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BDU Stone Tile Flooring and Countertop College™
Marble Tile: A Renaissance in Natural Stone Tile Flooring
What you will learn: the nature of marble and how it is formed; how
marble is processed for use as a building material; practical benefits of
marble tile as flooring; artistic value of marble tile
Marble tile as a building material has a long and illustrious "career," having
been used in the courtyards of Caesar, in the palaces of Renaissance Europe,
and up to more recent times. Marble tile has become more and more popular for
use not only in residential applications, such as foyers, hallways, and in
bathrooms, but also in commercial projects for similar uses. One of the great
qualities marble can extend to a project is the aura of artistry and old-world
elegance that only marble tile can bring.
The reputation of marble tile has endured for thousands of years. One of the
things for which marble is known is its role in the making of fine art;
overall, it is treasured for its refined, regal, decorative appearance. Marble
is also known for its versatility in the making of artifacts from sculptures to
monuments, and wall tiles to floor tiles. But because of the associations most
people have with marble, no matter what application you have in mind, the
result is bound to be viewed as an artistic statement, and one that is meant to
last. Your marble tile floor will remain as a monument to itself, as well as to
good taste with which it is also associated. These days, marble tile is finding
more and more and more applications, ranging from the choice of marble tile in
bathrooms to the use of marble tile in the hallways of commercial buildings.
You might say that marble, a fixture for use in the Renaissance period, is
enjoying a renaissance all of its own.
Origins of marble
Marble is a "relative" of limestone, having been derived from that particular
stone, and having undergone further development while deep in the earth over
the course of millions of years. Marble is a metamorphic rock, having been
subject to tremendous heat and pressure to the point where various fossilized
materials, along with the original limestone and sundry minerals, have become
re-crystallized. This process changes the rock from limestone to what we would
recognize as marble. This naturally decorative material is characterized by
vein-like patterns which vary depending on which minerals, and which quantities
of those minerals, were present during the re-crystallization of the original
limestone parent rock. These patterns offer the unique appearance known to
many, as well as the rich range of colors that are some of the most vibrant
available in any natural stone.
How marble tile is processed at the quarry
Marble is quarried on a large scale, removed in large chunks by cutting it from
the adjacent rock and transporting the marble to nearby mills where it is sawn
to size. The processing of the marble is done in order of size, the largest
slabs being processed first, and the smaller tiles which are to be used as
flooring tile and wall tile processed last. As they are made from a natural
material, variations in color from tile to tile are both expected as well as
preserved. The marble tile is polished and checked for "faults," the small
fissures that can appear in the stone, and filled if necessary by pigmented
resins to protect the structural integrity of the tile, as well as the
appearance.
Practical benefits of marble
Marble can be viewed as a hypoallergenic choice for flooring, being a dense
surface upon which antigens, and particles which cause allergy symptoms to
become inflamed, are less able to reside than they would in carpeting. There
had been time when marble was used for flooring surfaces in hospitals, before
the use of porcelain tile grew to its current level of popularity. In the
summer months, the cool surface of marble can be quite pleasant underfoot,
adding a certain comfort value to the choice of marble tile flooring. Overall,
marble tile flooring is a great way to accent an interior, with the added
benefits of its more practical features.
A decorative choice
Marble tile stands as a decorative natural stone flooring solution that cannot
be matched aesthetically. Marble has understandably been sought after by
artists, artisans, and architects for thousands of years, and is firmly rooted
in the history of architecture, art, and of the development of Western
Civilization itself. Marble was used to create memorable and literally
monumental artwork that has lasted for centuries. In this, marble stands as a
material with built-in associations of craft, artistry, and longevity, making
it a unique material for use in any interior. With marble tile, a unique
aesthetic quality is gained, along with a part of the rich historical legacy
with which marble is rightly associated.
Back to Stone Tile and Countertop College
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• The Greek Parthenon – This structure made with marble was built in
honor of the Goddess Athena (the Greek goddess of craft and wisdom) circa 400
BC.
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• The Roman Pantheon – The Romans imitated the Greeks in their use of
marble to lay the flooring in this now-famous structure originally built in
tribute of "all gods"(which is what the word pantheon means) in 27 BC.
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• The Aztec Temple of Tenochtitlan – This structure is documented to have
been ornately characterized by marble flooring, as well as colonnades made with
various varieties of marble. The entire city of Tenochtitlan was built in the
1400’s and marble was used as a key building material throughout.
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• The Taj Mahal – Made with white marble and built between the years 1633
and 1653 as a tribute offered by a prominent noble to his dearly departed
bride, this building’s use of marble demonstrates a refined and tasteful air,
as well as helping to make this famous structure an architectural icon.
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• The Lincoln Memorial – Built in the early 20th Century, the Lincoln
Memorial was carved from white marble, and the building which houses it was
also made with marble and limestone. Marble, being a decorative stone strongly
linked with the Ancient Greeks who invented the idea of a republic, is an
entirely appropriate choice of decorative tile to pay tribute to presidential
integrity in a modern republic
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• Trump Tower in New York City – Known as a modern day symbol of success
and modern architectural pride, Trump Tower in New York City features peach
marble in its foyer, as well as different marbles other areas of the luxurious
décor this 86-storey building.
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