Tips From The Trade: The Truth About Marble In The Bathroom
November 05, 2017
Marble is a metamorphic rock that has adorned mansions and castles for hundreds of years. But despite its long history, some homeowners are nervous about installing marble on bathroom floors, fearing that water, makeup spills, and other bathroom mishaps will ruin the beautiful stone.
Relax! Marble is a durable stone that, treated properly, can stand up to anything a modern bathroom can throw at it. And modern marble looks for the home will add to your house’s value and marketability.
And while you’re mulling over your options, here are some facts about marble to consider when designing a bathroom remodel.
Camouflage: Low-gloss, honed, and brushed marble can make watermarks, spilled powder, and even dried toothpaste glops practically disappear–at least until you have time to clean them up. That’s because marble’s naturally occurring veining gives the eye something beautiful to behold, turning attention away from little mishaps.
Versatile: Marble isn’t just for bathroom floors. Marble on shower walls, bathtub surrounds and countertops can give the room a bright and expensive feel. Mix different sizes and shapes of marble to provide more visual interest.
Sealing: This is a must if you want to keep your bathroom marble looking beautiful for years. Seal the marble at the time of installation and then every three or so months thereafter.
Patina: After years of exposure to moisture and humidity, the iron embedded deep within the marble will turn to rust and make its way to the surface. This gives the stone a rust-hued patina. This is part of marble’s charm as a natural stone—that it changes over time. For a preview of what’s to come, do a soak test on a sample. Put the stone in a bucket of water for a couple of days, and then let it dry for two more days. Carefully observe if/how the stone changes, and whether or not you find any changes charming.
Valuable: Stone countertops have become so common that many homebuyers won’t settle for anything less. If you’re remodeling your bathroom before a sale, choose marble to give the space an elegant and expensive feel, making it more marketable and valuable to prospective buyers.
Veining: Natural black, charcoal, or gray veins give marble its unique and exquisite look. However, veins can be tricky when it comes to installing counters with seams, or when balancing heavily veined areas with other more lightly veined areas. When selecting tile or slabs, envision how they will fit together in your imagined space.
Stone-friendly: Marble plays well with all materials–wood, stainless steel, and other stones like granite or quartz. You can even convincingly pair real marble with marble-look quartz and porcelain, which are easier to maintain. In bathrooms, consider installing marble on a tub that sees light use, and quartz on counters that see a lot of action.
The fact of the matter is that marble is a classic that is always on trend. Plus, it’s an investment in the lasting value of your home. And with so many marble options from MSI, you can be sure to find something that suits your aesthetic—and lifestyle. For more style ideas and guidance, chat with us online, visit an MSI showroom, or contact an authorized MSI dealer near you.
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