Natural marble has always occupied an important position in the home decoration industry, and new materials are constantly entering people’s field of vision. The imitation of artificial materials such as tiles and rock slabs is becoming more and more sophisticated in imitating marble textures. Since the cut natural stone and tiles are very similar in appearance, price, function, etc., many outsiders think that there is not much difference between the two.
When decorating the house, the owner is always entangled in the choice of natural stone and tiles for the floor. Which one is better? In fact, both in terms of product properties and decorative effects, there are essential differences between the two. Let’s take stock of the advantages and disadvantages of using natural marble and tiles on the floor. ‍

Grey and pure white marble mosaic with metal tile

The texture of natural marble parquet floor is flexible, natural and beautiful
The texture of marble tile parquet floor is slightly dull
Natural marble is a product of nature and is very common in decoration. After cutting and polishing according to the needs of decoration, the shape or form of natural marble has changed, but the material itself has not changed. Tiles are formed into an acid- and alkali-resistant porcelain or stone material through the process of grinding, mixing, pressing, glazing, and sintering. Its raw materials are mostly made of clay, quartz sand, etc. It is an artificial stone produced after chemical changes. It is a new substance formed after sand, stone and mud undergo chemical reactions. ‍So what is the difference between natural marble and ceramic tiles used for floor decoration?

1. Comparison from the perspective of process surface treatment and aesthetics

Natural marble

Natural marble is a pure natural product. Each variety, each color, and each pattern is unique and cannot be copied. Its color, gloss, and texture are the same as the surface. Therefore, after the natural marble is laid, users can choose to do mirror treatment to deal with the slight height errors caused by installation and laying.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles are also one of the popular decorative materials, especially now imitation natural marble tiles are loved by many owners. No matter what pattern and color of marble, ceramic tiles can imitate it, and some of them are quite realistic, and the choice is also very high. However, because the glaze on the surface of the tile is beautiful, the body under the glaze is mainly made of clay, which does not have gloss, rich colors and natural textures. In addition, the tile is easy to wear and does not have the “renovation and repairability” characteristics of natural stone, so the wear resistance of the tile is slightly inferior to that of natural marble.

2. Comparison from the perspective of environmental protection

In the building materials industry, due to commercial competition, this problem has been magnified and then spread wantonly, resulting in many false claims. Although there have been many tests and proofs before, marble has always been burdened with the hat of “stone radiation causing cancer”. In fact, both tiles and marble have radiation, but they are all within the standard range and will not cause harm to the human body.

3. Comparison from the perspective of popular trends and plasticity

Natural marble

Highly plastic
Nature is a very vast world. Every corner of the world is full of wonders and every area is full of mystery. A slight displacement of one millimeter will result in completely different marble textures. Natural stone has super durability and durability. It has been the most important building and decoration material since ancient times. Most of the best preserved ancient buildings in the world are stone buildings. Some stone buildings in Europe and America are still radiant and majestic after hundreds of years! The longer the time, the more charm!
So marble is an eternal classic. There will always be a moment when marble is not outdated in other varieties. While it is an eternal classic, many intriguing new varieties have appeared surprisingly!

Ceramic tiles

Because it is a man-made product, it is very limited in variety and color. A variety is popular for a while, but it cannot remain a classic, not to mention the problem that the longer the time, the more intriguing it is. The longer the time, the more intriguing the tiles will be. The longer the tiles are, the more they will age, and the gloss will slowly fade. This is why many ceramic tile exhibition halls have to be renovated every two or three years. But it is undeniable that the ceramic tile industry is indeed constantly improving and developing in terms of building materials, and constantly introducing new ideas. Ceramic tiles are also a material that many people will choose. The range of ceramic tiles available on the market is also very wide, with various specifications and sizes, various patterns, various types, and various brands, which makes people dazzled and don’t know which one to choose.

4. Comparison from the perspective of safety and decoration

Natural marble

Marble is a common building material in our home decoration. Most families may choose marble as the floor material in their homes, because it is not only beautiful and atmospheric, but also durable, very suitable for living and walking, and will not cause safety hazards.
In terms of decorative effect, good natural stone is like “jade”, so-called “warm and smooth like jade”. For good natural stone products, after decoration, people can feel warm in winter and cool in summer, full of warmth.

Grey and white marble mosaic with metal

Ceramic tile

Many people choose to use ceramic tile to decorate the floor when decorating their houses. One reason is that it has good decorative effect and is cheap. On the other hand, it is easy to clean. It is more convenient and simple to mop the floor when it is dirty. Although ceramic tile is easier to clean, it is very easy to slip when there are water stains on the floor. If the ceramic tile absorbs oil, it will be more slippery and very dangerous. Every year, countless elderly people and children fall because of slippery ceramic tiles. Even young people with agility sometimes slip and fall—the ceramic tile is too slippery.