Contents
Is Black marble real?
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- Black Marble Tile
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- Everything You Need to Know About: Black Marble Tile
In the world of interior design, we’ve noticed that black marble tile seems to be gaining ground as an increasingly popular material for all sorts of different homes, and with good reason. Black marble is a remarkably bold material that never goes unnoticed, even in smaller quantities, with a sleek shining finish that practically announces luxury.
But that doesn’t mean this variety of marble is stuffy or only works alongside dark woods and bottles of brandy. The increasing prevalence of black marble tile is giving a whole generation of interior designers opportunities to work with this amazing material, leading to new uses for homes of many different styles.
Here’s what you need to know about black marble tile before you go sample hunting!
Most black marble tile is made of Nero Marquina marble
Most of the black marble you’ll find in the US (including all of Riad Tile’s black marble offerings) are hewn from the striking Nero Marquina marble. Commonly found in China, Iran, and Spain, this variety of marble is actually grey when first quarried from the earth and is only given it’s signature deep black after being meticulously polished.
How to clean black marble tile
Like other varieties of marble, black marble tile can be cleaned using an untreated, dry dust mop. For deeper cleaning, you should use a neutral pH cleaner for natural stone. You can find neutral pH stone cleaners at hardware or grocery stores.
What gives black marble its color
Our Nero Marquina marble gets its unique color from natural bitumen. During the eons-long geologic processes that produce marble, the bitumen is pressured deep into the marble, staining the stone a dark grey-black. There are no artificial colors in our black marble tile, only the results of natural geology.
Black marble tile vs. slabs
The growing popularity of marble tile isn’t just due to trends. Marble has always been a popular choice for homes, but until recently, it wasn’t a practical choice for many people. Marble slabs are expensive, in many cases must be custom cut, and if damaged, cannot be repaired.
Is black marble out of style?
Choose MacLaren Kitchen and Bath For Your Countertops – If you are looking for a new kitchen or bathroom countertop, you may wonder where to start. There are many different materials and finishes to choose from, and deciding which is suitable for your home can be overwhelming. 
At MacLaren Kitchen and Bath, we can help you narrow down your choices and find the perfect countertop for your space.
Black marble is a classic material that never goes out of style.It is perfect for those who want a timeless look in their kitchen or bathroom. Marble is also durable and easy to care for, making it a great choice for busy families.
We carry a wide selection of black marble countertops at MacLaren Kitchen and Bath. We can help you find the perfect one for your kitchen or bathroom. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to schedule a free consultation. We also offer custom cabinetry that you may consider for your home to add a more classic or modern look.
Is black marble expensive?
Final Verdict – So, the question is, how much are black marble countertops? The answer is it depends. On average, black marble countertops can cost around $75 per sq. ft., but the additional factors will change the overall price. Schedule an appointment with us today so we can provide you with a clear estimate on what you would like done for your kitchen countertops.
Is black marble hard to maintain?
1.1 Low maintenance: – Black marble floor tiles bathrooms don’t need any maintenance. These dark marble floor tiles can be cleaned with a damp cloth. You can make tile surfaces smoother, shinier, and shinier by using water/vinegar. Dark black can benefit cleanliness, as dirt and dust are less evident against a dark background.
Does black marble fade?
By Scott Worthington – 
The simple answer is that some natural stone does fade especially varieties like the well documented water sensitive verde (or green marble – serpentine). The reasons for fading are varied however it is important to note that many of these processes can be managed by proper use of man made technologies such as sealers, good adhesives and waterproof membranes.
So how and why do certain stones fade? To understand this phenomenon you must firstly understand how colour is created in stone. We see colour in stone in the main body and also in the veins that exist in marble and limestone. Colour is created by several different processes all working and modifying the minerals and chemistry of the stone.
Some minerals have their colour as an intrinsic part of their chemistry and this is called inherent coloration. The majority of the minerals that form rock, calcites (calcium and magnesium carbonate), quartz and feldspars are inherently colourless being either transparent or white in their pure form.
However when these minerals exhibit a specific colour (exotic coloration) it is due to trace amounts of a particular pigmenting element. These are mineral solutions and gases or organic matter that is absorbed during the formation of the mineral or the overall process of rock formation. For example when limestone is transformed into marble (metamorphic process) the limestone is heated and becomes viscous.
During this phase super saturated mineral solutions (water and gases) can pass through the viscous mass under great pressure. The result is a variety of colour in the form of streaks, bands, swirls etc. Veins are the other main part of the colour palette we see in stone.
