Crossville’s Marble Alternative for Floors and Walls
Marble is a classic, timeless material that’s been used in interior design the world over for centuries. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and can add a luxurious vibe to spaces. While marble has never been out of style or off-trend, it’s certainly making a big splash in interior design right now. From residential to commercial installations for floors, walls, and countertops, marble looks seem to be everywhere. Marble may be having a moment, but there are definitely some drawbacks to using this beautiful stone in interiors.
Maintenance & Durability of Marble
While marble is durable in the sense that it can take heat, it’s a fairly soft stone that scratches easily and is prone to staining. It’s also vulnerable to etching due to its calcium carbonate makeup. Etches are not stains or discolorations; when acid reacts with the calcium carbonate, it literally eats away a tiny bit of the surface creating dull spots, known as etches. As beautiful as marble countertops in the kitchen are, citrus juice, tomato sauce, and salad dressing spills are going to etch the surface. Marble is also very porous, and while it might make for a gorgeous bathroom floor or shower, it must be sealed regularly to prevent it from absorbing water.
Marble’s Sustainability
As a non-renewable resource, there’s only so much marble available in the world. And the extraction process indefinitely impacts the environment. Though marble is highly recyclable and reusable, its quarrying and transportation can contribute to a big carbon footprint if you haven’t done your research.
Cost of Marble
The most beautiful Italian white marbles are also the rarest and costliest. Additionally, marble fabrication isn’t inexpensive. Using marble for large areas can become price prohibitive for many.
Marble Alternatives
For all these reasons, more and more residential and commercial designers are turning to marble-like porcelain tiles as a viable alternative to the real thing. Thanks to advances in digital technology, tile manufacturers are able to mimic the nuanced veining and shading that gives real marble its characteristic beauty and appeal. Our newest marble look tile, State of Grace, captures the beloved veining of grays with delicate black and brown tones for an even more vibrant presentation than the classics. The line’s singular colorway—a graceful visual inspired by the world’s most beloved marble looks – comes with an abundance of beautiful options in both satin (semi-matte) and unpolished finishes.
We thought of everything for this line: Grace your spaces with 24×48, 24×24, 12×12, 12×24, 6×24, and 3×6 field tiles. Get creative with pickets and left and right chevrons. Customize designs with mesh-mounted mosaics, including 2×2, herringbone, and 3×3 hex options. Finish installations stylishly with cove base and bull nose trims, base and crown moldings, and chair rails. Plank sizes are also available through our Get Planked program.
Like all Crossville porcelain products, State of Grace is manufactured sustainably and has earned Green Squared® certification from the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). Learn more about this certification.
