MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE: NATURAL STONE VS ARTIFICIAL TILES

Why are marble and granite a superior choice for flooring?

Marble and granite are two of the most frequently used natural stones for flooring. While natural marble is formed by the long-term compression of fossil remains; granite, an igneous rock forms due to the cooling and hardening of molten substances. Naturally, marble and granite are highly resistant to weather and wear. They are also more valuable than artificial tiles because they simply cannot be reproduced from synthetic materials.

Natural Stone VS Artificial Tiles VS Wooden Flooring

Natural Stone: As the name suggests, natural stone is formed by nature over millions of years. It is then quarried from the Earth at different locations. This location is essential in determining the slab’s type, colour, texture, quality and value. Our chief curator personally travels to the best quarries across the world to curate the rarest marble, granite and onyx that nature has to offer.

For instance, the Carrara comes from Europe, the mysterious Amazonite and Dalmata, from the tropics of South America and the Lemurian Blue is curated from the beautiful island nation of Madagascar. Each slab is then finely cut and polished by generations of Italian craftsmen and displayed for you to choose from, at our 12,500 sq. ft. temperature controlled, The Quarry Gallery.

Natural stone also works great with all kinds of weather conditions, making it easy to maintain. It shows minimal damage due to natural elements like water, fire, rodents or other external agents. This makes it an apt choice for areas with heavy foot traffic.

Artificial Tile: Artificial stone tile is a man-made product that was introduced in the market around the 1980s. The demand for consistency and uniformity in the finished product was the driving factor behind this invention. Typically, artificial stone tile is composed of concrete and aggregate materials that are pressed and moulded for to achieve the final product. It is then artificially coloured and polished to resemble natural stone.

Wooden flooring: This material is obtained by having natural or solid wood glued to plywood. If thoroughly maintained, wooden tile flooring can last a very long time. Being porous, it has high water absorption and hence is not suitable for wet areas like bathrooms. It also displays low resistance to scratches, stains and is not fire-proof or termite-proof. Wooden planks experience contraction in winter and expansion in summer and must be re-polished periodically in areas of heavy foot traffic, which makes them maintenance and cost heavy.

Distinguishing Factor #1: The Look and Feel

Because artificial tiles are a man-made product, you will often find repetition and consistency in their colour and style. With technological advancements, artificial stone tiles have started offering a more realistic and aesthetic look. But, when it comes to authenticity, a man-made product cannot compete with a naturally occurring material like natural marble or granite.

Natural stone takes millions of years to form and in that process, its appearance keeps evolving with time. That is why each natural marble slab varies in its looks - with no two slabs resembling each other. Every natural stone slab offers rich variations in colour, texture, veining, and speckles which are almost impossible to find in their artificial counterparts. You can simply visit The Quarry Gallery and browse through our collection of the most visually stunning and carefully curated slabs of marble, granite and onyx, handpicked from the best quarries in the world. Either walk bare feet on the coveted Statuario, curated from European quarries or fall in love with the intriguing Lusso Macchiato, curated from South America. Let our curators take you on a one-of-a-kind journey.

If we compare marble and granite from their strength or hardness point of view, granite is certainly a harder stone. Marble, on the contrary, features a lower hardness level that allows this material to be used with great versatility. Unlike granite, natural marble has a higher level of absorption- making it unsuitable to be used in certain applications. Also, it is important to know that marble is not suitable with external agents and acidic substances.

Distinguishing Factor #2: Durability

Durability is one of the main factors that decide which material will stand the test of time. Hands down, natural stone is always a clear winner when it comes to durability, longevity and maintenance. Think of the countless ancient civilisations, architects and artisans that have favoured stones like natural marble for their masterpieces and iconic monuments. Many of which are standing strong and just as beautiful, even today.

Most natural stones are less porous which increases their durability and hence, are easier to maintain over time. Whereas maintenance of artificial tiles is labour-intensive as they can’t withstand pressure washing or manual scrubbing, like natural surfaces. Furthermore, natural stone flooring is more durable outdoors as it can endure all types of weather and natural elements including rain, sunlight, wind, and dirt.

The Quarry has invested in technology to offer you innovations like the bacteria resistant BactoFinish and QVAC - a special ultra-strengthening technology to increase the durability and longevity of your chosen slab.

Distinguishing Factor #3: Longevity and Endurance

Wooden flooring looks timeless and traditional and goes well with almost any kind of interior design. With a variety of textures, grades and colours of wood to choose from, it always remains in style. However, it is highly prone to damage due to effect of water, fire or termites over time. It also has a high wear and tear effect because it tends to develop scratches or dents over long periods of usage. Thus, wooden flooring, no matter how aesthetically appealing, is slowly loosing its popularity as a flooring choice as compared to natural stone.

Distinguishing Factor #4: Application and Installation

When it comes to flooring installation, artificial tiles can take hardly one and a half working days to be installed in a standard-size room. They are also, often available in ready-to-install conditions. However, this is not the case with natural stone slabs. After booking a marble slab, it must be carved and treated as per requirements. The installation process also is slightly more time-consuming.

One advantage artificial tiles have is that is they don't require sealing. But they can get permanently discoloured when subjected to chemicals. On the other hand, there are darker-coloured varieties of natural granite that do not require sealing either.

When it comes to marble slabs, The Quarry clients have the leverage to make the slabs stain resistant using The Quarry Densifier, which goes 4 mm deep from all the six sides of the stone slab. This makes sure that whatever liquid spills on it, does not seep in, while also giving it the opportunity for re-polishing in the future. The Quarry Projects team of expert marble craftsmen will make sure that each slab you choose is not only delivered carefully, but also installed flawlessly.