The choice between granite tiles and marble tiles must be made carefully. Consider where you are going to place the tiles before selected granite or marble.
Granite tiles and marble tiles are both sourced from fairly hard rock deposits within the Earth. They are similar in that they both reflect style, luxury and affluence. Granite and marble are excellent options when it comes to tiling your home or office.
But granite tiles and marble tiles are different in terms of their properties. Marble is classed as a metamorphic rock, and was formed millions of years ago as high pressure and heat were applied to layers and layers of limestone. Granite is classed as an igneous rock, produced when hot magma cools slowly.
Because of the differences in the ways in which the rocks were formed, marble tiles and granite tiles have different qualities and therefore are suited to different uses in the home and office. They also have different maintenance requirements. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between granite tiles and marble tiles.
Marble tiles are softer than granite. Marble can be scratched more easily than granite and can also be damaged by liquids or drinks containing acids, such as wines and juices. Marble tiles are best used in areas that have less wear and tear. These areas could be bathroom counter tops, showers or flooring in low traffic areas.
Marble is naturally porous and without treatment will stain easily. You must make a commitment to cleaning and maintaining marble tiles on a daily basis.
Granite is a much harder stone compared to marble. In fact, granite is one of the hardest natural substances you can find anywhere on the planet. It is almost impossible to scratch. Its hardness makes it very long-lasting and granite wears well under intense conditions and in high traffic areas. It requires less maintenance than marble.
Granite’s durability means that the stone can be used throughout the home or office without too much concern about damage. Granite tiles or granite slabs are a particularly good choice for a kitchen, where they make either a beautiful and durable floor or a work surface. Hot objects can be placed on granite worktops without scorching the surface. Unlike marble, granite is not porous and will not absorb moisture or stain. Being non-porous, granite will not harbour bacteria and this makes it easy to keep your rooms hygienically clean.
Granite tiles are also a viable option for bathrooms and in various rooms and passage ways that are well-used on a regular basis, including those areas with a heavy footfall. They make a superb exterior finish for a building.
Granite is low maintenance and can be polished again and again, returning the stone to its original lustre. It does of course require some maintenance and should be sealed every seven years or so. But compared to marble this is a relatively light maintenance schedule.
Granite tiles are slightly more expensive than marble. Granite tiles, though durable, can chip on impact with heavy objects, although these chips can be repaired relatively easily with an epoxy. Serious damage to granite can be harder to repair.
Like marble, granite is a heavy material and if you decide to use granite tiles on a worktop you must ensure that the structure is solid and secure so that it can carry the weight of the granite tiles.
In terms of colour choice for granite tiles, the range is somewhat less than marble and runs from blacks and greys, to red, pink and a natural buff colour. However, this lack of range of colours is made up by the striking natural beauty of the crystalline patterns in granite. In fact, these crystalline displays are one of granite’s main attractions; designers and architects are drawn to the intensity of the patterns and consider it one of the most beautiful natural materials with which they can work.
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