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.

©2008 by BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc. (BuildDirect™). All rights reserved.