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Retrotapeto2 Jan 2019 23:44Hello! I’ve fallen in love with marble tiles for our bathroom. The style is very rustic, almost a bit “distressed” (worn). However, all the “experts” I’ve talked to (neighbors, relatives... 😉 advise against it, saying they’re supposedly not very suitable for moisture and stain easily. But the tiles are already made to look aged anyway. That wouldn’t bother me. We also have a water softener in the new house. Or is it too high-maintenance for a family with three kids? And how should they be maintained? Thanks for your advice. Greetings from us home builders.
You need to be aware that these types of tiles are more delicate and should not be cleaned with regular bathroom cleaning products because marble is a calcareous stone. There are special care and cleaning products designed specifically for it. And things that can happen in a bathroom, like nail polish dripping onto the tile – well, then you’re in a tough spot. With porcelain stoneware tiles, I would just use nail polish remover, but of course, that’s not possible with marble tiles.
My brother renovated an old house and, since it’s a listed building, they used natural stone tiles throughout. Only in the bathroom did they decide against it because, with three very lively kids, it was considered too risky.
You have to decide whether you want to take the risk that stains might become impossible to remove, or that harsh cleaning agents (like nail polish remover, for example) could etch the surface.
Personally, I would find it frustrating to have to use different cleaning products just for the bathroom. That’s something you should be clear about.
Have a look around—there are usually tiles available with a similar appearance but without the maintenance requirements of real marble.
My brother renovated an old house and, since it’s a listed building, they used natural stone tiles throughout. Only in the bathroom did they decide against it because, with three very lively kids, it was considered too risky.
You have to decide whether you want to take the risk that stains might become impossible to remove, or that harsh cleaning agents (like nail polish remover, for example) could etch the surface.
Personally, I would find it frustrating to have to use different cleaning products just for the bathroom. That’s something you should be clear about.
Have a look around—there are usually tiles available with a similar appearance but without the maintenance requirements of real marble.