Everything You Need to Know About Marble Flooring, From Cost to Care

We get it; there’s no denying that marble flooring looks timeless and classy. If marble’s alluring look has you captivated, it’s time to get down to weighing out marble’s pros, like the style and return on investment, with its cons, like cost. Keep reading for more pros and cons of marble flooring so you can figure out if it’s the right fit for your home and lifestyle. 

What Exactly Is Marble Flooring? 

Marble is a natural rock known for its luxurious, creamy white color with gray veining. But, as you might guess, taking this beautiful, natural stone and making it into flooring comes at a pretty high cost. 

Even though marble is undoubtedly grand and maybe a little expensive, there are still plenty of pros and cons you should consider before making the big purchase.

Pros of Marble Flooring

It’s time to start navigating the finer details of marble flooring. Consider all of the different positives from marble’s incredible look to its durability. 

• One-of-a-kind appearance 

• Comes in a variety of grades for diverse prices

• Offers antibacterial and antimicrobial properties 

• Grand, luxurious look

• Sold in both tile and slab forms

• Heavy and durable material 

Cons of Marble Flooring

While there are plenty of pros for marble, every material tends to have cons that follow along too. Before moving forward, check out these negative aspects that come with marble.

• Not a budget-friendly choice

• Not ideal for every room, especially not the kitchen

• Stains easily occur

• Requires specific sealing treatments 

• Easily damaged if not maintained 

• Typically needs professional installation 

Marble’s Physical Properties

Just like other natural stones, marble is a hard material. Physically speaking, marble is a powerhouse stone resistant to scratches, and it has antimicrobial properties. 

But, on the flipside, marble is susceptible to staining. So while marble tile flooring is idea for the bathroom ((just don’t spill your bubble-bath wine), it may be a poor choice for high-traffic rooms where messes tend to happen, like the kitchen. 

Another perk is that every piece of marble is distinct, which means you’ll have the ultimate unique floor. Since each marble slab is a tad different, it might not be your first choice if superior uniformity is a top priority. 

Other Considerations for Marble

Marble comes in different grades, which means, you guessed it, separate price tags. The grades range between A and D. While Grade A is an outstanding choice for its durability and look, it also costs top dollar. As the grade diminishes, so do the quality and imperfections.

How Much Does Marble Flooring Cost? 

Arguably the most significant hurdle with marble flooring is the cost of the material.As noted before, the grade is big factor that dictates how expensive marble can be. The better the grade and more unique the marble, the higher the price.

You can expect an average project of 250 square feet to cost $2,000 to $5,000 for materials alone. But, of course, the prices will also depend on if you opt for marble tiles or slabs.

More specifically, the cost of marble flooring tiles will cost you anywhere from $5 to $10 per square foot. Individual tiles come in various shapes like squares, rectangles, and hexagons. Marble tiles will have seams where grout is used to secure each tile to the ground. On the other hand, slabs will likely cost around $10 to $20 per square foot more, but a slab offers a seamless design since the entire sheet of marble is placed down for flooring. 

Installation Costs for Marble Flooring

Finally, if you’re still on board with marble floors, it’s not really a wise first DIY project due to a tile’s fragility and a slab’s heaviness. Bear in mind that professional installation costs may run you anywhere from $600 to $800. Remember that this installation fee is in addition to whichever material you purchase. 

Caring for Your Marble Floors

Just like any natural stone floor or countertop, you need to provide the proper maintenance for a marble floor to remain in prime condition.

These maintenance services include specific and frequent cleaning methods for your flooring. This cleaning for marble usually includes the typical soap and water. You also have to make sure that spills get washed up immediately and that professional sealing services are completed to provide your marble floors with better longevity.

Weighing the Pros and Cons 

As you’ve weighed the countless pros and cons, you either feel more set on marble floors than ever, or a bit disheartened as the cons stacked up. So, if you’re ready to install marble ASAP, then congrats, your flooring search can come to a lavish close.

Unsure of marble floors now? There are plenty of attractive and affordable flooring options beyond the world of marble tiles.