Tuscan Calacatta Gold Oro 18" × 18" Italian Marble Tile – 3/8"

Product Overview

Tuscan Calacatta Gold (Oro) 18" × 18" Italian Marble Tile brings the unmistakable elegance of genuine Italian marble to sophisticated interior floors and walls. Its luminous white to warm-white background is animated by expressive gray, taupe, amber, and soft gold veining, creating the dramatic movement for which Calacatta Oro is prized.

The generous 18" × 18" format creates a spacious architectural appearance with fewer grout joints than conventional 12" tiles. Offered in polished and honed finishes, it can deliver either a glossy, light-reflective surface or a softer, low-sheen presentation.

Because this is genuine natural marble, every tile is unique. Differences in background color, veining, mineral markings, and vein intensity are expected and contribute to the finished installation’s distinctive character.

Technical Specifications

Confirm the selected finish and current production-lot dimensions before installation.

Finish Options

Polished

The polished finish intensifies the stone’s color and veining while creating a glossy, light-reflective surface. It is especially well suited to formal floors, bathroom walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, and decorative installations. Polished marble may become slippery when wet.

Honed

The honed finish has a smooth, low-sheen appearance that softens reflections and gives the marble a more understated architectural character. It may provide better traction than polished marble, but project-specific wet-area suitability should still be evaluated.

Recommended Applications

• Interior residential floors

• Appropriate light-commercial floors

• Bathroom and vanity walls

• Full-height shower walls

• Kitchen and bar backsplashes

• Entryways and formal foyers

• Fireplace surrounds

• Wainscoting and feature walls

• Hotel, boutique and hospitality interiors

• Decorative floor borders and insets

The 18" format is generally unsuitable for conventional shower floors because it is difficult to accommodate the required slope toward a standard drain. Use a coordinating smaller-format mosaic for shower-floor applications.

Installation and Handling Guidelines

Important: Use white setting material approved for natural marble. Gray mortar may shadow through light-colored stone or affect its finished appearance.

• Inspect all material before installation. Installed tile is generally considered accepted material.

• Dry-lay tiles from several cartons to distribute lighter, darker, quieter, and more heavily veined pieces throughout the installation.

• Use a bright-white polymer-modified mortar specifically approved for natural stone and the installation environment.

• If the marble or its backing is moisture sensitive, use a rapid-setting or epoxy installation system approved by the setting-material manufacturer.

• Install over a clean, flat, stable, and properly prepared substrate. Large square tiles require careful substrate preparation to minimize lippage.

• Directionally trowel the mortar and back-butter tiles as needed. Obtain at least 95% mortar contact in shower and wet-area installations.

• Use an unsanded or fine-aggregate grout approved for marble. Test the grout on spare material to confirm that it will not scratch or discolor the surface.

• A grout joint of approximately 1/16" to 1/8" may be appropriate, depending on tile calibration, substrate conditions, and installer recommendations.

• Seal the marble before grouting to reduce grout-pigment absorption and simplify cleanup.

• Install shower walls over a complete waterproofing system. Stone sealer does not replace waterproofing.

• Include perimeter and field movement joints in accordance with applicable construction standards and TCNA EJ171.

• Wet-cut with a clean, continuous-rim diamond blade designed for marble. Follow proper crystalline-silica safety practices.

• Order approximately 10–15% additional material for cuts, breakage, natural variation, and future repairs. Projects requiring selective vein matching may need a larger allowance.

Natural Variation Notice

Calacatta Gold is a natural quarried stone. Tiles may differ substantially in background tone, vein direction, vein width, gold coloration, mineral deposits, and pattern intensity.

These differences are inherent characteristics rather than manufacturing defects. Review and arrange the complete installation before setting the tile. Whenever possible, purchase all required material at the same time to improve lot consistency.

Care and Maintenance

• Clean with warm water and a neutral-pH cleaner formulated for natural marble.

• Avoid vinegar, lemon, acidic bathroom products, abrasive powders, and harsh alkaline cleaners.

• Wipe spills promptly, particularly citrus, wine, coffee, cosmetics, oils, and strongly pigmented liquids.

• Use soft cloths, microfiber pads, and non-abrasive cleaning tools.

• Apply a penetrating natural-stone sealer before or during installation and reseal when indicated by water absorption or the sealer manufacturer’s instructions.

• Use entry mats and felt furniture protectors to reduce scratching from sand and grit.

• Do not assume that sealing makes marble stain-proof or etch-proof. Acidic substances can still chemically dull the surface.

Design Profile

• Aesthetic: Italian luxury, classical, transitional, contemporary and Art Deco

• Background: Luminous white to softly creamy white

• Veining: Gray and taupe movement with warm gold, honey and amber accents

• Format Advantage: Larger square tiles create a spacious appearance with fewer grout joints

• Complementary Materials: White oak, walnut, creamy quartz, warm plaster and clear glass

• Complementary Metals: Brushed brass, champagne bronze, polished nickel and antique gold

• Suggested Grout Colors: Bright white, warm white, ivory or very pale gray

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this genuine Italian marble?

Yes. This is genuine natural Calacatta Gold, also known commercially as Calacatta Oro, originating from Italy. It is not a porcelain marble-look tile.

What is the difference between Calacatta Gold and Carrara marble?

Carrara typically has a cooler gray field with softer, more frequent gray veining. Calacatta Gold usually has a brighter or warmer white background with broader gray, taupe, and warm gold veining.

Is the tile polished or honed?

The product is offered in polished and honed finish options. Select the desired finish before ordering and confirm that every carton has the same finish and production lot.

How much area does one tile cover?

One nominal 18" × 18" tile covers approximately 2.25 square feet.

Does Calacatta Gold marble require sealing?

Yes. Use a penetrating sealer approved for natural marble before grouting and reseal as needed based on exposure and the sealer manufacturer’s directions.

Can this tile be installed on a shower wall?

Yes. It can be installed on shower walls over a complete waterproofing system using white setting material approved for natural stone.

Can it be installed on a shower floor?

The 18" × 18" format is generally not recommended for a conventional shower floor because the large tile is difficult to slope properly toward the drain. Polished marble may also be slippery when wet.

Will every tile look the same?

No. Substantial differences in veining, color, mineral markings, and pattern direction are expected in genuine Calacatta Gold marble. Blend tiles from several cartons before installation.