Floor Choice- Vitrified Tiles or Marble?
Flooring is the foundation of any beautiful room. So, it has a great importance in home décor, both literally and from an aesthetic point of view. From interiors to wall colours to furnishings, anything can be changed without much ado, but same is not applicable to flooring. The process of changing a floor is arduous and time-consuming, therefore it becomes important that you choose right flooring option for your house. Whether to go for a tiled floor or a marbled floor, is the biggest dilemma for Indian homeowners, and so we are here to ease your confusion!
Vitrified tiles
are a mixture of clay and other minerals such as quartz, silica and
feldspar, baked at high temperatures, which forms a glassy substrate
throughout, giving it a smooth texture. Whereas, Marble is a
hard-crystalline metamorphic form of limestone, typically white with
coloured mottling’s or streaks, which is widely used in architecture as
flooring.
Now a days, it’s all about aesthetics,
and, so tiles come in a large variety of colours, finishes, textures and
exquisite designs that gives an artistic impact. Even, tiles are
designed to mimic natural materials such as wood, bamboo and even
marble. For the contemporary look, go for vitrified tiles to complement
the décor of each room.
On the other side, Marble generally
comes in the shades of white, black, brown and other natural hues. Each
piece of it, highlights uniqueness and is believed to be a symbol of
luxury. For a majestic look, Marble should be your choice for flooring.
Vitrified tiles are intensely durable as
they go through a process of detailed vitrification during
manufacturing and hence are equipped with the strength to sustain for a
longer period of time. These tiles have to be handled carefully to avoid
breakage. However, Marbles are stronger than other kinds of flooring,
but may develop a yellowish tinge after some years of usage. With
regular care & maintenance, Marble flooring can be good for around
20 to 25 years.
Tiles need a shorter span of time, might
be a day or two to lay flooring in a standard size room. Also, require
less setting time and can be used shortly after the installation. But,
the installation process of marble is time-consuming and cumbersome.
Apart from the time required to lay marble flooring, the time for
polishing and finishing also adds to the overall installation time.
Being non porous, Vitrified Tiles, do
not absorb water or any other liquid, which makes them stain-resistant,
and are relatively easy to clean & maintain. Tiles are man-made and
manufactured with characteristics that are fit for flooring and so are
not affected by acids or alkalis. Also, these tiles can be washed with
any tile cleaner and by any method. Whereas, marble is a
naturally-occurring stone that has porous properties and thus, absorbs
water leading to stains. For cleaning marble flooring, stone cleaners or
mild detergents should be used.
Vitrified tiles can be for both interior
& exterior surfaces as well as high traffic areas. Marbles are
adequate for indoor areas like halls, bedrooms and foyers. However, it
is not a feasible choice for bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor spaces as
they absorb water and stain easily. Vitrified tiles are the manufactured
products, so the cost definitely depends on the design and the brand.
Tiles come in variety of styles and in different ranges with
cost-effective installation. Comparatively, Marble is more expensive
than tiles as they are natural stones, need to be cut into specific
sizes before installation. After that laying, polishing and finishing of
marble turns to be a costly process.
Last but not the least, the factors such
as your usage, budget, design needs and space location be your criteria
to select the best. Flooring lives long, so opt tactfully!
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