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Very often one of the concerns of the users of marble tiles relate to the hardness of the tiles. Hardness of marble tiles is on the lower side when compared to natural granite stone tiles, and manmade quartz and porcelain tiles. Yet they are not as soft either and though some of the tiles tend to break or crack in transit, generally they are quite strong and durable.

Basically it depends on the type and quality of the marble tiles. In fact the hardness of marble tiles is largely dependent on the quality and types of marble stones that are used for making the tiles. Selecting the right quality of marble tiles is therefore important as they will be harder than their inferior counterparts.

Some marbles could be as hard as granite though usually marble is softer of the two. If the user or installer chooses the usable products basing on the hardness of marble tiles, there is no reason why the construction will not be very strong and durable in nature.

Marble tile flooring has been in use for quite long and it is nothing new. Marble constructions have been in use since the historical times. Despite the tiles being porous and somewhat vulnerable to water and moisture and other external effect, they can not only last a life time with a little maintenance but will maintain the shine as well.

Gorgeous in look, marble tile flooring can maintain its excellent looks for years to come, much more than many other materials used for flooring. They are hard and strong and though softer than some others like porcelain, quartz, and granite, has some natural qualities that make them stand out in the crowd.

Basically marble stone is an improved version of the limestone that is result of intense heat and pressure. Crystals that are present in the rocks often reorganize giving the stones a denser look along with very interesting colors and veining. Marble tile flooring becomes different from others basically due to colors and veined features of the tiles.

Some users desire to install marble tiles in bathroom. However they may have a question in the back of their mind whether marble tiles would be appropriate for use in bathroom. They could be and they could enhance the value of the bathroom considerably. A few protective measures will help the users in their endeavor.

As marble tiles are porous, they may not be ideal for water and moisture prone areas. However marble tiles for bathroom can also be used if they are properly treated. The best way of treating the tile is using sealants on the tiles to be installed in the bathroom.

Due to water or moisture effects there would be dangers of the tiles cracking or chipping. That is why many wonder whether it would be a smart idea using marble tiles for bathroom. But if the marble tiles are sealed properly and re-sealed periodically; at least twice a year, they will become virtually impervious not only to liquids but also to many harmful elements.

Marble tiles are porous and they are vulnerable to water and moisture that can penetrate the tile surface through the pores and can damage it or stain it permanently. Hence drying out marble tiles is essential for its well being, long durability, and continued shine. Not only the tiles should not be left wet but it should be dried out as soon as there is some spill on them.

The same process of drying out marble tiles should be followed in case of grouting them. The grout that is used in form of semi liquid mixture should be allowed to dry out for at least 15-20 minutes after their application and some more time may be allowed for complete drying and settling of the tiles.

Necessity of removal of spills and thereafter immediate steps for drying out marble tiles is necessary so as to prevent the spills to penetrate the tile surface and protect the tiles.

It would be a good idea testing the marble tile grouts before applying them in construction works. When the grout mix is prepared it should be tested before it is actually applied on the gaps between the marble tiles installed on the structure. To start with one should place some grouts either on the floor or on other tiled surfaces included pre-installed marble tiles.

To test the marble tile grouts further it would be good spreading them over small areas of 2-3 square feet that will help know the exact texture and setting that it will generate. The grouts should be spread using a float and holding it at around 30-45 degrees angle for best testing.

While keeping the float at such angle will prevent marble tile grouts from sticking to the edges, it would be good using a reverse movement of the float at 60 degree angle to get the entire grout installation smooth and level. The test will give the user idea about results generated by application of grout on marble tile structure.

For appropriate grouting of marble tiles it is necessary taking matching steps. A few steps can help achieve the objective quite nicely. First of all; the installer or user should remove the spacers that exist between the tiles installed. For this a needle-nose pliers can be used.

Also for proper grouting of marble tiles the user or installer need to clean out the surface of the tiles and the task can be accomplished using the vacuum cleaner or such other tool. In the process the tile adhesives will also be removed if any were dislodged when the user was removing the tile spacers.

Once these tasks are accomplished, the user or installer should mix the grout in clean bucket so that the mix does not take in dust, dirt and other such elements. While mixing the directions on the packet provided by the manufacturers need to be followed. Before finally grouting marble tiles never forget checking them for results.

If you think that you need to downplay the shapes of marble tiles that you have used for flooring or wall covering, the best way is to use grouts that have similar colors. With similar color of grouts the colors will not display prominence as it could have been with a background with contrasting colors and will keep the color complexion downsized.

That is why designers and architects use close looking colors to downsize shapes of marble tiles. Even larger tiles will not look as large with these shapes and will not seem out of place in the structure.

On the other hand the colors that contrasts with the color of the marble tiles will add much more emphasis to the edges of the tiles making them look larger and instead of downsizing the shapes of marble tiles will upsize them considerably. That is why for downsizing the tiles colors that match the tile colors are used.

Grouting marble tiles is one of the simplest processes in the construction industry. In fact it is easier in comparison to grouting various other tiles used in the construction industry. Excess grouts can be washed off the marble tiles installed quite easily without creating any dent, scratches or marks on them.

In the process of grouting marble tiles grouts that closely match with the tile color will easily blend with the colors and texture of the marble tiles that are installed and keep the overall get up uniform in nature.

In recent times the designers and architects have found out a better way of using the process of grouting marble tiles. Instead of using similar color and texture as the tiles in the grouts, they are now going for contrasting colors in grouts that will create an excellent background for tiles with different colors. It is basically the process of creating style by way of contrast.

Both marble tiles and ceramic tiles require sealing. However the pattern of sealing in the two cases is different from each other. Usually natural stone tiles are porous and to prevent damage due to water, moisture, dust, dirt, and grits it is necessary sealing them. Sealing marble tiles is necessary for maintaining them. On the other hand sealing is not as much essential in case of ceramic tiles. Only the grout lines are to be sealed.

Due to the complex and non-repeating patterns in the natural stones, small amount of dirt and dusts on them will not show. While sealing marble tilesis a necessity, in case of the ceramic tiles it is only the grout lines that needs sealing.

However, most vendors that are supplying stone tiles emphasize the variations in colors and patterns in different batches of tiles. Stone floors are heavier than ceramic tiles but more porous and therefore sealing marble tiles is more necessary than in case of ceramic tiles.

Both marble and ceramic tiles can create excellent décor and elegance for any flooring, wall covering, or such other construction works. However, when it comes to choice, most installers and users prefer marble tiles over ceramic tiles. One of the reasons is that ceramic is softer of the two and can get scratched quite easily while marble will not be scratches and is much stronger and harder in nature.

Ceramic tiles usually have glazed upper surface but the problem with them is that when it is scratched or pitted the tiles may take a worn look. Same amount of wear and tear will not adversely affect natural stone tiles and that is why the users and makers prefer marble tiles.

That means the same amount of wear and tear that would be clearly visible on ceramic tiles will not be noticeable on marble tiles. This is one of the reasons why homeowners mostly prefer marble tiles to ceramic tiles.