These are restricted mainly to the limestone and marble family as granite is a silica rich crystalline stone whose chemistry and formation is more immune to the processes causing veining. The veins in limestone and marble are created after the formation of the original host stone and hence are a secondary process.
They result from geological movement which stresses or shatters the stone causing cracks or fissures. Over a period of time super saturated mineral solutions infiltrate these fissures depositing minerals that eventually totally fill them. The type of mineral not only determines the colour but also the hardness of the vein creating both hard and soft veins.
The softer the vein the more likely the minerals are calcites whereas the harder the vein the minerals will more likely be quartz based. The last factor in creating the colour we see is the interaction between the minerals and light. Each mineral responds differently to different wavelengths absorbing and reflecting different parts of the visible spectrum, finally reflecting that part of the spectrum that we see as a particular colour.
Add to this that each stone is made up of different minerals each reflecting different parts of the spectrum resulting in the huge variation of colour we see between different stone varieties as well as between stone of the same type. So how and why do some stones and their mineralogy fade? The first and perhaps most common theory is that stone fades due to the suns UV light.
- UV rays or radiation delivers bundles of energy to the host which in turn creates chemical reactions.
- For example leave a newspaper in the sun and it will slowly turn yellow.
- These are called photochemical reactions.
- The importance of these chemical reactions is that they can set off a chain reaction of other chemicals that no longer necessarily require any light.
This can explain why a stone may continue to fade even after installation in an area void of natural sunlight. UV rays will fade colours in stone that have an organic (from plants and animals) component in their coloration. Black marble, travertine and limestone can all be altered this way. 
Although UV radiation is a significant source of fading in stone it is not the sole process at work. There are in fact several other processes that create the stone to fade to our eye. The first is the weathering process. Many stones from the limestone and marble family have soluble minerals in them such as pyrite.
- When combined with water and oxygen (sourced from the water) pyrite (an iron sulphide) forms sulphuric acid which dissolves the calcium greatly changing the stones coloration.
- Water from rain or even humidity dissolves the soluble compounds in the veins especially if the veins contain carbonaceous (organic) materials and in doing so creates different coloration.
Any force that erodes or changes the stones surface texture (even microscopically) such as wind or water erosion or even foot or vehicular traffic can change the way the stone will reflect and absorb light and hence change the colour we see. Maintenance chemicals can also have an affect on the colour of stone.
- The chemistry of stone is basically alkaline (high hydroxide count) and hence when exposed to acids (hydrogen ions) the minerals can be damaged especially the calcium based stones such as limestone and marble.
- This damage is in many cases manifested as fading.
- Highly alkaline chemicals can in some cases also appear to fade stone.
However in most cases this is due to a build up of the alkaline salts in the stones pores due to insufficient rinsing which causes a hazy dulling effect rather than true fading. However there are some cases where soluble organic compounds in the stone are affected by alkalines especially bleaching compounds such as chlorine and sodium hypochlorite resulting in fading.
- This is especially true of iron rich coloured stone where some of the iron is soluble.
- In conclusion the fading of stone is a real issue – it does happen.
- It must be remembered that it is mainly a problem in the limestone and marble (sedimentary and metamorphic) families as far as commercial dimensional stone is concerned.
In contrast to popular opinion fading is not due just to UV light and radiation but to a number of processes that in many cases work simultaneously. In many instances factors such as UV light cannot be controlled but many of the other processes can be managed using man made technology.
Fading due to improper cleaning chemicals can be addressed using ph neutral cleaners, The proper design and specification plays its part by ensuring the right stone is used in the right environment. For example a soft stone in a high traffic area will wear quickly dramatically changing the colour of the stone.
Finally and perhaps most importantly fading due to moisture related issues can be addressed by reducing and regulating the moisture in the stone and the installation system by installing good penetrating sealers as well as waterproof membranes and latex modified adhesives, mortars and grouts,
All of these work together: sealers : reduce surface absorption, waterproof membranes: reduce moisture content from the substrate as well as speed up drying cycles by reducing the amount of overall water under the stone: latex modified adhesives, mortars and grouts: create denser materials that hold less overall moisture.
Specifying and installing quality high performance versions of these technologies will go a long way to managing the issue of the fading of these problematic stones.
Are marble coffee tables durable?
Sturdy and well-made, marble coffee tables are durable pieces of living room furniture that will last for many years to come. Plus, their sleek, elegant design offers a touch of sophistication that is unmatched.
