Let’s discover the elegant marble that doesn’t need to be just marble!

Marble is a classic choice for many surfaces like kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and living room.

As a starting point let’s look at this materials.

Marble is a natural material that is quarried from the earth.

A marble effect tile is a man made material, ceramic or porcelain which replicates the look of the real marble.

Both of these materials have their benefits and specific aspects to consider.

Why marble?

Marble(ancient Greek white or shiny stone) is a metamorphic rock consisting of calcite with impurities of other minerals. Marble is a type of limestone that has been crystallised. Limestone is heated compressed and re-solidified to become the elegant marble stone.In its purest form marble is stark white in colour. It can also came in other colours due to mineral and clay deposits. The colour can range from pink to yellow and black.

Natural marble is available in different hues, thicknesses and formats. There are specific characteristics such as veining, patterning and quartzite detailing. All of the above make marble a premium material for a timeless interior.

An important thing to know when choosing marble tiles is that the tiles require sealing, with resealing needed every few years. Marble is porous and sensitive to acidic substances such as lemon juice, wine or harsh cleaners.

Cultured marble

Cultured marble or fake marble looks like real marble but is man made. This has a consistency of small marble debris, stone powder, quartz sand, plastic and acrylic glue. You can recognize it by looking at the underneath surface of the tile which usually will show little holes where bubbles of air popped from mixing of plastic resin. Natural marble will have natural dents and it is translucent rather then looking flat as the fake one.

Why marble effect tiles?

Character Blue Marble gloss porcelain tiles 60x60cm

Marble effect tiles ceramic or porcelain are less porous with low water absorption rate, These tiles don’t require sealing are stain resistant and perfect for walk in showers and wet rooms.

There is a big variety of designs, colours, sizes and finishes available for marble effect tiles. There are designed with a certain number of prints to mimic the real image of marble. Is good to know that there is a pattern repetition and not every tile will be entirely unique.

Natural marble or faux marble effect tiles?

There is no right or wrong decision in choosing faux marble or natural marble. The choice you make should be based on what you prefer: practical and affordable or timeless and valuable.