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Home flooring options have you confused? Make an informed decision with this guide on vitrified tiles vs marble!
The quest for modern home decor starts with choosing the right kind of flooring for your space. After all, floors are an integral part of your home decor. Along with the aesthetics, flooring is equally important from the point of view of functionality. With so many options available, it can prove to be a rather overwhelming decision to make. That’s why many times, it is best to go either for vitrified tiles or marble flooring to keep the process simpler and more effective. Be it for price, durability or efficiency, homeowners often prefer vitrified tiles and marble over wood, granite, terracotta and other flooring types. However, there’s always a debate between vitrified tiles vs marble. So this guide will help you make an informed decision between the two.
General Comparison Between Marble And Vitrified Tiles
Before we start on the vitrified tiles vs marble flooring debate, let’s dive into what the two are and how to differentiate between the two. Marble is a naturally formed stone with a good water absorption rate. It is composed of limestone, dolomite and even calcium. It has vivid, flowy patterns on its surface and that’s one of the main reasons why it is loved by homeowners, architects and interior designers alike. It’s also uniquely chic and luxurious and plays well with a home’s visual aesthetics
On the other hand, vitrified tiles are manufactured by precisely mixing quartz, silica and feldspar at calibrated temperatures. Through this process, these tiles achieve a sheen and a glossy texture along with a lower water absorption rate. Unlike marble’s unique and luxurious designs, vitrified tiles offer more design options to choose from and have an assorted range of colours, designs textures, et al.
Key Difference Between Marble And Vitrified Tiles
Vitrified tiles and marbles have some major distinctions that every homeowner must keep in mind. To begin with, vitrified tiles are available in a range of colours and textures. They have options of glossy, matte and even skid-resistant finishes. Amusing in itself, vitrified tiles can also be customised to the T, be it just colours or the entire design and texture itself.
In contrast, marble has a more organic, natural hue and has shades of earthy colours and pastels like white, green and more. If the marble is polished, it can achieve a glossy finish; otherwise, it stays rustic and matte. However, while vitrified tiles have their own charm, marble makes the space look remarkably richer in appeal.
Vitrified Tiles Vs Marble: Where To Use Them?
Polished or otherwise, marble floors tend to get slippery often so marble is typically recommended for use indoors, unlike vitrified tiles that can be used for outdoors and balcony spaces too. Since marble is known to absorb water and develop stains, it’s best to avoid it in the kitchen. Marble is a great choice for bedrooms, living rooms and the porch area.
When it comes to vitrified tiles, there are no such limitations. They are suitable for areas with high footfall and frequent use. Additionally, they are slip- and scratch-free, and considered a great choice for both, indoors and outdoors, alike.
When it comes to vitrified tiles, they look more fabricated — not only when compared to marble tiling but also wooden flooring and stone. The grout lines kind of give away the nuance of its designs and textures. However, with the right selection of colours, vitrified tiles can also live up to their promise and can heartily be a fine addition to your Indian home.
A Visual Comparison Between Marble And Vitrified Tiles
Many homeowners may have a bias towards marble for its luxe appearance, sophistication and authenticity. It carries an organic visual appeal that brings the outside into our homes seamlessly. With that being said, Italian marble has paved its way into Indian homes, not just via flooring options but also stunning wall panels.
Vitrified Tiles Vs Marble: Cleaning And Maintenance
If not maintained well, marble can tend to dull down and hamper the overall aesthetics of the space you use it in. Hence, maintaining a polishing schedule will help you keep your marble at par with its potential. Pro Tip: Be careful around acid to avoid any marble mishaps.
As for vitrified tiles, they are like potatoes to any vegetable and can simply be taken care of like the rest of the house, with regular dusting and wiping of the floors. If damaged, vitrified tiles can be easily replaced too. These tiles can tolerate stains and need little to no water.
Vitrified Tiles Vs Marble: Which One Is More Durable?
Come storm or rain, vitrified tiles have proven to be more robust and can allow significant daily usage. With calibrated colouration and scratch resistance, these tiles have a floor life of 15-20 years. Yet, vitrified tiles are also prone to damage if not maintained well or taken care of.
In comparison to vitrified tiles, marble is relatively stronger and if taken care of well may last for a lifetime. Marble overachieves in the durability criterion and may well last twice or thrice the age of vitrified tiles. Nonetheless, it requires regular maintenance with a downside being a dark or yellow-ish hue over a long period of time. This can be taken care of via professional help too.
Vitrified Tiles Vs Marble: Pricing Ideas
Broadly speaking, the cost of marble can go upwards of Rs 300 per square foot for its Indian varieties. Italian marble might cost you more than Rs 700 per square foot. The cost of marble is more because it is a naturally created stone and is available across various grades and colours.
Unlike marble flooring, vitrified tiles can cost you between Rs 200 and Rs 300 per square foot and are a thrifty flooring option since it is man-made. With vitrified tiles, you can choose to customise your design and patterns and are liable to come across far more design and texture options when compared to marble flooring.
Please note that the prices are variable and can change depending on the brand, material, type, design and size you choose.
And with that, we come to an end of our comparison between marble and vitrified tiles. Make an informed decision on what flooring or tiling options you choose at home, or simply speak to our expert designers at DesignCafe for free to get started on the home interiors of your dreams.
In the meantime, check out our blogs on:
- Granite Flooring Design Ideas For Your Home
- The Ultimate Guide To Engineered Wood Flooring
- A Complete Guide To Flooring Options In India
- Comprehensive Guide on Italian Marble Flooring
