Marble look tile is tile that looks just like marble. Surprise, right! It’s a remarkable trend because so many marble looks can be achieved with precision. Marble is a timeless look, and porcelain has become an incredibly strong and durable material with recent design advances. With all the choices available, how do you focus in on porcelain tile that looks like marble?
1. Beauty First
It should pass your own eye test first and foremost. If there’s something about your selection that’s pulling a thread at the back of your mind, don’t just take someone else’s word for it. Trust your own instincts. You have to love the aesthetic first and foremost, before anyone else does.
2. Realism
Once you’ve narrowed your choice of marble look tile according to your own tastes, now is the time to find the most realistic look. Different porcelain tile that looks like marble is produced with varying degrees of accuracy. What you want is an extremely high-resolution print on a very high-quality porcelain tile.
3. Veining
There’s a tendency to lean away from veining for a simpler look, but this doesn’t evoke realism. Marble has complex veining, including many subtler veins that look good carried across the entire room.
4. Picture the Whole
Select the marble look tile by the aesthetic it will create across an entire floor. Don’t just select based on what one tile will look like. The effect is different when looking at a single tile versus looking at tile spanning an entire room. There are tools available to help you visualize the full look better.
5. Polish Makes Perfect
Most marble choices have a shine to them. The porcelain you select should have this as well. Look at polished porcelain tile and not just high gloss options. Polished versions can leave a more natural looking surface.
6. The Back Should Be Flat
Some tile is made with a criss-cross, fishnet, or fish-scale pattern of indents on the back. This removes some of the clay, allowing factories to save on cost but making the tile less durable. You want a flat, full back to the tile. Make sure to inspect and touch the back to ensure it’s full.
Thanks to design and materials advances, you can now get porcelain tile that looks like marble. Need help with your selection and installation? Contact the pros at East Coast Flooring & Interiors!
