The number of kitchen flooring materials available today is numerous, and when deciding which one is best for your cooking area, you might be in a dilemma. Since kitchen floors have many different things to care for, they’ve got to stand up against a lot of foot traffic, spills, scratches and stains.

Besides being practical and durable, your kitchen flooring is a significant design statement. So, your chosen material affects every other element of your home design. A few important things to consider when looking for kitchen flooring include:

• Lifestyle: Chances are sauces get spilled, and silverware gets dropped when cooking. Also, there may be kids and pets in the house. So, choosing a flooring material that suits your lifestyle is important.
• Design: Choose a flooring material that best compliments your kitchen’s design, whether it’s rustic or contemporary. Consider the kitchen’s size, colours, textures and patterns.
• Comfort: Do you spend hours on your feet cooking? Then consider a floor with a bit of resilience underfoot. You can also consider placing a soft mat or rug to add comfort.
• Cleaning: Your kitchen flooring can quickly get pretty grimy between food spills and tracked-in dust and dirt. To minimise maintenance, choose something water-resistant, easy to clean and not prone to staining.

Marble vs granite kitchen flooring

When choosing the best material for your kitchen, one common flooring option is natural stone tiles. And marble and granite are the two most popular natural stones out there. Both are widely known for their durability, beauty and timeless appeal.

The two have some similarities but have many more differences than you might think. Choosing between marble and granite depends on a few factors, including aesthetics, budget and practical considerations. Let’s compare the two to help you choose the best kitchen flooring.

1. Durability

Even though both marble and granite can last for several years, granite has a slight edge over marble. This is because marble is a porous and soft natural stone, making it prone to discolouration, spills and stains. On the other hand, granite is non-porous and can resist stains and spills. It doesn’t show any sign of discolouration easily.

Winner: Granite

2. Price

Regarding the price of natural stone tiles in Melbourne, marble is usually cheaper than granite. However, that’s not always the case, as several factors come into play. Certain varieties of marble can be more expensive than some varieties of granite.

Winner: Marble

3. Maintenance

Since marble kitchen flooring is porous, it requires polishing and sealing at least twice a year. Granite, too, requires some resealing, but it tends to require something other than polishing every year. Therefore, the maintenance required is less in the case of granite.

Winner: Granite

4. Heat and scratch resistance

While both kitchen flooring materials offer decent resistance to heat, marble is a little susceptible to heat damage. When compared with granite, marble can get scratched more often if there are constant abrasions. Even contact with hot utensils can damage the floor.

Winner: Granite

5. Usability

Granite can be used for indoor and outdoor kitchen flooring, with or without a sealant. However, marble is rare in outdoor settings without a sealant barrier. This is, again, because of its porous nature. Plus, marble floors are more prone to stains.

Winner: Granite

6. Appearance

Regarding appearance, both stones look the same from a distance. However, on close inspection, you will find that the physical appearance of granite stones differs from that of marble stones. While marble has marks that look like veins, granite has marks that look like freckles.

Winner: Tie

7. Environmental impact

Neither marble nor granite is eco-friendly. As naturally available stones, they consume a considerable amount of fuel and energy before getting ready for installation. To choose an eco-friendly flooring material, you can choose other options like porcelain tiles.

Winner: Tie

The bottom line

Ultimately, the choice between marble and granite kitchen flooring comes down to your personal preference and lifestyle. If you prioritise an elegant look and are willing to invest in maintenance, marble could be the right choice. On the other hand, if you seek a durable and versatile flooring material, granite is an excellent choice as a natural stone.