What’s a marble floor like, really? Marble is beautiful, but it has its own properties, which you should check out first. What kind of marble flooring in which room? Is it safe? Expensive? Easy to maintain? How to choose the slabs?

From white, green, beige, brown, pink, red and black, there are numerous marble stone colours available in the market. It is a metamorphic rock, which shines on polishing. Marble floor slabs are derived out of marble stone blocks that are hard, dense and homogeneous. If you are planning to bring home this resilient stone floor, make sure you consider the factors listed here.

Variety

Marble was the choice of the royals for its inimitable luxury. This stone comes in numerous colours and vein patterns. Being a natural derivative, each slab is unique, with its own distinct grain. India has rich marble deposits in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

One can choose from Makrana, Calacatta, Andhi, Rajnagar, Ambaji, Katni Beige, Udaipur Pink and many other marble stones that are native to the country. You can pick marble slabs local to your area or can get them imported, too.

Indian Natural Stones is an ISO-certified marble manufacturer and supplier in India. R K Marble and Classic Marble Company are reputed distributors too

Physical features

While choosing your slabs, make sure they are free of cracks and stains. Watch out for manufacturers who supply artificially coloured marble slabs that will start fading soon after installation. Do your market research before you buy. A spot check can be to gently scratch the surface. An artificially coloured stone is generally coated with a sealant to keep the colour intact, and, therefore, does not get scratched easily. A raw, uncoloured (read genuine) stone will show scratches or cuts.

Select slabs of the same thickness and dimensions for uniform lying of the floor. Also, buy only good-quality slabs that are verified and have been tested for use. The safest way is to buy from an ISO-certified supplier, as their products are tested and verified. You can try other manufacturers as well, but again, do check up on their client history – if there are many complaints about their products.

It is also important that you hire skilled labour for the installation; improper laying of slabs can lead to breakages.

This natural stone can be finished in polished, honed or tumbled textures. Polished marble gives a more posh look – it is well-suited for entryways, living rooms and bedrooms. Quite obviously, the texture chosen will decide if the floor is slippery or not. Honed and tumbled finishes are rougher, suitable to wet areas like bathrooms and balconies.

Chemical features

Marble, being porous in nature, is prone to staining. Food items and cleaning agents containing acids can leave marks on the floor. Hence, polished marble is not recommended for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms. A well-sealed, honed marble floor is best for areas that undergo frequent wet cleaning (kitchen, utility rooms and bathrooms). In other spaces, using polished marble or re-polishing can fix minor etches and scratches

Effects on health

Be mindful of your location and personal comfort when choosing this flooring material. Marble surfaces remain innately cool all year long. That makes marble flooring ideal for warm climates, but not so much if your winters are cold – it will add to the chill, increasing the discomfort associated with this weather.

Maintenance

Even though marble is durable, it needs special care and upkeep. Apart from daily sweeping, you will have to mop the floor regularly with water and mild, non-toxic stone cleansers. Avoid acidic cleaning agents and harsh scrubbers to avoid discolouring or scratching of the smooth surface.

Honed and tumbled surfaces tend to stain easily; regular sealants need to be applied to block the absorption of any liquid. For glossy surfaces, regular polishing not only makes the floor slabs tolerant of scratches and discolouration, but also helps maintain the texture.

Bottom line

Marble floors turn out to be more expensive than tiles and other flooring options as they need to be cut and grained under skilled expertise. Importing different marbles from other locations (including the wastage that is associated with transportation) carries an extra cost.

To achieve a joint-free look, larger slabs are used, but these cost more than the smaller ones. The laying, sealing and polishing are also time-consuming and costly processes. It is advisable for you to be aware of and prepared for all the expenses attached to buying, installing and caring for marble floors.