It’s a dilemma that every homeowner should be so lucky to have. Your kitchen has become a bit dowdy and it’s time to renovate what has become the busiest room in the house. Economic good fortune has smiled down on your family. Your renovation budget is perhaps not "lavish,” but at least it’s "generous.” You have visited your friends’ homes and noticed that the fashionable choice for kitchen tiles in Richmond Hill is stone. So now the only issue becomes: granite or marble?

 

 

Granite tiles are a blend of materials but, other than that, it is very hard to differentiate them from full slabs of the stone. Tiles, which come in an astonishing variety of colours, patterns, and styles, have the added advantage of some uniformity. Granite slabs are resolutely individual in coloration – which some see as an advantage – but if you are looking for a smooth, integrated pattern, tiles are the way to go.

 

Tiles are less costly than granite slabs but still retain the high quality of the pure stone. They have the same longevity, stain resistance, and ability to withstand scratches and burns. Granite tiles are low maintenance. And, if you are not renovating your entire kitchen from scratch, but rather building around existing appliances or an island, tiles offer greater versatility and ease of installation.

 

Maintenance of granite flooring is a breeze. The chief villains are grit and dirt – abrasives that can damage and discolour the stone’s surfaces. Vacuuming is one option but not the best; a simple dust mop works well. Damp mopping is good, with old fashioned soap and water. There are special stone cleaners but it is necessary to avoid products that contain lemon juice, vinegar and other acids as well as abrasive and ammonia-based cleaners.

 

Granite floors benefit from periodic sealing, which can be carried out once a year or every other year.

 

 

Perhaps nothing says elegance like marble. Long associated with the interiors of palaces and public buildings, marble whispers affluence and taste. It helps that it also comes in an immense array of colours and designs. Marble is cool – a wonderful attribute in hot months and very useful if it is the cutting surface of a counter. Some cooking functions – such as pastry making – are perfectly suited to its smooth and cool surface. As a countertop, its lack of porosity means it is bacteria resistant.

 

With its virtues for cooking, it seems almost churlish to mention any drawbacks, but marble is less strong than granite and more vulnerable to damage. A cutting board is always needed. Marble tiles need to be sealed to retain its beauty; if uncoated it can cloud. And, as a floor tile in a kitchen, un-honed marble can become very slippery when that inevitable water spill happens.

 

So: marble or stone? The choice is up to you. Kitchen tiles in Richmond Hill can make an enduring style statement and one that is well worth the added cost.