Interesting Facts and Things to Know About Marble Pool Coping

Marble is among the best materials you can use for your swimming pool. It is durable, timeless, and will provide a luxurious finish to the area. Likewise, it will elevate your property’s value and make your waterline safer, especially when you use high-quality marble pool copings. Here are some more interesting facts to know about marble and why it is great for your pool:

• There is a color and a pattern that will suit your taste – Marble pavers and copings come in many different colors and designs. Regardless of your choice, you can create a bold and natural look that will make your pool stand out. This is because the materials are cut from natural stone, which has unique characteristics.

• Safe – Marble can naturally resist bacteria and other harmful elements that can thrive in materials. Tumbled marble pavers for your pool deck and copings for the swimming pool will provide extra grip for feet, so people can avoid slipping and falling.

• Easy to clean – With marble, your pool can be easier to clean, usually only with water and mild soap. The material is naturally stain resistant, too, but be sure to clean up spills from colored and acidic liquids to prevent permanent stains.

• Marble copings come in different types and sizes – Standard bullnosed marble coping is ideal for uniquely shaped swimming pools with a lot of rounded curves. It is big enough to ensure a cost-effective job, and small enough to not require too much cutting. Reputable suppliers of natural stone tiles and pavers carry tumbled copings for rectangular shaped and straight-edged pools, too. These copings can be used for the steps of the pool or deck for a consistent finish.

• There are marble copings for renovations – Some suppliers carry thick pool copings for retro fit jobs and remodels. Remodeling copings are specially designed to be laid on existing coping to avoid the need for a demolition. The four-inch turn should cover all kinds of damage, blemish, or an uneven installation.

 Source: http://www.stone-mart.com/blogs/interesting-facts-and-things-to-know-about-marble-pool-coping/

How to Clean Marble Pavers and Coping: Everything You Need to Know

Marble is a great material for swimming pools, especially if you want an elegant, luxurious, and timeless look. To keep it in good condition, you need to make sure that you clean your marble pool well. It may not accumulate dirt, grime, or moss over a short period of time, and it is resistant to mold, mildew, and fungal growth, but you will have to do the cleaning once in a while to prevent its quality from deteriorating. Here are the things you need to know when cleaning your marble pool:

• Do not use conventional commercial cleaners - Regular anti-limescale and descaling cleaners will cause marble to corrode and destroy its natural color and form. Synthetic cleaning agents and bleach should be avoided, too, as these could strip away the natural color and finish of the stone.

• Clean water and mild soap will suffice – Marble is low-maintenance and will only require being washed down with water. If you want to use soap, make sure it is mild and free of abrasive cleaners, which will scratch the surface of the stone.

• Clean up spills immediately – Did someone spill juice, wine, tea, coffee, or any other dark colored liquid on your marble pool copings or deck? Wipe it up immediately. Marble, while seemingly smooth, is still porous. So, it will still absorb the liquid and cause a permanent stain. Use a slightly damp soft cloth.

• Check the formulation of stain removers – In case of persistent stains, use a stain remover that is specifically formulated for marble. Avoid using vinegar, which will cause the stone to corrode and lose its shine.

• Baking soda is your friend – There are alternatives to marble cleaning agents. Hydrogen peroxide, for instance, is ideal for light colored marble pavers and copings. Or you can use baking soda, which is mixed with water until you achieve a creamy paste. Apply the paste on the stained area and cover it with a plastic wrap for 24 hours. This should absorb deep-seated stains.

 Source: http://www.stone-mart.com/blogs/how-to-clean-marble-pavers-and-coping-everything-you-need-to-know/

Installing French Pattern Travertine in Your Home

You can never go wrong with French pattern travertine tiles if you want a bold and one-of-a-kind look for your house. The pattern is also known as ‘Versailles pattern’ and ‘Roman pattern,’ and what makes it different is the way each tile is arranged, which breaks the rigid, monotonous, and geometric look of regular square tile installations. In a set, there are 12 pieces that consists of different sizes of tiles: four 8x8, two 8x16, four 16 x 16, and two 16 x 24, and when put together, they cover a 16-square foot area. DIY diagrams are often provided by suppliers, but you can refer to the following steps to lay French Pattern travertine properly in your home, too:

1. Measure the area where you want to install the tiles – Find out the square footage by measuring the length x width. If the room is oddly shaped, visually divide it into squares, then add each square area together. Length in inches times the width in inches is equal to the area in square inches, then divided by 144 to get the measurement in square feet.
   
   
2. Have the right materials – Make sure you already have the set of French pattern tiles. From there, you can gather up the rest of the necessary materials, like the thinset, backerboard, tile saw, trowel, a thinset mixing paddle, grout, a grout sponge, a five-gallon bucket, a ½ hp drill, chalk line, a grout and natural stone sealer, straight edge, and a backerboard scoring knife.

3. Start with the cement bed – This is what’s under the tile. Cement board is easiest to use, making it good for DIY projects. Just make sure the base floor is properly prepared.
   
   
4. Applying the thinset – Mix the thinset in the bucket following the instructions on its packaging, and use the trowel to spread it out. Wait for 24 hours to cure before you actually lay out the French pattern travertine tiles.

