Which should you choose for flooring, marble, granite, or tile? If you’re wondering about the best flooring, you’ve found the right article. Below, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of these three types of flooring. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make the best choice for your situation.
Tile is the most budget-friendly option, but it still offers customization and durability. Next is marble, considered a high-end stone, marble will look great, but it does require a fair bit of maintenance. Finally, granite – which is usually the most expensive – offers some of the most durability and stain-resistance of the stone floors.
Let’s look at some more details below. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of each of these stones. Then, at the end of this article, we’ll wrap everything up and choose a winner.
Okay, time to jump into it.
The Pros and Cons of Granite
Granite is a hard, durable, and natural stone. It’s a stunning addition to any home. Granite is a popular choice for kitchen countertops, but it’s also a good choice for flooring. Below, we’ll talk about the three big pros, and then we’ll talk about the cons.
Granite Doesn’t Stain Easily
As a natural stone, granite can still stain. However, it’s not at porous as other stones (such as marble). This gives granite a big advantage for use in an entryway or another high-traffic area.
If a stone soaks up liquid, it becomes a problem as this can be unsanitary, and the stone could even develop a smell – not to mention all the stains. Granite can be placed and last a long time.
Not only does granite’s harness help with stains, but it also helps with durability.
Granite is Durable
Granite is one of the hardest rocks in nature. Obviously, it’s not as hard as diamonds, but it is still resistant to scratches and chipping. If you’re looking for flooring that will last a long time, then granite can certainly be a winner.
Finally, let’s discuss the most obvious reason to choose granite.
Granite Flooring Gives a Premium Look
Granite flooring gives a really premium look. In fact, it’s a contender as one of the classiest stones. It will give any home a great feel. If you want the most expensive look, then granite won’t fail to deliver.
But it’s not all sunshine. Let’s talk about some cons to granite floors.
Granite is Expensive
You don’t get the benefits of granite if you’re not willing to pay for it. Granite will cost real money. With that said, there are different grades. And depending on the size of the area you’re flooring with granite, you might find it’s not too expensive.
However, not everyone will be willing to fork over the cash for the material, let alone the installation.
Granite Needs to be Resealed
For all the great things about granite, it’s still not infallible. For the best results and longest life, you need to reseal granite about once a year. Of course, this will depend on the area. If the granite is in a high-traffic location, you may need to seal it more.
Also, though granite is hard, it can still scratch. Unfortunately, if it does scratch, it’s not easy to remove the blemish.
Granite is More Difficult to Install
If you’re looking for a DIY install, then granite might not be for you. If you have experience in the matter, you might go for it. However, this stuff is heavy. And it’s expensive, so you don’t have time to waste on making mistakes during the installation.
Alright, now let’s talk about marble. Marble is a little different than granite.
Marble Flooring: Pros and Cons
Marble flooring is another high-end, eye-popping stone. However, it has some differences from granite. You can usually find marble a little cheaper than granite, but it’s still a hefty price tag. Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of this stone.
Marble Flooring is Unique
Marble is mined all around the world. The stone is natural, and they often have veins running through it, creating all sorts of interesting patterns and shapes. Marble flooring is like a snowflake, with no two slabs being the same. If you want a home that has really unique features, then marble flooring will certainly deliver.
Marble Flooring is High-end
Marble is definitely high-end. And, some might say its looks are even more striking than granite – of course, this will depend on the stone’s cut.
With that said, marble has lined some of the greatest homes, palaces, and hotels in history. If you’re looking for that high-end feel, then marble isn’t going to let you falter.
Marble Flooring is Expensive
Like granite, marble is spendy. Again, you’re paying for the austere nature of the stone, the unique look, and the price of installation. There are different grades of marble flooring, but in general, you’re not going to find anything in the “cheap” category. So, if you have a tight budget, then you might want to look for a different option.
Marble Flooring is Softer
Marble flooring is softer than granite or tile. While this softness doesn’t mean it’s going to crumble like sand (it won’t), it does mean that it’s more susceptible to damage.
In high-use areas such as entryways, you’ll see marble get scratched more than other options.
Marble Flooring Requires Maintenance
Not only is marble flooring softer than granite, but it’s also more porous. What does that mean? Basically, marble can be like a sponge. If any moisture builds upon the stone, it can soak in. Also, if you accidentally spill a drink on the marble, there’s a chance that some liquids will leave a permanent stain – not good and difficult to remove.
Time to look at a more common option: tile flooring.
Tile Flooring: Pros and Cons
Tile floors are common. Tile comes in many different types and various levels of expense. Tile isn’t a natural stone – though you can get natural stones in a tile format. However, the tile still looks sharp, and you can tailor the type of material to the needed task.
Let’s look at some more pros and cons.
Tiles are less Expensive
Tile floors are usually much less expensive than granite or marble. We’re talking a big difference. While both granite and marble are great, it’s hard to justify the extra money when tile flooring is so strong and can look so good.
If you’re a DIYer or on a tighter budget, there are some great tile options out there for you. But this isn’t the only reason tile is so nice.
Tile Flooring is Ultra Water-resistant
Tile, unlike the natural stones, is almost completely water-resistant. You don’t need to worry about drinks, food, or anything else that contains moisture getting sucked into the pores.
Tile offers an ultra-smooth clean-up and hassle-free maintenance. And tile can look really good.
Tile Flooring is Highly Customizable
You can get large tiles and small tiles, blue tiles, and brown tiles. You can pattern your tiles in a random array or build a nice grid. Tiles give you the freedom to make the pattern you want with the color you want without being cornered by price or lack of availability.
Now, let’s talk about some of the cons to tile.
Tile Is Not as Exotic
Of course, tile isn’t going to be exotic. If you’re looking for something ultra-natural, tile will be less exciting. Definitely, granite and marble take the ribbons in that category. With that said, tile floors can still have a lot of character. And, when done right, they still feel very high-end and a big step up from something like linoleum.
Tile Floors are Cold
Tile flooring can feel a bit cold. With that said, this is also a con of any stone or ceramic flooring. They won’t feel as warm as carpet or even natural wooden flooring.
However, these days, it’s getting easier to place heating units underneath the tile floor. So, you might save some money by using tile (instead of granite or marble), but you can then throw those savings into installing the heated floor you’ve always wanted.
Tiles Require Careful Installation
Tiles do require careful installation. They aren’t a walk in the park. And tile is still a heavy material that requires strength and understanding when installing.
With that said, tile is probably more DIY-friendly than marble or granite. And, if you make a mistake with tile, it’s not as heartbreaking.
The Flooring Winner: Tile, Granite, or Marble
It’s time to choose a winner. Each of these stones has strengths and weaknesses. And each wins in its own category.
Tile is the winner for the best all-around flooring. It works for bathrooms, entry areas, and kitchens. You name it. Tile can do it.
Granite is the winner for a high-end look in a high-use area. If your heart is set on a great look in the entry area, then granite will deliver.
Marble is the winner for a high-end look in a low-use area. If you’re looking for gorgeous flooring in a less gritty area, then marble flooring won’t cost as much as granite, but it will still make a statement.