Why Choose Marble Tiles for your Home Improvement?

If you have the budget to splash out on marble tiles you will not regret it. They have a unique beauty that simply cannot be matched by any other type of tiles.

Many people when they buy and decorate their first homes will not have a huge budget to splash out on luxuries like natural stone, solid wood floors and designer furniture and accessories so they will typically choose lower end products that can still be used to create a beautiful home without the expense. But what if you have been through this process before (maybe many times) where you sacrificed quality for cost?

If you have chosen less expensive alternatives for flooring, for example, then you are likely to have discovered over time that the cheaper options simply do not last as long or wear as well. They also tend to be products in fashionable colours or finishes that date quickly. Laminate wood floors will start to peel at the edges and slate effect tiles will chip to reveal that the colour does not go right through the body of the tile.

So it's true that you get what you pay for but sometimes we simply don't have the choice to spend what we want on a flooring product for our home. But if you are now in a position to choose the very best products and are determined to no longer sacrifice quality for cost then there is nothing better than natural stone; it is both beautiful and hard-wearing.

One of the best things about a natural stone floor is the individual characteristics and distinctive colours apparent in each tile. But there are so many different varieties of natural stone that it is sometimes difficult to make a choice. The is travertine, slate, marble or limestone as well as a whole range of more unusual stones and they all come in different finishes and naturally different colours.

Take marble, for example, most people know about the beautiful, fine Carrara marble from Italy with its pure white background complemented by veining in a variety of shades and quantity. The colour and amount of veining is the main factor in deciding the quality and, of course, the cost. Pure white marble tiles are the most sought-after and the most expensive whereas marble tiles with plenty of veining are cheaper although many people like the beauty of the veining and the fact that it shows that the tiles are real marble.

There are also a number of well-regarded marbles from Spain such as Marfil marble, which, like Italian marble, is graded and categorised according to the amount and type of veining and other variations within the finished wall and floor tiles. Those with the least veining are again the most expensive but, as with Carrara marble tiles, cheaper versions are often just as attractive, particularly if you like the natural variations and characteristics across individual tiles.

If money really is no object and you really want to improve your home then there are also some very rare forms of marble that are quite outstanding, such as the black Marquina marble from Italy. But, equally, there are other less well known types of marble in a range of colours and for prices to suite a variety of budgets. You might be considering ceramic tiles for their good value or porcelain tiles for their ease of maintenance but if you are seeking a truly distinctive look then nothing beats marble wall or floor tiles.

Professional blogger on all things related to home and lifestyle: home improvement, DIY, buying and selling homes, interior design.