Vitrified Tiles Vs Marble Floors: Which is the better choice?
The floors are one of the most underrated design elements in our homes. Though they make up a major portion of the room, they are sadly overlooked. If you don’t like the look and feel of other design elements, you can easily get them swapped. For example, you can replace a sofa or even redo the paints on your walls. On the other hand, floors are meant to last forever. So, you need to pay special attention when designing the floors.
When it comes to floor design, Indian homes have two primary choices – to go with stylish vitrified tiles or opt for classic marble flooring. If you’re confused between these two, worry not! In this guide, we compare these two popular flooring options on several criteria and help you decide the better choice for your homes. Tiles and marble have distinct features as well as some common similarities.
Round #1: Water Resistance
Tiles are man-made using clay, silica and other materials. Vitrified tiles are non-porous and have a glossy finish that makes them impervious to water and other liquids. They are stain-resistant and an excellent choice for kitchens, bathrooms and other wet areas in your home.
Marbles, on the other hand, are a natural stone that is porous. Hence, it is prone to water absorption, thereby making it non-resistant to stains. Marbles are also easily affected by alkali and acids, hence require extra maintenance. When maintained properly, marbles add an opulent look to your rooms.
Winner: Vitrified tiles as they are water resistant.Round #2: Longevity and durability
The strength of marbles is legendary. Buildings like the Taj made of marble stand tall and beautiful even after centuries. When you invest in high-quality marbles, you can be assured that they’ll last for years. However, maintaining marbles is a huge chore and even when impeccably maintained they tend to turn yellowish with age.
Though vitrified tiles do not have a long life like marbles, they can easily last for decades when installed properly. Even if a few tiles are damaged, you can get only the broken tiles replaced without disturbing the others.
Winner: Marble, with vitrified tiles finishing close.Round #2: Longevity and durability
The strength of marbles is legendary. Buildings like the Taj made of marble stand tall and beautiful even after centuries. When you invest in high-quality marbles, you can be assured that they’ll last for years. However, maintaining marbles is a huge chore and even when impeccably maintained they tend to turn yellowish with age.
Though vitrified tiles do not have a long life like marbles, they can easily last for decades when installed properly. Even if a few tiles are damaged, you can get only the broken tiles replaced without disturbing the others.
Winner: Marble, with vitrified tiles finishing close.Round #3: Aesthetics
When it comes to the final design of your home, aesthetics plays a crucial role. So, the flooring material needs to be chosen with care to match the style and design of the rest of the home. It should also complement the rest of the décor.
For years, marbles have been used to add a luxurious look to interiors. The beautiful natural shine of marble goes well with all interior styles. But, the problem with marble is that you have limited colours. Since, it’s a natural material, the colour range is quite limited.
On the other hand, vitrified tiles are available in endless designs, colours, patterns and textures. Thanks to modern printing technologies, vitrified tiles can mimic other natural materials like wood, granite or even marble.
Winner: Vitrified tilesRound #4: Budget-friendly
Vitrified tiles are available in multiple budgets ranging from pocket-friendly to luxurious expensive ones. So, whatever be your budget, you can find the right vitrified tiles within your budget range. Also, they are super easy to install, thereby lowering the overall expenses.
Marbles, on the other hand, are a natural material and they are imported for certain quarries in India as well as overseas. Hence, they are expensive. Additionally, the slabs have to be cut in specific sizes and marble laying is a time-consuming and expensive process. Hence, marble is not budget-friendly.
Winner: Vitrified tilesRound #5: Maintenance and Ease of Use
Floors are one of the most abused areas in our houses – we walk on them, throw stuff on them, push furniture and even run on them with shoes. Hence, they need to be cared properly to keep them looking good for years to come. Regular cleaning and mopping prevent your floors from accumulating dirt and grime.
As mentioned above, tiles are water-resistant and hence they do not stain easily. Regular sweeping, wet mopping and wiping stains with a soft cloth and detergent solution is sufficient to keep them shining for years to come. Marble on the other hand requires special care. You need to clean your floors regularly with lukewarm water and mild detergents to remove stains. Avoid using harsh chemicals as they can leave permanent marks on your floors. Also, marble needs to be polished periodically to maintain its shine and lustre.
Winner: if you’re looking for an easy, low maintenance material then vitrified tiles are the way to go.Wrapping Up
Your floors deserve a special treatment. So, make sure to spend extra time analysing the features of these two popular materials to find the right fit for your home. Use this guide, to compare the pros and cons of vitrified tiles and marbles, to find the right material that works for you. And, if you decide to choose tiles, reach out to Emperors Vitrified Porcelain, the leading vitrified tile supplier in India for the best choices at the most competitive prices on the market!
