In This Post:
– Difference between marble vs. terrazzo
– Pros of marble flooring
– Cons of marble flooring
– Pros of terrazzo flooring
– Cons of terrazzo flooring
Flooring plays a major role in any house design. There are a lot of factors to consider when opting the floor for your home. From price, durability to design and maintenance all determine the kind of flooring you need. Natural materials like hardwood, marble, stone and granite give a luxury finish and increase the property’s resale value. However, they are expensive and would require proper maintenance and cleaning. Some of the artificial materials like epoxy coating and terrazzo are affordable and also durable. Ignoring a few disadvantages that man-made materials bring, they are considered ideal for flooring. To help you choose a floor that best fits your particular needs and specifications, we have brought a detailed analysis on marble vs. terrazzo flooring.
Difference Between Marble Vs. Terrazzo
In a marble vs. terrazzo analysis, it is important to first take a look at the differences between the two. One of the basic differences is that marble is a completely natural material, while terrazzo is an artificial flooring material where marble chips are integrated with cement or epoxy to create a durable and sturdy flooring. The thickness of a marble tile ranges from 3/8 to 1/2 inches, while terrazzo is 1/4 inch thick, which makes terrazzo a thinner and finer flooring material as compared to marble. Marble flooring can also chip around the edges and its repair can cost you a fortune.
Terrazzo can be molded and is a flexible material which contributes greatly if you are looking for a stunning design for your floor. You can shape terrazzo as per your design during its make. Whether you like marble, stone, granite or glass shards depends upon your liking and preference. Marble is inflexible when it comes to design.
Pros of Marble Flooring
Having a natural material as flooring has its own charm. It exudes luxury and spruces up the décor and style of the house. One of the biggest advantages of marble flooring is that it adds elegance and imbues style to your interior space and increases the appeal of your abode. Here are some pros of marble flooring you should consider while analysing marble vs. terrazzo flooring.
- Gives a lasting appeal. Brings in luxury and style
- A variety of natural tones and patterns that gives the flooring uniqueness unlike other man-made floors
- Comes in a variety of colours and styles
- Polished marble floors reflect light, giving it a natural glow and shine
- Increases home’s resale value
Cons of Marble Flooring
Although marble floors add elegance and luxuriousness to your abode, they can cost you a fortune. Moreover, it requires polishing and maintenance frequently to restore its lost shine. Marble floors, once chipped or cracked, take a lot of time to repair. Here are some of the cons of marble flooring:
- An expensive material
- Marble tiles can get cracked and chipped easily
- Requires frequent polishing to restore its shine
- A slippery surface can result in falls and accidents
- Marble is a porous material and can get stained easily
- If a tile is cracked, it is almost impossible to find the same tile due to uniqueness
If you analyse marble vs. terrazzo flooring, marble flooring wins points on style, versatility and uniqueness. Let us now explore the advantages of terrazzo flooring before weighing both the options.
Pros of Terrazzo Flooring
The advantages of terrazzo flooring include durability and environment friendliness. Moreover, terrazzo floors are best for both indoor and outdoor flooring and can be placed in areas facing high traffic. As they can be easily cleaned and are also less expensive than marble, they are placed in areas that demand high sanitization and cleanliness such as hospitals and schools. You only need to mop the floors to make it sparkling clean. Here are some pros of terrazzo flooring:
- Looks beautiful. A glossy floor can be achieved using epoxy as the binder
- Easy to clean and maintain, terrazzo floors are placed in areas that demand frequent sanitization like hospitals and schools
- Less expensive than marble, terrazzo floors offer great value for money
- They are long lasting. Once installed, you don’t have to change the floor more often
Cons of Terrazzo Flooring
Just like marble flooring, terrazzo is also a slippery floor and it gets difficult to stand all day, especially in a kitchen and areas where you have to stand for long. Here are some of the disadvantages of terrazzo flooring.
- Slippery floor, which can cause falls and trips
- It can be a bit expensive than other budget-friendly flooring options, but cheaper than marble flooring
- Requires professionals to install it properly
We hope this debate on marble vs. terrazzo flooring would help you make an informed decision. In the meantime, you should check out other flooring options as well:
- Contemporary flooring options
- Garage flooring options
- Pros and cons of popular flooring types in Pakistan
Don’t forget to write to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you. Subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter appearing on the right hand side of the page. Stay tuned to the Zameen Blog, the best real estate blog in Pakistan.
