How to Judge the Quality of Marble Tile

Quality marble tiles do not have to come with a high price tag -- if you know what to avoid when selecting them. If you know how to spot inferiorities in marble tiles, you have a better chance of selecting quality tiles at inexpensive prices to save on your tile renovation project. Just remember to buy about 10 percent more than your project calls for to make up for tile-cutting mistakes during installation. It also helps to keep a few tiles on hand for replacement as needed.Quality Tile And Marble
The veins, cracks and fissures in marble give it a naturally artistic appearance, but can also affect its strength. Examine the surface of marble for large fissures or cracks, and then turn the tile over to check the other side in the same place. Quality tiles do not have fissures or fractures that go all the way through the tile, but instead have a vein of color without a crack running through it. Manufacturers also apply fiberglass or epoxy mesh reinforcements on the backside of lower quality and weaker tiles to ensure that the tile does not break. You cannot install marble tiles with this type of backing over thinset, as it affects the ability of the marble tiles to adhere. Use an epoxy-based thinset instead of one containing cement.
The thickness of tile -- its calibration -- offers one indication of its quality. Obviously, the thicker the marble tile the better, as marble tiles naturally contain flaws. These flaws are nice to look at, but, depending upon its application, they can also cause the tile to break if it is too thin. Besides calibration, check tile dimensions to make certain all the tiles are square. During the cutting process, cutting tools can get off track and misalign, causing slightly trapezoidal tile shapes -- not good for creating tight and equal grout lines. Select tiles that are of the same dimensions, height, length and depth, when you want a level floor or countertop.
Marble tiles with chips and cracks can indicate a weakness in the tile. While some chipping and cracking is normal, when chips and cracks appear on more than 5 percent of the tiles, the marble is too soft and can chip and crack when you cut them for installation. Carefully look at the marble tile for smoothness on all surfaces: the edges, front and back of the tile. Check for pockmarks or indications of crumbling in lower quality tiles.
Sometimes manufacturers add fill to areas that chip or crack on tiles. If you notice dull areas when holding the tile under a light at a slight angle, especially when most of the surface has a mirrorlike appearance, this typically indicates a lower quality marble. High quality marble tiles contain no holes or breaks that require the addition of fill. Avoid using acidic chemicals when cleaning marble tiles, as the material that makes up marble, calcium carbonate, disintegrates with the application of acids.