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 |  | 10x10-Foot Hall, DIY: $600-$1,200 |  | Installed: $900-$2,000 |  | High-End Tiles, Installed: $2,000-$9,000+ |
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Providing an elegant and sophisticated appearance, marble flooring is extremely durable. It's usually made in square tiles, typically ranging in size from 12-24 inches. Because of its relatively high cost, marble is often used in smaller areas, such as a bathroom, foyer, hallway or kitchen. According to the World Floor Covering Association[1] , marble was used as luxury flooring in ancient times because it was soft enough to be worked with tools but hard enough to last for ages.
Typical costs: | - Professional installation of marble flooring starts around $9-$20 a square foot (materials and labor), or $900-$2,000 for installing a marble tile floor in a 100-square-foot foyer. High-end marble floor tiles (in sought-after light shades or marble squares that are engraved, hand-painted or have special finishes) can run $10-$40 a square foot just for the flooring materials, and custom craftwork installation can add another $10-$50 or more a square foot, for a total high-end custom-floor cost of $2,000-$9,000 or more for a 10x10 foyer.
- Because marble is heavy and can be difficult to work with, do-it-yourself installation is not generally recommended but is possible, particularly for a small area. The cost for marble flooring starts around $5-$10 a square foot, or $600-$1,200 for enough tiles and other supplies for a 10x-10-foot foyer.
Related articles: Granite Floor, Tile Flooring, Wood Flooring, Solid Wood Flooring, Engineered Wood Flooring, Carpet
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What should be included: | - Before installation, the subfloor needs to be clean, level and able to support the weight of a heavy marble floor. DIYNetwork.com gives instructions[2] for do-it-yourself installation of a marble floor and tub surround, and BobVila.com displays a video of a traditional professional installation.
- Marble flooring is relatively porous and can be stained. The Marble Institute of American provides a care and cleaning overview, including how to deal with stains, scratches or nicks, as well as a natural stone care video.
Additional costs: | - There can be extra charges for furniture removal and replacement; ripping out and disposing of old flooring material; repairing or replacing a damaged subfloor; and removing and then re-hanging doors. A Conneticut installer[3] charges an extra 20 cents per square foot to remove old carpet, another 20 cents per square foot for moving furniture, $15 per appliance moved and $35 per toilet.
- Sand and grit can cause scratches, so maintaining[4] marble floors requires dust-mopping frequently (daily in high-traffic areas). A well-maintained residential marble floor might start to show some signs of wear in 2-4 years, and will need to be professionally honed and polished at cost of about $2.50-$3 a square foot, with a minimum charge of $400-$500 for a single grind and polish. (Damaged floors may require multiple grindings before polishing, which increases the cost per square foot.)
Shopping for a marble floor: | - Marble flooring tiles are available from most home improvement and flooring stores. The World Floor Covering Association provides a directory[5] of retail floor stores by zip code. Major online marble flooring suppliers include BuildDirect.com and StoneLocator.com[6] .
- The Marble Institute of America provides tips for selecting and working with any natural stone contractor and a directory[7] of natural stone companies.
- Get several estimates, asking about installers' training and experience with marble, the exact materials to be used, performance warranties, and the length of time required to complete the project. Request (and confirm) references, and ask to see examples of recently completed projects. Make sure the contractor is properly bonded, insured and licensed (state licensing requirements vary).
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External Resources: | - www.wfca.org/Pages/Stone-Flooring-Styles-Review.aspx
- www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-marble-floor-and-tub-surround/index.html
- wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_installation_cost_for_flooring
- www.sacredplaces.org/PSP-InfoClearingHouse/articles/Maintaining%20Marble%20Floors.htm
- www.wfca.org/FlooringStoreLocator.aspx
- www.stonelocator.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=basicsearch&StoneType=1
- www.marble-institute.com/directory/index.cfm
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