Difference between Marble and Ceramic Tiles

In order to know which floor type is better and sustainable you actually need to know the basics and difference between marble and ceramic tile flooring. The pros and cons of marble and ceramic tile flooring is actually dependent on its usage, location and structure types. Marble flooring although has many advantages but are not suitable for bathrooms due to marble floor slippery problem.
For that you need to cover these marble tiles with rugs and mats. Although Tile flooring either ceramic or Porcelain you need to do a costly maintenance moreover, the fixing needs a very cautious approach as compared with marble.
So before going to all know which is better ceramic tile or marble?- You actually need to know the requirements of your building or house and the location of rooms etc. Marble and ceramic Tile both have their own advantages and disadvantages. So there are situations when marble flooring would be a feasible solution but there would be instances where tile flooring would be a better option.

Ceramic Tiles & Types

A ceramic surface unit, usually relatively thin in relation to facial area, made from clay or a mixture of clay and other ceramic materials, called the body of the tile, having either a glazed or unglazed surface and fired above red heat in the course of manufacture to a temperature sufficiently high to produce specific physical properties and characteristics.
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass, generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops.

Types of Tiles

1. Ceramic Mosaic Tile: Tile formed by either dust pressed or plastic method, usually ¼ to 3/8 inch thick, and having a facial area of less than nine square inches. It may be either porcelain or natural clay composition. Typically mounted in sheets or strips.
2. Quarry Tile: Glazed or unglazed tile, made by the extrusion process from natural clay.
3. Pressed Floor Tile: A manufacturer specified ceramic tile primarily for use on floors, but also suitable for use on walls and countertops, and have a facial area of nine square inches or more.
4. Glazed Wall Tile: A glazed tile with a body that is suitable for interior use and which is usually non-vitreous and is not required nor expected to withstand excessive impact or be subject to freezing and thawing conditions.
5. Porcelain Tile: A ceramic tile that has a water absorption of 0.5% or less that is generally made by the pressed or extruded method. Does not include materials with very little or no crystallinity, such as glass tile.

Advantages of Tile Floors

1. Good for health

Tiles are simply ideal for a healthy living environment. Whether glazed or unglazed, their surfaces are highly impervious. Mites and other microorganisms that cause a large number of allergies don‘t stand a chance. Ceramic itself does not give off any vapors or smells and, for this reason, is also recommended in terms of building biology.

2. Energy-efficiency saves costs

For under floor heating there is no better covering than tiles, which boasts good thermal conductivity and heat storage capacity and is also anti-static. A pleasant and efficient side effect: on hot summer days, tiles also help to keep things cool.

3. Barrier-free living and design

Today, bathrooms in particular should not have any unnecessary thresholds. Tiles and mosaics are perfect for barrier-free, walk-in and wheelchair-friendly showers and baths. Provided with non-slip surfaces, tiles also ensure a secure footing.
 Beside these following are some other advantages of tile flooring

• Tile floors are non-absorbent.
• Tiles floors are very much durable, extremely tough and difficult to crack.
• It comes in a variety of options.
• Good looking. The appearance of tile floor is very pleasant.
• Easy to install.
• It requires less maintenance.
• Maintenance is easy.
• Easily Repairable.
• Quick work.
• It is environmental friendly

The high quality tiles in terms of both workmanship and product concept ensures the necessary durability and sustainability. They are made of natural components that occur naturally in almost unlimited quantities. They are also manufactured by means of environment-friendly processes and a large proportion of the production waste is recycled. Tiles can also be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.

Disadvantages of Tile Floors

1. Very costly both in its initial cost as well as in maintenance.
2. Very Slippery when wet.

Marble Flooring

The word “Marble” drives from the Greek word (marmaron), meaning “Crystalline rock” or “shining stone” Marble has been a popular and preferred choice for centuries, even today while make a choice of flooring for a home or commercial purposes.
The surface off the floor is rubbed and polished with the help of power driven polishing machine. Resulting surface of the floor is very pleasing and smooth.
Marble is a natural stone, and when properly finished can be transformed into beautiful flooring.  Marble flooring is one of the most luxurious and sophisticated floorings to install in a home and adds a whole new element of class.
Different types of marble will bring different looks to a foyer, hallway, bathroom, or any room where it is present – and there are thousands of different types of marble in nearly every color imaginable. With hues in black, brown, green, red, white and even pink, there’s no doubt homeowners can find the right marble for their home.
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Advantages of Marble

1. Easy to Maintain: Marble is much easier to maintain than tile or natural surfaces.
2. Supply: As its production is usually done at large scale to it can be provided in bulk in short time making it ideal for large projects.
3. Repeatability: The same color can be recreated exactly over and over again.
4. Uniformity: The material can be supplied in numerous ranges of colors with uniformity in physical, mechanical and visual characteristics.
5. Uniqueness of color and pattern: As engineered stone is a technically reconstituted material, new materials can be created with visual characteristics that are not available in nature.
6. Variety of finishes: Marble slabs are available with several surface finishes in every color in the range.
7. Versatility and Durability: Engineered Marble is a popular option for counter tops, shower basins, whirlpools, back splashes and vanities. With proper care, quality engineered marble can maintain its elegant look for a longer period of time as compared with tile.

Difference between Marble and Ceramic Tile

Marble tiles are fairly slippery when used in bathrooms. Polished marble can be quite slick, even more so if it’s wet. So while it is a great choice for bathrooms, bath mats and rugs should be placed in such locations to prevent slipping.

Unique Pattern:

Marble tiles are difficult to match. A marble tile should come from the same stone to keep the floor consistent.

Marble acts as a base

It means if anything acidic comes in contact with marble like spills of orange juice, harsh cleaners or any other acidic liquid would cause a chemical reaction. So marble floors must be cleaned immediately.

Difficult Maintenance

Marble tiles needs periodic maintenance after each six to twelve months. You need to polish the surface to remove the porous surface of the natural stone.

Not suitable for cold regions

As marbles get very cold in winter season, they are not suitable in very cold climate.

Difficult to Handle than Tiles

Marbles are much heavier than other tiles. Require more labors for loading.

Final Words

I have tried to explain everything related to difference between marble and ceramic tile, pros and cons of both marble tiles and ceramic tiles. Now you should be able to answer yourself that which floor type is better for your bathroom – a ceramic floor or tile floor?