Give your house a touch of elegance with marble tiles

There is a wide range of construction material on the market and your budget will be your only limitation. However, if money is not a problem, you can choose to buy marble tiles for a specific part of your house. It can either be the bedroom, sitting room or even the kitchen as Eseri Watsemwa writes.

Giving your home a touch of elegance is what many people yearn for. However, all this comes at a cost that some people might be able to afford while others miss out on because of having a low budget.
However, if you are the kind of person who does not care about the cost of a construction material, but is more concerned about the positive effect it will have on the look of your house, you can go ahead and use marble tiles in your house.

Marble tiles are stylish and classy. They can be found in a number of colours ranging from white to green or any of your preference. These tiles can be placed on the stairway, in your bedroom, kitchen tops or even in your sitting room and they are a good way of making your home an envious stop to every guest that experiences the comfort of your home with these unique natural stones.
Marble tiles are made from marble, which is metamorphosed limestone, composed of fairly pure calcite, a crystalline form of calcium carbonate.

“Marble is a very unique, beautiful, and durable natural stone with mixed colours and veining which are usually silt and iron oxides,” explains Richard Nsangi, a sales executive with Millennium (2000) Marble Investments.
He adds that many people mistake marble with granite. Granite has a variety of speckled colours as a result of blended stones and exists in numerous shades and tones.
“Granite usually appears in more shades or colours than natural marble. It is a harder stone than marble which gives it a shiny appearance compared to marble which is smooth but has dull colours. However if polished with sealants, marble has a shiny look as well,” Nsangi notes.
“Marble is softer than granite and porcelain, with rough patterns but also smooth and glittery. Marble stones range from brushed, polished, honed to tumbled,” Nsangi adds.

Advantages

Beauty
“Glittery green marble tiles are very beautiful. They add class and glamour to your living room or bedroom,” Eric Galiwango, a sales executive at Biplous Limited highlights.

Appealing look
“Marble tiles give your home a timeless and appealing look. They are durable and easier to clean and maintain,” Gloria Kawuma, an interior designer with Habitant Consultants Limited remarks.
She adds that one can play around with different colours to achieve a good design that is beautiful and eye-catching.

Many people detest placing marble tiles in bathrooms. But a bathroom covered with marble by a professional can be as beautiful.
“All that is required is choosing the right veining and colours to add glamour to your bathroom,” Miriam Khainza, a business woman shares. According to Kawuma, marble tiles have different patterns.
“Since they exist in uniform and non-uniform patterns depending on the type, the trait usually adds a touch of elegance to the areas that they cover”.

They do not fade
Additionally, natural marble does not fade or wear out. There is no need of polishing it after some years like it’s done to some tiles.

Not affected by weather
Unlike other tiles that are affected by a change in weather which causes them to contract when cold or expand when hot, hence cracking; marble tiles are strong, durable and can withstand any weather conditions.

Health benefits
Marble tiles have a health benefit. Since it is a natural stone, it can keep away microscopic particles and germs if cleaned well.

Disadvantages

Easily develops stains
Nsangi cautions that if mishandled, marble could develop marks that are very visible and may make the surface less appealing. “Do not cut recipes or any other materials using sharp objects directly on marble. The marks created will be irredeemable”.

Fixed by professionals
“When you have a marble floor or wall, it is essential that you get a stone professional to refinish it. This is usually done in order to keep them looking good,” Nsangi adds.

Expensive
Like the saying goes, ‘beauty comes at a cost’, many times you walk into a tiles shop and you are shocked at the cost of marble tiles. “To purchase a great amount of tiles, you must be able to part with a handsome amount of money. Marble is usually twice the amount of ordinary tiles because it is imported from; India, Italy, Norway, China,” Magezi explains.
Samalie Khainza, an advocate recalls her encounter with marble. She was willing to have the stones placed in her sitting room floor, but was overwhelmed by their cost.

“While I was making finishing for my house, a friend advised that I add a touch of marble either in the sitting room or bedroom. I was excited at the idea and decided to order samples. I received two of them. However, when I came to learn of how much it would cost me just to have my dream marble-floored sitting room, I declined using them. I then placed the samples at the kitchen top close to the sinks. They look amazing!”
“The technology used in processing marble is very costly. Cutting, smoothening and polishing it is a heavy task. This is why it cannot be any cheaper. Besides, it’s a natural stone!” Nsangi explains.

Types and where to use them

Breccia marble
When buying marble tiles, one should be conversant with the types available. These usually include; Breccia marble which varies from stone to stone, and is warmer and darker. It exists in a deep brown colour and red. Nsangi says it is best suited for floors and countertops.

Carrara marble
Carrara marble is a pure white marble and can maintain a perfect look, depending on the stone. It is one of the lightest marbles. Most floors are usually made of this type of marble.

Calacatta marble
“Calacatta marble looks like Carrara. They both have veining only that calacatta has more visible lines with lighter colours. These can be placed in any room in the house and will still look good,” Nsangi advises.

Limestone
Limestone is popularly used in bathrooms. It is a naturally occurring stone, often tan or light brown and is noticeably absorbent. Its porous and soft nature makes it susceptible to damage in high-traffic areas. However, Nsangi advises that low income earners can buy marble dust and cement. “A mixture of the two will look like marble”.

Maintenance
Marble has very high maintenance requirements. Much as it is porous, with surfaces often finished and sealed to help protect them from staining and damage, they require maintenance to remain appealing.
Marble is highly absorbent. Liquids poured on marble surfaces may leave that part stained which will make them looking unappealing. “Wipe away anything that is poured on marble surfaces immediately,” Kawuma advises.
Unlike granite, marble requires good maintenance in terms of cleaning. “If you leave any dyed or coloured liquid for a long time on marble tiles, they may never recover their original colour,” cautions Mr Nsangi.

Precautions
He warns against placing them on bathroom floors. Their slippery nature can cause one to slide and fall. This can be fatal.
Magezi advises that if one must place them in the bathrooms, they should be placed on the walls for skirting.
Sealing the surface of marble with an impregnator can also help it last, and can make maintenance much easier.

“A sealer will ensure that any materials remain on the surface of the marble until they are cleaned off. This is the best way to make sure that your marble retains its original appearance for as long as possible,” says Sarah Kirya, an interior designer.
Since cleaning products for deep stains on marble are limited, hire a stone restoration professional as a consultant to choose a quality stone for you and give advice on the necessary maintenance for the stone you choose.

David Bwayo, a builder recommends that one buys marble tiles from a single shop. “Do not buy marble from different shops because you are most likely to buy different patterns or veining”.
He recommends that one buys marble tiles in one shop and ensures that the sizes are similar. This way, placing them will be easy. “They should be placed by a tiles specialist to avoid disappointment,” he cautioned.