Are you designing your home? Planning a remodel? You can’t go wrong with marble.
This resilient material is popular for countertops, flooring, fireplaces and wall cladding, among other purposes. It’s beautiful, durable, and versatile enough to be used in traditional and contemporary settings. And no matter the colour, it adds character and texture like few other materials can.
But how do you choose the perfect type of marble for your home? Here are some things to keep in mind.
From the wide range of available options, how do you know which type of marble is right for your home? Keep reading to find out.
Look out for fakes. Marble is popular so counterfeit marble is a thing. For instance, a seller might try to pass off a white stone from any country as highly-valued Calacatta marble quarried from Italy’s Carrara mountains. This is why it’s important for buyers to do their homework. More than half of the world’s marble comes from four countries – Spain, China, India and Italy – but there are domestic varieties available too.
Marble slabs come in numerous surface patterns and colour options, ensuring there is something for every interior decor. The contrasting lines that run through the slab’s surface are referred to as veining. This veining can either be delicate and barely noticeable or pronounced and heavy. Although there are many varieties of marble available, they can be categorized into three types, with each being identified by its appearance.
● Breccia
When homeowners want warmth and colour in their marble countertop, wall cladding or flooring, Breccia is a great choice. This style comes in a wide range of shades that include tans, reds, deep browns and golds. The slabs generally have either black or grey veining that appears in ornate swirls. It also sometimes includes round outlines resembling bubbles that appear as if they are trapped beneath the surface.
● Carrara
This popular white variety of marble was used centuries ago by Romans and Greeks in elaborate statues and massive pillars. In more recent times, this style of marble has become popular in flooring. Its limited hues range from warm to light shades of white featuring light veining.
● Calacatta
This white marble is similar to Carrara but has a purer white colour and darker veining for a contrasting appearance.
Before picking marble slabs, make sure the surface is free of stains and cracks. Keep an eye out too for marble providers supplying artificially-coloured products as these often start fading soon after installation. Also, make sure to choose slabs that have the same dimensions and thickness to ensure the surface looks uniform after being installed. To get high-quality slabs that have been tested for use and verified, your best bet is to buy marble from an ISO-certified supplier.
The colour you choose should match the rest of your interiors. Marble is available in a wide range of colours including pink, black, white, brown, orange, red, grey, green and gold. Additionally, its veining patterns generally complement the slabs’ overall design.
If you’re looking for a marble countertop for your kitchen or bathroom, it’s best to choose a shade similar to your existing flooring and walls. However, since marble is a natural stone, you should be prepared to get a product that has veining irregularities and colour variations.
Marble slabs can either be finished with a high gloss or matte appearance. The finish is generally determined based on where it is being installed.
● Polished
A high-gloss polish is the most popular finishing used on marble. It is achieved by grinding the surface using a stone polishing machine. This method creates a radiant appearance and brings out the veining to make it more prominent against the background. When looked after properly, the polished surface can retain its finish for years.
● Honed
For a honed finish, the marble is lightly polished to create a smooth and flat surface. This finish offers a soft matte finish considered more down to earth than its shinier counterpart.
Marble can be used in various household applications and adds a unique beauty wherever it’s installed – provided homeowners take a few factors into consideration. Follow these guidelines when buying marble for your home to make an informed purchase. Alternatively, get in touch with a marble slab provider to help you choose a suitable product.
For more information Marble Slabs Supplier, please get in touch with us!