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Marble Care And Installation Tips(1) |
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| 8/20/2007 Marble Care, Design, and Installation TipsNatural stone products are by far some of the most impressive building materials that I am aware of. I believe that the reason for this lies in the fact that imitation material is just that, imitation. The look, feel, density, and hardness of natural products is almost impossible to duplicate. A manufacturer may be able to improve one aspect, however, the other attributes usually fall short of the real product. Take granite for instance. Granite counter tops are increasingly popular. The manufacturers of solid surface (plastic) countertops picked up on this trend and many offer "granite" substitutes. If you put the two materials side by side, there is absolutely no comparison. The natural granite has deeper colors(granite colors), larger crystals, and often a more random pattern. In all fairness to the solid surfacing materials (which, by the way, I like very much), they have other positive attributes that make them attractive. Marble vs. Graniteclick here to see ally stone marble tiles and slabs granite tiles and slab&nbps;&nbps;granite counter tops I have installed both marble and granite on many of my past jobs. Both have performed well. Marble, far and away, is a much softer material than granite. This has to do with the composition of the materials. Marble is nothing more than limestone which has been "pressure-cooked" deep in the earth for many, many years. Granite is often an igneous rock that has a high concentration of the mineral quartz. Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO2), is very hard. It is comparable to standard glass, as glass is composed primarily of silicone dioxide. Both materials will last a lifetime if professionally installed and maintained. The only disadvantage that I find with both products is that they are difficult to repair if damaged. Scratches, as long as they are not too deep, can be buffed out without noticeable appearance changes. Large chips, on the other hand, are virtually impossible to repair. Think of it, how do you recreate a matrix of random quartz crystals? Or, how do you recreate exactly the color and swirl pattern of a piece of marble? Slate vs. Terrazzoclick here to ally stone slate sample Slate is a natural stone product that is very beautiful as well. I have mottled (mixture of greens, browns, and purples) slate in my entrance hall. I have red slate in my sun room. Both floors are durable and stain resistant. The slate comes in different size pieces ranging from 4" x 6" to 12" x 12". They fit together in a regular pattern, however, when the floor is finished the pattern appears random. The slate that I used is only 1/4" thick, however, it gives the appearance of being much thicker. The joints between the slate are simply grouted with standard colored sanded grout just like ceramic tile. Slate, when purchased like this, is also very affordable. Terrazzo is a very unique flooring alternative. Used primarily in commercial applications, it offers unlimited design and color variations. Terrazzo is comprised of small (usually 1/4 - 3/8 inch) marble chips. By mixing different colored marble chips in different proportions, you can create virtually any colored floor. Also, terrazzo is usually installed in blocks separated by aluminum or brass strips. As you might imagine, you can create any pattern with the metal strips and then fill each block or area with a different mixture of marble chips! You can make a giant checkerboard on your floor or a compass rosette. Let your imagination run wild. Terrazzo is a very messy product to work with and requires special subfloors in order to achieve maximum performance. For instance, in commercial applications terrazzo is virtually always installed on concrete slabs. The subfloor must be solid so that the terrazzo will not crack. If you decide to have terrazzo applied over a wood sub-floor system, make sure that the floor is framed with little or no deflection (large floor joists such as 2x10's or 2x12's with plentiful bridging) and use 3/4 inch plywood, not oriented strand board products. It is always best to consult with the terrazzo installer before the floor is framed, if at all possible. Let him (her) tell you what the minimum requirements are for a solid wood sub-floor system. Also, use epoxy terrazzo. Terrazzo costs here in Cincinnati are about $10 per square foot installed. That compares with $6 per square foot for hardwood floors and $7 - 9 per square foot for ceramic tile. Whichever product you choose to install, as long as you follow the installer's care instructions, you will be rewarded with a floor that will generate many compliments! china ally stone factory inc |
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