Marble floors have been the hallmark of luxury for millennia. As early as 7,000 years ago, the Egyptians were quarrying stone for use in floors, and throughout history, marble has been the material of choice for the houses of Kings and the Princes of the Church. From the earliest days, the variety of colors and veining made marble the stone of choice for the finest artisans and crafters of Greece and Rome, Venice and Paris, Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Most often, the phrase 'marble floor' calls to mind polished expanses of white or black marble, veined and buffed to a high gloss. Early workers in stone, however, found the beautiful patterns that could be achieved using small, cut pieces of marble fitted and inlaid with a filler material. Some of the most distinctive floors of the ancient world, such as the floor of the Curia in Rome, were created using techniques that inlaid colored stone into the marble.
The color of marble is dependent on the mineral composition of the stone. The 'purest' marble is creamy white, with very little veining, and is nearly 100% calcite. Green, black, creamy rose and blue are common colors in marble, and combinations of the various colors can produce stunningly beautiful medallions, borders and accents in entryways, grand foyers and around the edges of patios and pools.
Think that marble floors are cold underfoot? As early as ancient Roman times, crafters created warmed marble floors, taking advantage of the stone's natural propensity to hold heat. Back then, heating a stone floor meant building an entire small room beneath the floor for the express purpose of lighting a fire under the stone to heat it. It's far simpler than that these days, requiring the laying of a radiant heating source beneath the marble tile during installation. Heated marble floors are popular in bathrooms, where they are welcoming to bare feet after showers and baths.
Today's marble floor choices run the gamut from traditional solid colored marble in slabs and tiles, to intricately detailed mosaic patterns sold on mesh tiles for easy installation. Costs run approximately $18 to $28 per square foot, as compared to $8 per square foot for a traditional wood floor. The durability and versatility of marble makes it a lifetime choice that is especially suited to high traffic areas in public buildings, where the natural wear only enhances its beauty.
Caring for a tiled marble floor isn't difficult. The specifics depend on the type of finish and cut used for the original marble tile. Harsh abrasives and chemicals will dull the finish, and may strip sealant, opening the stone to staining and moisture damage. Vacuuming, sweeping and an occasional damp mopping with a mild cleaner is all that's required to keep marble floors looking new and fresh. Acids and oils will damage and etch marble, and should be kept away from marble floors.
Bring a timeless elegance to any room in your home with the touch of marble.