Marble Flooring
Marble is a natural stone that is cut and polished to be used for interiors. It is characterized by a crystalline texture and vein-like patterns. It gives an elegant finish, making it the go-to choice for high-end design. While marble flooring is often seen in bathrooms and kitchens, it can be used throughout your home.
Tiled Floor
Tiles are available in different materials such as clay, porcelain and ceramic. They are hard, non-porous surfaces that can endure heavy use without scratching. Modern tile designs have endless options to fit every budget. You can opt for lookalikes of wood tiles, stone tiles and even marble tiles. These tiles can give a room the look of real stone or wood while being much easier to maintain.
Tile vs Marble: A Comparison
The marble floor vs tile floor debate comes down to appearance vs function. What do you value in your home? Here are some notable differences between tile vs marble.
Appearance
Marble flooring: Marble flooring looks luxurious and elegant. Marble is available in polished and matte styles. Polished marble is a very reflective surface while matte marble will absorb light. Polished marble looks more opulent and matte marble is more sober. Marble has a limited range of colors and patterns since it is a natural material. The plus side is that 2 marble slabs will never be exactly the same, so you will have a one-of-a-kind floor. Marble can be cut and set into alternative settings like herringbone or mosaic.
Tile flooring: Tiles boast a much wider array of finishes, colors and patterns compared to marble. If you want a more contemporary or artsy vibe, tiles are a great choice. However, keep in mind that tiles have grout lines. Untidy grout can affect the overall look of your tiled flooring.
Water Resistance
Marble flooring: Marble is a porous material, which means that it naturally absorbs liquids. Water will not harm marble but it will erode the material if left for prolonged periods of time. If you spill liquids on your marble flooring, they might discolor the floor. Marble is particularly susceptible to damage from acidic liquids. This means that vinegar, sauces and juice spills can leave a permanent stain. You can apply a protective layer over your marble floor to make it resistant to damage. This layer would have to be redone every year.
Tile flooring: Tiles are non-porous water-resistant materials. Water resistant tiles are a great choice for wet areas like bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.
Seasonal Factors
Both tiles and marble are resistant to damage from heat. They are naturally cooler surfaces, making them a practical choice in warm climates.
Tile flooring: Tiles are also unaffected by humidity as they are man-made and built for endurance.
Marble flooring: Marble is quite tough. But, prolonged exposure to a high level of humidity can lead to discoloration or erosion.
Durability
When choosing tiles, you need something that will last as long as possible.
Marble flooring: Marble can withstand high-traffic use. If you are consistent with resealing and repolishing, marble will last for generations. Depending on the type of marble used, it will not chip or crack unless there is extreme damage.
Tile flooring: Tiles are also very durable. Glazed tiles are especially tough because of the extra protection on the surface. If something heavy falls on a ceramic tile and it breaks, the individual tile can be replaced.
Maintenance
Here’s where the main distinction lies between tile vs marble. While both tile and marble floors require routine sweeping and mopping, marble demands more delicate care. Unlike tiles, marble is very prone to stains from food spills. To prevent this, marble requires a penetrating sealer on its surface. This sealer needs to be reapplied every year for maximum protection. Additionally, marble is softer and more prone to scratches compared to tile's hard surface. Scratches on marble are permanent, while replacing a cracked tile is a simpler fix.
Installation and Pricing
Marble flooring: Marble has a long process of extracting, importing, cutting and installing. All this can be expensive. Specialized marbles have to be imported from further away, thus increasing the cost. The material charges of marble will be approximately 10 to 40$ per square foot.
Tile flooring: Tiles are more easily available and there’s something for every budget. Tile prices start at approximately 1$ per square foot and go up based on the finish.
When evaluating pricing, the installation charges must be taken into consideration. Labor charges for installing marble tend to be more than that of tiles, especially if the layout requires cutting.
Need help with budgeting and installing? Use our tile flooring calculator and tile installation service.
Marble Floor vs Tile Floor: Best Uses
Flooring is the most used part of the home. It endures hours of walking, scraping, spillage and furniture damage. Choosing between marble floors vs tile floors really comes down to use. What will you primarily use that area for? In spaces like living rooms, a marble floor will make a bold statement. Kitchens and bathrooms are best left to tiles.
If you have pets or kids running around, take into consideration the potential damage from stains and scratches on a marble floor. For low maintenance and low cost, choose a tiled floor. You can also choose faux-marble tiles to get a similar look to marble flooring. However, faux-marble tiles will not dazzle like genuine marble.
Not sure if marble is better or tiles? Try this flooring visualiser.