Rameshwaram Marble this post takes you back to the basics and tells you everything you need to know about building materials used in Indian homes. This time, we give you a comprehensive list of things to keep in mind while choosing marble for your home and we compare two popular options: Indian marble and Italian marble.

First, let’s understand the basic difference between Indian and Italian marble.

difference between Indian marble and Italian marble

What is Indian and Italian marble?

Indian marble: It’s quarried extensively in North India making it a cost-effective choice available in a wide variety of colors and textures.

Italian marble: Widely appreciated for its high lustre and imparting visual appeal to the area where it’s used, Italian marble is quarried in Italy and is now easily available in India as well.

Difference between Indian marble and Italian marble

Popular types of Indian and Italian marbles

Indian marble – It comes in an astonishing array of colors such as white, pink, yellow, green, red and black. Some of the popular varieties include:

RM Green Marble

Kota Stone

Pink Marble

Rainbow

Badi Sadri – Cherry Gold

Rajasthan Black Granite

*Lustrous white Makrana marble (famously used in the Taj Mahal)

*High-quality white Ambaji marble from Gujarat

*The widely exported Indian green marble

*Onyx marble which gets its name from the thick bands of alternating color, etc.

Italian marble – Italian marble, like the Indian counterpart comes in a variety of color and textures, though there are a few varieties which are instantly recognizable such as:

Italian 1RM

ITalian ARRM

B Aurora

B. Blue

B. RMBB

Vietnam

*The much valued Statuario marble which is characterised by its white color shot with grey or gold veins

*Golden hued Botticino marble which seems to be lit from within

*Light grey Carrera marble which features dispersed, fine, feathery veining

Pricing

Indian marble – While the cost of marble varies from city to city and vendor to vendor, Indian marble starts from as low as Rs. 50 per square feet for some varieties of Indian green marble and goes up to Rs. 250 per square feet for other varieties.

Italian marble – Italian marble is available is a huge variety, and prices start from Rs. 350 and goes up to Rs. 5000 per square feet, and sometimes more.

Laying cost

The cost of laying both Indian and Italian marble are almost the same, which is between Rs. 100-300 per square feet. Laying marble involves creating a base of cement and river sand before placing the marble slabs and therefore is labor-intensive.

difference between Indian marble and Italian marble

Maintenance tips

Sweep regularly to keep away dust and grit

Clean with a mild detergent solution or a specially formulated marble-cleaning liquid

Rub or mop the floors gently; never scrub

Apply a marble sealer to create a protective barrier

Don’t drag heavy objects over it

Mop up spills, especially acidic liquids like vinegar

Things to watch out for

Ensure the marble slabs you buy are of the same thickness, ideally 18 mm and not less, else it may crack

Check for cracks and stains

Look at the marble slabs along with the sample pieces to get a rough estimate and avoid wastage

Take into consideration wastage due to breakage during transit

Indian and Italian marble have their pros and cons, as listed above, but it’s best to choose what suits your needs. While building or renovating your home, you may have a particular finish in mind and a budget to follow. By keeping these points in mind, you can easily select the right type of marble for your house.