthwhile. Those who have installed marble in their bathrooms will tell you that it tends to be slippery, requiring the use of a bathmat to wipe your feet when stepping out of your tub or shower cubicle. This problem is considerably less found in granite, making it a more practical choice for your bathroom floor.
You are also less likely to face problems with tile discoloration, ensuring that your bathroom looks remarkably similar to when you had the flooring installed.
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