India has long been the seat of glorious architecture and a refined lifestyle. The days of the royals may have been overtaken by the democratic ways of governance but the lifestyle choices of many remain as regal as those good old days. The grandiosity of Indian architecture, its characteristic yet sometimes extravagant opulence in the form of embedded gold, mirrors, and precious jewels and gemstones in wall paintings of the palaces, as in the Amber Palace at Amer, in the state of Rajasthan, have an indelible influence over the world unanimously.
But even in palaces with no gemstone paintings to boast of, the intricate carvings are done in priceless marble, the exquisite Indian marble floorings steal the hearts of the beholder. Be it the Mandu’s Hoshang Shah’s Tomb that inspired the architecture of the Taj Mahal, or The Lake Palace of Udaipur, or the lavish Marble Palace of Calcutta, the use of Bhandari marble has added to their beauty and glory.
But luxury is not all that there is to marble, is it?
The reasons why Indian marble is preferred as the best building material and serves as only the most obvious choice of flooring material are altogether different.
Let us separate the gold beads from the sand and figure out the craze behind the usage of Indian marble:
1. Drinking From the Fountain of Youth: Ages Beautifully
Using marble for flooring and other beatific applications is like taking your dream spaces to the fountain of youth and make them not just drink from it but bathe in it. Marble ages beautifully provided you take good care of it. Time to time application of a coat of sealant ensures that the marble maintains its envy-evoking finish. This is undoubtedly a small price to pay for the splendor that you bring home.
2. Marble Always Pays its Debt: Durable
One of the main reasons why marble is preferred is because of its strength and durability that exceeds that of the tiles and other flooring options by a remarkable mark. Though tiles are consistently being improved to bear heavy traffic, their maintenance is more difficult than marble. They never can be carved into something spectacular, unlike marble with which numerous sculpting can be carved in the interiors, as it suits you.
3. Sparkles like Stars: Awesome Finish
The natural finish of Marble is well one of the reasons why we can’t resist their charm. Indian marble is best known for being pure without many variations and veins of mineral impurities running through the surface of the marble. When polished this creates spaces that sparkle and twinkle from a distance and appear clean as a mirror when seen close by.
4. The Other Road: A Better Option
The market is flooding with newer, technologically enhanced materials that serve as convenient, cost-effective flooring solutions. But, even so, these solutions do not cost much less than the marble and don’t quite have the same durability or the finish and texture as does the nature-created marble. Marble is indeed the better option. For those who incline towards the luxurious side of life, Imported Marble is a fair option. Mesmerizing variants of Indian marble are also quite popular across the world.
Choose marble over other flooring options and rest assured that you own the best flooring there is.
5. Bright as a Summer Day: Wizardly White
The specialty of Indian Marble resides in the startling white of the natural stone. With little to no impurities, the white marble mined from various mines in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Bhandari marble brings you the best of white that brings elegance and chastity to your spaces and captures attention like no other. Available in six variants, one exceeding the quality of the other, these Wonder White variants are here to set your dream spaces leagues apart.
While Indian marble is the soul of beautiful architectural masterpieces across the country and the world, imported marble weaves its own charm and beauty into interior spaces. Marble’s worth – Indian or imported – needs no more praising as their superior quality speaks for itself.
With Bhandari marble, you get the most sought-after look for your dreamscape. The Marble flooring is a show-stopper everywhere as you have very well seen for yourself. We hope your projects light up with our products so much so that the love with which you created your space, only increases with time.
Some people simply cannot imagine their dream home without marble. Some others decry that choice, quoting marble’s imperfections and fragility. Many are caught somewhere in between: in love with marble’s magnificent appeal, but uncertain if it’s the right choice for their needs. Yet, only a handful of these people, in reality, indulge and luxuriate in marble homes.
Perhaps this detailed guide on marble can offer some clarity on whether marble is right for you or not.
What is marble?
Marble is a metamorphic rock that is widely valued for its beautiful aesthetic and unique, colorful patterns. Renowned for its reflective nature, the word marble originates from the Greek word “marmar” – a verb that means “to glisten.” It is formed when limestone (a type of sedimentary rock) undergoes extreme heat and pressure.
Marble is beautiful to look at, cool to the touch, and a classic, timeless material. There’s really nothing quite like it. And uncountable people have admired it for centuries.
History of marble
A precious natural stone that has been incorporated in significant monuments and structures, marble is the unparalleled symbol of opulence. Its first known use was between 450 BC and 400 BC in Rome and Greece. Since then, it has been used in countless historic architecture across the globe.
Right from the glinting gorgeousness of the Taj Mahal to the towering Washington Monument, marble has been revered by architects and sculptors since times immemorial. Some of the most notable structures made of marble include:
- The statue of David, by Michelangelo
- The Pantheon, Rome
- Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy
- Lincoln Memorial, USA
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens, Greece
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
- Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Marble processing and treatment
Making marble perfect for your home
Marble is extracted from quarries in mountains. For efficient sourcing and carriage operations, experts deploy highly sophisticated equipment. Blocks of marble are cut in these quarries and then transported to processing plants.
While there are many different ways to treat marble and make it usable, one of the best international-grade methods is CHR (Computerized Heat Resin) treatment, also known as Polymerization and Vacuum Resin Treatment.
- Superior grade Fibre Netting right after sourcing high-quality marble blocks ensures smooth surfaces when the marble is sliced into slabs.
- The marble block is carefully sliced into slabs using robotic arms and equipment. Since at this stage, the marble block is not hardened with epoxy resin, it takes less energy to cut through the marble with maximum precision.
- Special glass fiber is meticulously applied on the slabs to protect against mishandling during logistics.
- Through a process of vacuolization, the dust and impurities trapped in the tiny holes and crevices are cleaned thoroughly.
- The marble slabs undergo X-ray scanning where the slab is inspected for internal cracks, pinholes, and crevices.
- Epoxy resin, which has a lower viscosity than water, is applied to the marble slab. It finds its way into the small pores and cracks, filling in each hole and settling into the natural gaps in the stone. By applying epoxy resin on each individual slab – and not on the whole block – we ensure that each slab is strengthened and no crack is left unchecked. This makes the marble slabs less prone to damage from common household activities.
- The treated marble is finally polymerized in a kiln where the resin hardens, bonding with the stone strongly.
- Post polymerization, the slabs are scanned under X-ray again, under expert supervision. If any tiny nook or cranny is missed, the whole process is repeated until perfection is achieved.
Properties of marble
Why is it the finest choice for home interiors?
There are two distinct categories of marble:
- Chaste white calcitic marble that chiefly comprises calcium carbonate and some minerals that add fascinating veins, such as Statuario, Flawless White, and Cat’s Eye marble.
- Dolomitic marble that chiefly comprises calcium magnesium carbonate and is resplendent with the presence of a lot of minerals, such as Armani Brown, Belgium Black, and Royal Cream.
Regardless of its category, marble has some common properties that it pays to know:
Do you have more queries? We are happy to help. Please connect with our stone experts at +91 9829040013 or visit BHANDARI MARBLE GROUP for more information.