The natural stones from natural stone suppliers exist in limited quantities – it is what the natural stone symbolizes. What hasn’t changed – and probably never will, since marble and other natural stones exist in limited quantities – is that natural stone symbolizes exclusivity and style.
For many centuries, marble and other types of natural stone have symbolized wealth and power when used for flooring and other surfaces in residential homes. In the ancient civilizations of Persia, Greece, and Italy, the manual labor involved in quarrying, cutting, and transporting natural stone meant that only the wealthiest citizens – or the government itself – could allow these materials to be used in their buildings. Although modern amenities and transportation systems now make it more accessible to more people, marble and other natural stones are still a building material that retains a royal mystique.
To understand why you need only consider what goes into making a typical marble floor tile.
Advantages Of Stone
Today, the main advantage of marble and other natural stones in a bathroom is that it makes a bold statement of elegance and style. In centuries past, the stone was chosen as a building material because of its strength and durability. Still, other building materials provide better strength and nearly equal durability in today’s construction at a lower cost. What hasn’t changed – and probably never will, since marble and other natural stones exist in limited supply – is that natural stone symbolizes exclusivity and style.
And natural stone can be a good choice for homeowners who want to use this material.
And natural stone can be a good choice for homeowners who want to use this exclusive and expensive building material in their home.
Aesthetically, every quarry in the world has a slightly different stone shape, and even within the same quarry, individual stone slabs will have slightly different veining and coloring. This means that marble or other natural stone floors, counter, or wall surface will always have a unique look different from any other bathroom in the world.
The fact that natural stone is both expensive and unique means that using marble or another natural stone in your home automatically improves its resale value. Real estate agents will almost always point to the presence of natural stone when selling a home, and potential buyers always see it as a strong positive.
Some of the disadvantages of stone (and there are many) have now been reduced or eliminated by the development of chemical sealants which can seal marble, granite, and other natural stones against water and stains. The availability and effectiveness of these synthetic sealants are largely responsible for the fact that natural stone is now a viable material for damp locations such as bathrooms. Even showers – once barred from marble and other natural stone – now see stone surfaces installed with some regularity.
