Beautiful Marble Floor in the Foyer

How to Add a Beautiful Marble Floor in the Foyer

By Samuel Turner

A marble floor is elegant while also being a durable easy-care option for the foyer; it provides a beautiful base that suits any style of decor. Marble floors are also easy to install and follows much the same procedure that is used to install ceramic or marble tile. About the only drawback to marble flooring is that it tends to feel cool to the touch, so it may not be a good choice for homes in cold climates. Installing a marble floor in the foyer is an ideal home improvement project that can be completed over a weekend. Here's more info on how to install marble flooring.

Types of Marble Flooring

When shopping for marble tiles, you'll find several varieties to choose from: Polished marble is a traditional product that provides a mirror-like stateliness to your foyer with gleaming surface that holds up relentlessly. Tumbled marble features an elegant sleek finish that is more buffed than shiny; its organic look is produced with a mixture of water, sand and mild acid that is used to gently sand the edges of the marble tile for an elegantly simple look. You will also find marble tile with a brushed finish that offers an old world refinement to a space and it is perfect for adding a touch of antique charm and sophistication.

When it comes to colors of tile, you find white, buff, cream, shades of green and brown as well as black and varying levels and colors of veining to coordinate with your decor. Marble tiles also vary greatly in size so choose a tile size that is in scale with the size of your foyer.

Basic Installation Tips

You can find many DIY step-by-step tutorials online for installing marble tile. Although marble tiles are installed much in the same way as ceramic, keep in mind that marble tiles are heavier so they're a little harder to handle and they require a flat, secure base. Before beginning, make sure that your subfloor is clean and level and then screw cement backer board to the floor to provide a sturdy base for the marble. This step is important to prevent cracked tiles in the future. Lay out your tiles first without applying adhesive in order to create a layout that will require the least amount of cutting.

To install the tile, apply a layer of thin set adhesive directly to the backer board working a small area at a time with a notched trowel. Set the tiles and use spacers to keep your grout lines straight, wiping away excess adhesive as you go.

Mortar is used as grout and a grout mesh may be installed beneath the tile to keep the mortar from cracking. After the mortar dries completely, you should seal the marble to prevent stains, and depending on the amount of foot traffic in your foyer, the sealant should be reapplied every nine to eighteen months.

The color of marble changes as time goes by and it is nearly impossible to replace a damaged tile with one that is a perfect match. However, a marble floor that is correctly installed and maintained will provide years of beautiful service in your home's foyer.

Metal-Wall-Art.com senior staff writer, Samuel Turner, specializes in designing with decorative wall art and sunburst wire wall art.

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