When you walk into any space, your advancing steps are welcomed by the expanse of the floor before you. Floors are one of the foremost things that make an impact on you as you enter a space. If you don’t like any particular thing in your room – from décor to the wall color to the furniture – it’s quite easy to quickly get them changed, but a similar situation doesn’t apply to flooring. Changing your flooring may be a challenging & time-taking process, hence choosing your home floor tiles needs significant consideration and care. You might get confused about whether to make your mind up for a tiled floor or a marble floor and for that very reason we are here to ease your dilemma.
Table of Contents
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #1: Properties
A natural stone formed from calcite, dolomite, or limestone, marble is considered to be a very dense, porous stone with a high moisture absorption rate. Featuring fascinating swirls and veined patterns on its surface, this stone has been widely utilized in architecture as flooring and wall cladding.
A mixture of clay and other minerals like silica, quartz, and feldspar baked at high temperatures composes the well-known vitrified tiles. This process forms a glassy substrate throughout the tile giving it its characteristic smooth texture. Generally coated with an external glaze, these tiles have a very low moisture absorption rate and are durable.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #2: Variety and finishes
A distinctive material with a personality that speaks on its own, marble flooring is on the market as blocks, slabs, or tiles. Generally found in the hues white, black, green, brown, grey, and other natural hues, different grades of marbles will absorb water differently. Polished marble is used to achieve a glossy finish while the honed and sand marble is often used for matte, rustic textures.
Vitrified tiles are man-made and are available in a varied range of styles, colors, prints, and textures. You'll be able to find tiles in various designs which replicate natural materials like wood, bamboo, and even marble. A good choice for both interior and exterior use, vitrified tiles are available in glossy, matte, and anti-skid finishes.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #3: Aesthetic value
Marble flooring has long been the symbol of luxury and opulence. The flooring was a well-known choice for palaces around the world; each bit is exclusive in its own way. The elegance of polished stone and its beautifully authentic, natural look adds to the aesthetic appeal.
While vitrified tiles are available in an exceedingly huge array of eye-catching colors and finishes, the overall look may be a little less authentic as compared to natural wood or stone. While it's possible to create a faux-marble effect using vitrified tiles, the grout lines in the laying of floor tiles are more visible as compared to original marble.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #4: Maintenance
A natural material, marble is vulnerable and tends to react very easily with most substances. Marble reacts with even dilute acids such as vinegar, mustard, citrus, and other common household items, which causes stains. You must clean any spills on marble flooring immediately to refrain from any permanent marks. You can clean the floor with mild detergent and water, provided you wipe it dry immediately. Marble flooring will also require a periodic application of a sealant to safeguard it from moisture. Regular polishing can add new life to your old marble flooring.
Vitrified tiles are relatively easy to wash and maintain. All thanks to their non-porous nature, these tiles absorb very little or no water, and thus it makes them immune to most of the stains. Regular dusting and wiping is enough to maintain the gleam of your tiles. Since tiles are readily available in standard sizes, one can replace broken tiles easily with identical alternatives.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #5: Durability
Vitrified tiles are known to be extremely durable and weather-heavy daily use. These tiles are both fade and scratch-resistant and thus will easily hold their look for 10-15 years when used with proper maintenance. However, vitrified tiles are vulnerable to breakage if mishandled.
Though marble are considerably stronger than most of the other sorts of flooring, it tends to develop a yellowish tinge after some years of usage. With regular maintenance and adequate care, marble flooring can remain intact for around 25 years.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #6: Cost
The cost of marble, being a natural material, is more than vitrified tiles. The price of flooring will also depend and vary in line with the grade, rarity of the color, etc. Typically the value of an Indian marble flooring which includes the value of the material, labor, and also the cutting and polishing charges, is around Rs 250 per square feet while other varieties like Italian marble can cost anywhere between Rs 650 to Rs 1000 per square feet.
The cost of vitrified tile flooring largely depends on the floor plan and the brand you select. The cost of flooring which includes the value of the tile, cost of other materials, and labor charges, varies from around Rs 200 per square foot to Rs 300 per square foot. Nonetheless, being a man-made product, these tiles are cheaper in comparison to marble.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #7: Installation
The installation process for marble is much more time and effort-consuming and labor intensive. In most places in India, marble is typically not available in a very ready-to-ship condition. You have to make sure to place an order, followed by cutting and grinding of marble according to your requirements. Apart from the time required to get marble flooring, the time for polishing and finishing also adds to the general installation time.
Vitrified tiles are available in stores in a very ready-to-ship condition and typically, it takes around 1.5 working days to get flooring for a standard-size room. These tiles also require less setting time and can be used shortly after installation. Since they're pre-polished, there's no finishing required on the floor. One can cut vitrified tiles manually and lay them in varied sorts of patterns and combinations to fit your needs. The general thickness of the tile is around 10 to 12 mm which reduces the complete thickness of your floor.
Marble vs Vitrified tiles #8: Where to use them
Natural stone marble flooring is considered the most suitable option for indoor areas like foyers, halls, and bedrooms. Polished marble surfaces are often ought to be slippery when utilized in bathrooms. Since marble absorbs water and stains easily, marble isn't a practical choice for kitchens. Marble is generally not good for outdoor spaces since weathering and pollutants tend to wear out the surface.
You can use vitrified tiles for both interior and exterior surfaces, also as high traffic areas. Since they are available in various anti-slip or slip-resistant finishes, vitrified tiles are good for bathrooms and kitchens also.
An age-old comparison for all the age owners has been answered here. One cannot say that marble flooring is out of fashion because it can never be. But when it comes to smarter and more elegant options, we can say that the tile industry has developed and advanced so much that one can get a near-perfect look of whatever they’re looking for. Vitrified tiles stump marble flooring when it comes to cost efficiency, longevity, maintenance, installation, and design. While you’re on the lookout for vitrified tiles, do check out the Orientbell website for their latest vitrified tiles collection like Rhino, Granalt, Canto, Sahara, and many more. The filters available on their website will help you reach the desired product in a hassle-free and convenient way. Make your tile choosing experience a happy one, with Orientbell.
Author Bio:
Isha Tandon has worked within the architecture and interior design industry as a flooring consultant expert - specializing in tiles, stones, and terrazzo. She has worked with Orientbell Limited, a leading tile manufacturer in India, as a product development manager in the design team and has recently joined the marketing team as their digital content expert. Her experience comes in handy in understanding the audience as she creates value-driven functional & informational content for the readers. She creates lifestyle pieces that focus on interior design products, trends, and processes. She loves to travel to historic places with rich architecture.