5. Installing the tiles – Determine how you want to lay out the French pattern travertine tiles. Use the chalk line to make a guide. Measure and cut the edges of the tiles make them fit properly into place.  

Source: http://www.stone-mart.com/blogs/installing-french-pattern-travertine-in-your-home/

Marble Driveway: Add Elegance and Beauty to Your Outdoor Space

When it comes to outdoor installations such as your driveway flooring, it is extremely important to choose materials that can withstand various external elements. There are a lot of different types of pavers that you can use for your driveway, but if you want to get one of the best materials, then you should definitely consider marble. A marble driveway will not only be sophisticated and lavish—it will also be long-lasting. Marble pavers will even work great with other outdoor areas of your home such as your deck, patio, and swimming pool.

Marble may be more expensive than other materials, but its durability allows it to outlive other cheaper options, which makes it cost-efficient in the long run. You can expect your marble driveway to last for decades or even a lifetime. Not only will marble pavers save you from the hassle of having to replace the flooring for your driveway, but it will also increase the value of your property. Marble can make your house more sellable in the future.

Aside from being durable, marble tiles are also eco-friendly. They do not have to go through a lot of manufacturing processes and not treated with harmful chemicals. This makes the production of these tiles environment-friendly.

Marble pavers also stay cool despite the high temperature. It is an extremely dense and hard stone, which makes it naturally resistant to heat. Because of this, you will no longer have to worry about burning sensations when walking on your driveway even under the summer sun. One more thing that makes a marble driveway more advantageous is that it provides more grip or traction for the feet. The best marble pavers for outdoor applications are those that have a tumbled finish. This will prevent slips and falls and will add more texture to prevent your car from skidding. Marble is also low-maintenance. This material is naturally resistant to bacteria, and cleaning it only requires a clean and dry cloth, mild soap, and water.

Purchase your marble pavers from reputable suppliers to ensure good quality and reasonable price.

Source URL: http://www.stone-mart.com/granite/marble-driveway-add-elegance-and-beauty-to-your-outdoor-space/

Beautify Your Homes with Marble Pattern Tiles

A lot of majestic and iconic statues and structures from the ancient civilizations have been built with marble. And although this material has been used for thousands of years already, its appeal and elegance still make it a popular choice for builders and homeowners up to this day. Marble pattern tiles can add a touch of sophistication to any part of your home. One feature of marble tiles that makes it opulent is its high gloss and polished finish, which looks especially stunning when natural light is reflected off of it.

Aside from beautifying your home, marble can also provide you with durable flooring since it is a hard-dense metamorphic rock that can easily endure high foot traffic. Marble tiles are best sealed by a neutral PH stone sealer after the installation. Many ancient and iconic structures, such as Roman baths, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Taj Mahal have been built with marble. These structures stand strong up to now despite the many years that have already passed. This just proves that marble is a great option if you want flooring that can last for generations. Marble pattern tiles are versatile enough to be used in just about any room. They work great in the kitchen, bedroom, living room, and even the bathroom.

French pattern marble tiles are also available in reputable shops. This pattern, which is also called the Versailles pattern, has a lay out that can make your floor look bolder and more appealing. This pattern is ideal if you want marble flooring that goes beyond the conventional square and rectangular installations. When buying marble pattern tiles, you should make sure to purchase from a reputable store that sells authentic and high-quality products. The best suppliers offer marble tiles in various sizes so that you can easily create your own pattern.

Source URL: http://www.stone-mart.com/granite/beautify-your-homes-with-marble-pattern-tiles/

Add a Sense of Luxury to Any Room with Marble Floor

Many buildings structures and statues have been built using marble, proving it to be the preferred natural stone material for centuries. A lot of these ancient buildings still stand to this day, showing that marble is more resilient and long-lasting than other stone materials. Luxurious homes typically make use of marble floor because of its lustrous and elegant appearance. Government and commercial establishments make use of marble as well, making it one of the most adaptable stone flooring for a variety of applications.

Marble floor can pretty much be installed in any room in your house – be it the bedroom, living room, dining room, foyer, and even the bathroom. Experts recommend that a neutral PH stone sealer be used on marble flooring that will be installed in areas where there will most likely be high foot traffic. This stone sealer helps retain the polished and high gloss finish of the marble that contributes to your home’s luxurious vibe.

Marble floor looks especially elegant when its polished surface is hit by natural light. This type of flooring can also add value to your property because it stays beautiful even after so many years. Each marble tile has a unique veining pattern that can go well with your home’s aesthetics, be it classic or modern. Marble becomes even more appealing as years pass by, and you can expect your tiles to look just as stunning 10 years from now.

Marble flooring is also durable. These tiles can last for more than a lifetime if they are installed properly and are maintained well. Marble is more expensive than other types of flooring, but it will give you great value for your money because you wouldn’t have to replace your flooring for years—decades, really. When buying marble, make sure to get them from reputable suppliers that offer authentic and top-of-the-line products.

Source URL: http://www.stone-mart.com/granite/add-a-sense-of-luxury-to-any-room-with-marble-floor/