A marble or other type of stone tile floor is an elegant addition to any room, and the installation process is not as difficult as you might expect.

True marble is a relatively hard, metamorphic form of limestone. It comes in a broad range of colors, but usually is white or off-white. Marble often is subtly streaked with gray, brown, pink or other colors, and then is sometimes called statuary marble.

Any stone (except granite) that can be machine-polished is classified as marble. Most marble actually is some form of limestone, and ranges from relatively soft and absorbent to quite hard and nearly impervious to water.

The surface of marble is either polished or honed:

Polished marble is highly reflective and emphasizes the natural colors and markings of the stone. For flooring, use polished marble only in low-traffic areas.

Honed marble has a dull, matte finish. Choose this finish for floors where heavy foot traffic is likely. Honed marble provides a more slip-resistant surface and is less likely to reveal scratches.

Common marble tile sizes are 12 inches x 12 inches and 12 inches x 18 inches, and they range from 3/8- to 1/2-inch thick.