HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF MARBLE TILES

The terms “ceramic tile” and “porcelain tile” are often used interchangeably, but ceramic and
porcelain tiles each have their own unique attributes and benefits.

Marble has been the material of choice for monuments, temples and buildings for thousands of
years. Marble has long been a symbol of tradition, luxury and extraordinary taste. Throughout
Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Far East, marble buildings remain. The Ancient Greeks used
fine white marble to erect some of the most iconic buildings in the world.

The Parthenon in Athens, the Coliseum in Rome, the Taj Mahal in India, and even the White
House, are all fine examples of how architects, sculptors, and craftsman have used marble to
create beautiful buildings throughout the ages. In addition to exterior facades and flooring,
Thassos marble became the stone of choice for baths and pools. Thousands of years later,
Thassos marble is still being mined from ancient quarries and it remains one of the most
beautiful natural stones on earth.

After the Ancient Greeks, the Romans started using marble slabs to clad brick and mortar
buildings. It was this innovation that allowed them to erect entire marble cities, in a short time.
As marble continued to grow in popularity, quarrying methods and tools vastly improved to
allow for greater harvesting of natural marble.

FAMOUS BUILDINGS CRAFTED FROM MARBLE

THE PARTHENON IN ATHENS, GREECE

Dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Parthenon is an iconic

temple set within the Acropolis that looks over the city of
Athens. Completed in 438 BC, the foundation was built from
limestone, while the impressive columns and tiles were
crafted from Pentelic marble. It is believed that this was the
first use of this marble.

THE PANTHEON IN ROME, ITALY

Featuring the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, the

Pantheon was built from Pentelic marble, Numidian yellow
marble, and granite. This exquisite building has been in
continuous use since its completion circa 125 AD.
PISA CATHEDRAL IN PISA, ITALY

In 1063, construction of the Pisa Cathedral complex began,

and continued for nearly 300 years. Crafted from gray and
white marble it is home to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
and noteworthy stone artwork including the Pulpit of Pisa
featuring biblical scenes carved into fine Carrara marble.

TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA, INDIA

Over 20,000 craftsman and artisans used translucent white

marble and a variety of semi-precious and rare natural stones in
the building of the Taj Mahal. Commissioned by Emperor Shah
Jahan in honor of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it was completed in
1653.

WASHINGTON MONUMENT IN WASHINGTON D.C.

The Washington Monument stands nearly 555 feet high and remains the
tallest freestanding stone structure in the world. Completed in 1888 in
honor of President George Washington, it is crafted from a beautiful
combination of marble, granite, and sandstone.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Ancient Greek architecture influences the Lincoln

Memorial that was completed in 1917 in honor of
President Abraham Lincoln. Constructed from U.S.
materials including granite from Massachusetts,
limestone from Indiana, and marble from Colorado,
Tennessee, and Alabama, this memorial remains one of
the most visited tourist sites in Washington DC.
INDUSTRY OF MARBLE TILES

Marble is found across the globe including Belgium, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy,
Turkey, Spain, China, and throughout North America. Marble has been used for thousands of
years in the construction of temples, monuments and buildings, and for fine sculptures and relief
carvings.

Today, marble is still used for fine works of art and construction, but is now also used as
flooring, accent walls and countertops in homes across the world. Over the last century,
quarrying marble has been made significantly easier, with vast improvements coming in just the
last 20 years.

Extracting marble and installing it in someone’s home is an incredibly long and arduous process.
Removing a 30,000-pounds block of marble from the earth and turning it into a piece of
decoration or gleaming marble floor is not easy. There are several steps and complicated
processes which cannot be overlooked in order for a piece of marble to find the perfect setting
where it will look beautiful for many coming years.

Mining
The first step to finding the perfect slab is locating a
potential quarrying site, and this process requires geologists
to locate the mining place. Samples are then obtained by
boring into the earth; these samples are then tested to
determine if the marble is suitable for use as dimensional
building stone.

Extracting
Once mining has begun, perhaps there are several months of digging
before any marble is extracted from the quarry, because clearing the
way to reach the best material, requires removing overburden, or dirt,
before the stone is accessible.

