Marble
A metamorphosed limestone, marble is charracterised
by coloured mineral veins and fossilised markings which run through
it. It comes in an array of syles, and can range from a tumbled,
antique-style finish to a honed, satin-look, polished finish or
a combination of the two.
There are three classes of marble tile. First class is characterised
by very little veining, it's the most expensive and can be difficult
to source. Second class is the most commonly sold, but it's important
to keep in mind that lower quality marble will have more veining
and will therefore be weaker. Like any natural stone, marble requires
a lot of maintenance as it's extremely porous. It's recommanded
that you reseal the marble during during the year to rejuvenate
the floor, since mopping on a regular basis will eventually strip
the seal. When cleaning marble take care to use appropriate cleaning
products, as some commercial products may be to abrasive and bleach
can cause staining and lift the sealant from the surface of the
tile.
Marble tiles generally have a PEI rating of between three and four.
When laying marble take care to use a white adhesive, as a grey
one may soak through and cause shadowing on the tiles. Tilers may
not always be willing to lay marble tiles because of the length
of tile involved, but it's recommended to use a proffesional tiler.
You may wish to use a colour intensifier, particularly with tumbled
marbles, which are chalky in appearance.
Marble can be expensive and the cost will depend on the quality
of the tile. Bear in mind that tilers may charge more to lay because
of the treatment they require.
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