The drilling can begin; the process starts by taking down a “bench
wall,” a large dimensional chunk of rock that is then cut into smaller
blocks of a specific type of stone usually have a fairly uniform size,
due to the size of the processing equipment used.

Processing

After the blocks are extracted from the quarry,

they'll go through further processing to match
their intended purpose. For tiles, the marble is
cut into stone billets and polished to a smooth
sheen. Marble slabs for construction or
sculpture are cut using diamond wires or a
gang saw, which uses multiple diamond-tipped blades to slice a marble block into more
manageable slabs. Often, a resin is applied to fill in cracks in the marble's surface. After
polishing, only 1 percent of the surface will be coated in resin, maintaining the purity and beauty
of the finished stone.

Finishing

At the retailer's show room, slabs

are displayed in giant, iron oxide-
coated easels for customers to
view. After choosing a slab(s), the
customer gives the dimensions of
his project (kitchen counters, floor
or bathroom) to the retailer, who
maps the shapes onto the slab
itself.

TYPES OF MARBLE TILES

Marble tile comes in a wide range of colors, making it an ideal choice for accentuating any type
of decor. In addition to the multitude of hues available, the differences in vein patterns and grain
distinguish various types of marble from one another. To the untrained eye, it might be difficult
to differentiate the types of marble. With so many options to choose from, it’s helpful to do some
research so you make the best decision for your renovation project.

Depending on the type of marble used, it can add sophistication to a kitchen or an artistic flair to
a foyer. The abundance of marble colors and types available allows you to complement or
contrast hues or create distinctive mosaic patterns on floors and walls with this material. No
matter which type you decide to install, marble tile adds a timeless visual impact wherever it’s
placed.

Here are some popular marble options:

Carrara marble tile

This is generally white, gray or blue-gray and commonly used in sculpture

and building decor. Its veining is more linear and can either be small and
fine or soft and feathery, although it can be dramatic. One of the more
readily available marble options, Carrara is one of the most commonly
used marbles in residences. Since it can have a stark, pristine whiteness,
use it in bathrooms to add an airy and clean feel.
Statuary marble tile

A sister stone to Carrara, statuary marble features a uniform background and

light gray tones with distinctive and more dramatic veining. Its semi
translucent white background gives it a shiny, glossy feel, reflects light and
provides a radiant finish that enhances any room.

Calacatta marble tile

“Due to its rarity, many people consider Calacatta a luxury stone.”

Often misspelled as Calcutta, Calcata, and Calacata, this marble tile is also
commonly mistaken for Carrara marble. Even though Calacatta marble is
often quarried in the Carrara region of Italy and shares similarities with
Carrara marble, such as their white coloring with gray veining, they have
several distinct characteristics that set them apart. Calacatta marble is
generally white with dark veining in large, thick patterns. For some homes, it can add a striking
look when paired with the stainless steel of a kitchen or the white porcelain of a bathroom. Since
it is rarer than Carrara, many people consider Calacatta a luxury stone. Calacatta gold marble
adds a splash of richness to the tiles, and it can radiate either warm and cool tones depending on
what colors you match with it.

Emperador marble tile

Quarried from three regions in Spain, this stone varies from the whites
and grays associated with Calacatta and Carrara and comes in different
shades of brown. It typically exhibits fine grains with irregular veins. Its
darker color makes it an ideal choice for a high-traffic floor or a charming
fireplace surround.

Crema marfil marble tile

Also quarried in Spain, crema marfil comes in many tonal variations. The
most prevalent and well-known tiles have a light-beige or yellowish color
with uniform backgrounds and veins varying in intensity and irregularity.
Crema marfil is typically used with other darker and more colored natural
stones, and is commonly found in exterior cladding, flooring and
decorations. A large reserve and wide market availability makes this an
appealing choice for homeowners and architects.
PROPERTIES OF MARBLE TILES

Marble is a highly durable stone and is used for countertops, flooring, stairs.

Fire Resistance

The marble stone is not considered combustible so, marble is considered to be a fire- resistant
material. However, due to it’s thermal conductivity, heat transfer through marble happens
quickly. Marble is not considered a highly rated thermal insulator.

Abrasion Resistance

Due to marble’s uniform wearing qualities, it is desirable and economically practical to use for
floors and stairs. Marble with an abrasive hardness rating of 10 or higher is recommended for the
use of flooring. When using marble for commercial floors, stair treads, and platforms subjected
to heavy foot traffic, it is recommended that there is a minimum abrasive hardness rating of 12.

Factors Affecting Properties

Marble is an ideal material for building because of it’s durability and resistance to weather
cycles. Marble is also ideal because it has a low rate of moisture absorption.

IMPORTANCE OF MARBLE TILES

Formed in nature when volcanic magma solidifies, granite - the queen of flooring - is
exceptionally hard and amazingly beautiful at the same time. Virtually non-porous, stain and
scratch resistant when treated and maintained properly, granite is particularly suited for flooring,
especially in a high traffic area such as the kitchen, which sees lots of activity and humidity.
Marble flooring has many of the same advantages, it’s extremely durable and water resistant as
well and offers the same dramatic appearance. Cleaning both types of floors is unusually easy.

As natural building materials, granite and marble are often associated with elegance and luxury,
and in the form of stone tiles are an amazing floor covering. The naturally forming patterns and
colors ensure a unique look and with all the available varieties, finding one to complement the
room’s other design features will be easy and fun.

USES OF MARBLE TILES

Marble is a very versatile material that has many uses. Marble flooring has been synonymous
with opulence since time immemorial, but this rock actually has functions beyond construction.

While it is primarily used for art in terms of sculptures and as a building material in architecture,
did you know that marble is also used in agriculture and pharmaceuticals? It is even used in
cosmetics, paper, and paint. These are just some of the industries that capitalise on the
flexibilities and unique properties of marble.
Let’s take a look at some of the more famous uses and/or structures that used marble.

 The Taj Mahal is infamous for its majestic façade. Built for a beloved wife of an
emperor, the Taj Mahal extensively used marble in its construction, including its marble
domes. The towers are made up of marble and the flooring featured geometric designs in
contrasting tiles in tessellation patterns.
 The Washington Monument is an obelisk over 554 feet tall. This impressive structure is
made up of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss. It has different shades of marble since
the materials came from three contractors.
 The Bust of Artemis is a famous sculpture that showcases the beautiful properties of
marble, particularly its remarkable sheen that produces a soft “glow.” Of course, the Bust
of Artemis is not the only sculpture that is made of marble, as the material is clearly a
popular choice among sculptors and artists.
 The agriculture industry considers marble as an essential as it is needed to create lime, an
agricultural soil treatment that is used to reduce acidity in soil. Not only used for marble
flooring, the material is heated to produce calcium oxide or lime. When harnessed
properly, such as when combined with fertiliser, lime can increase the yield of the soil,
which is important to those who live off the land.
 Next, let’s look at how marble can enhance even those who are vested in stationeries.
Marble can produce a product referred to as “whiting,” a white powdery substance that is
utilised as a brightener, filler, and pigment for paper, paint, and similar products. That
means that the perfect white you see in these products are oftentimes the result of marble.
 Have you ever considered that your marble flooring is composed of materials that can
neutralise acids? Marble contains calcium carbonate, a component that can neutralise
acids. As such, popular antacids such as Alka-Seltzer and Tums contain marble that is
crushed into powder. This is also an easier way of neutralising acidity levels in soil if it is
more difficult to heat marble to produce lime than to crush marble.
 Then of course, there’s the fact that dairy cows and chicken can also ingest marble. We
say “can” because marble is not necessarily a part of their diet — but powdered marble is
used to produce supplements rich in calcium that are given to these animals. The same
material as your marble flooring material is therefore being used by many to feed
produce, as these supplements are softer than the animal’s teeth and a rich source of
calcium.
 It can also be considered as ironic that marble is used as a scrubbing agent. In fact, it is a
popular scrubbing agent as is evident by the many soft abrasive cleaning agents that are
used on kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
 Finally, there is marble’s main function as a construction material, both for flooring and
design. Marble flooring is very popular options among those who can afford it, and is
very popular when it comes to prestigious architectural and interior designs. Marble can
be used on an opulent staircase, as panels, and even as walls, among others.