Marble is a good choice for photos. Photos can’t reveal a toddler holding a juice box, a teenager making pasta sauce or a parent in a hurry at breakfast. Before you shell out the cash, there’s one thing you need to know if your kitchen is the hottest in the house. Will marble stand the test of time? Yes and no, marble is a soft natural stone, which reacts to acids. It will wear out with time, stain and etch. But there are lots of families who use marble on a daily basis and love it. It depends on the expectations, the type you choose and how you take care of it. The article details how marble works in a family kitchen, where it doesn’t work, and how to get it to work. It also provides a comparison to other options for you to consider.
What Really Happens to Marble in a Busy Kitchen
It is a common misconception that people think of all marble damage as one and the same. However, there are four possible scenarios, which are not all equally dire.
Etching is the most popular. Lemon juice, vinegar, tomato sauce, wine and certain sodas, for instance, interact with marble’s calcium. They create lighter areas, or dullness, where the surface has been altered. It’s not a stain. A small chemical surface burn.
Staining occurs when the liquid permeates the stone. Often these include coffee, oil, red wine and turmeric. This is slowed down significantly by a good sealer.
Marble scratching occurs because many household objects are harder than marble. Light marks can be left if a cast iron pan or a ceramic plate is dragged.
Typically chipping occurs on edges and corners. A small piece may be knocked off by a heavy pot or a dropped jar.
Over time all four will likely be seen in a busy family kitchen. The question is, does that bother you?
Etching Is the Big One
This is a surprising aspect to many buyers. They’re instructed to seal the marbles, which they believe prevents any harm. It doesn’t.
Sealer is used to seal the pores in the stone and slow down the staining process. Etching is a reaction on the surface, however. Sealer is not enough to prevent it. Any marble countertop will be etched by lemon juice even if it is well sealed.
If you use citrus juice, tomatoes or vinegar frequently, then prepare to get etch marks. They will appear most at the sink, at the cooktop, and anywhere else you prepare food.
This is what some people consider to be one of the charms of marble. In Europe, when old marble counters are used in bakeries and cafés, they are used and marked on, and no one cares. Others are disappointed every time they visit a new place. Get a clear idea of which group you belong to.
Where Marble Does Well
It’s not all bad news. Marble can be a very strong material in the family kitchen.
- It’s strong. A 3cm thick marble countertop will not be cracked due to regular use if it is properly installed. Damage is mainly superficial.
- Tolerant to heat. It will not burn in warm pans like quartz, and it is waterproof.It is waterproof and won’t burn in warm pans as quartz might do. With very hot pots, always use trivets, though, to prevent sudden temperature changes and marks.
- It stays cool. This is the reason why bakers enjoy it. An easy surface to use for rolling out dough or making cookies is a cool surface.
- It can be repaired. Etch marks and light scratches can be polished or honed out by a stone pro. Fill the chips with chips. Once damaged, quartz is much more difficult to repair.
- It’s not broken, it’s aged. Marble will get a soft, worn appearance over time. There are those who refer to it as patina. Will not crumble apart.
The Real Life Test: Kids and Pets
There are some things families have to cope with that other people don’t.
Kids spill. Enough juice, chocolate milk, popsicles and ketchup eventually wound up on the counter. Many juices are acidic, so there will probably be etching. Sticky spills that are left for extended periods of time can also stain when the sealer wears down.
The counter is also where kids do homework, crafts and science projects. Markers and paint are all trouble as well as glue and slime. A low-priced craft mat or placemat to avoid a lot of stress.
Pets are mostly an issue when you have a dog that jumps up, or a cat that walks on counters. Marble is not often harmed by claws, but dirt rings can form around food or water bowls placed on the countertop.
This isn’t something that will bust the bank. However, it’s something to consider before making a purchase.
How to Choose a More Family-Friendly Marble
When you need marble and you have a lot of activity in the home, some options come in handy.
- Choose one of the honed finishes. The honed surface will have etch marks blended in since the entire surface is matte. Polished Marble: All dull areas are obvious.
- Go with busier veining. Slabs with considerable movement do not show marks as well as a plain white slab.
- Choose lighter colors. The colour of etch is lighter than the marble and will exhibit significantly on black or dark green coloured marble.
- Consider denser cultivars. Marbles are made in different hardness. Inquire from your supplier what they have that will last longer in a kitchen.
- Try out a sample at home. Brush the sample in with lemon juice, coffee and oil and leave it overnight. See how it looks in the morning.
The last is the best way to know what you’re signing up for. When people look for marble countertops cookeville fabricators, they can expect to get a small sample or offcut to test. If it says no, so be it!
Smart Layout and Edge Choices
It is not only about the stone; it’s about the design.
Be sure to use rounded or eased edges. The sharper the square edges, the easier they chip. A slightly rounded edge will not be harmed by pots and children’s bumps as much as a square edge.
Consider remixing materials. Typically, quartz or quartzite is used for perimeter counters near sinks and stoves, while marble is used on the island. You can achieve the appearance of marble without placing it in the dirtiest locations.
Include a baking center. Sometimes there is a smaller piece of marble just for baking, and another material is used everywhere else.
Plan for seams. Seams are areas of weakness. Avoid placing them next to the sink and dishwasher, where water and heavy usage are frequent.
A Simple Daily Care Routine
Taking care of your marble doesn’t have to be complicated. Short routines have a long way to go.
Every day:
- Clean up spills immediately, particularly acid spills.
- Use a pH neutral stone cleaner and warm water to clean.
- Always use a cutting board to chop food
- Put trivets under hot pans
- Wear coasters under the glasses – particularly juice and wine glasses
Every few months:
- Do a water test. Drip some water on the counter. If it darkens the stone in a couple of minutes, it’s time to reseal.
Every few years:
- If any of the etch marks bother you, have a stone pro hone or polish them.
Stay away from vinegar, bleach and most all-purpose kitchen sprays. Most of them are acidic or abrasive and will eventually dull the surface.
How Marble Compares to Other Countertops
To be able to compare with other popular options is helpful.
- Quartz: engineered stone. Will not etch or require sealing. Very low maintenance. However, it can be damaged by high heat and is more difficult to repair. There are specialty kinds of quartz that mimic the appearance of marble.
- Quartzite: This is a natural stone which is a lot harder than marble. May be very similar in appearance. Is far more resistant to etching, although some quartzite requires sealing. Usually costs more.
- Granite: hard, strong, and can withstand heat. Needs occasional sealing. The appearance is completely unmarble, totally different.
- Porcelain slabs: extremely thin, extremely hard and extremely stain resistant, heat resistant and etching resistant. Can imitate marbles closely. Chips can develop on the edges and repairs are difficult.
For those who are into design, but do not like to bother with cleaning or maintenance, quartzite or a marble look quartz may be a better option. If you’re passionate about real marble and don’t mind its oddities, then do it.
What About Cost?
Marbles come in a wide variety of prices. Carrara is typically more affordable. Calacatta and Statuario may be very expensive. Then, there’s the fabrication, installation and sealing.
Marble countertops crossville homeowners can expect to pay for the stone type, quantity of slabs required, edge style and the number of cutouts in the design. Request several written quotes and ensure that each quote includes the same work to make the comparisons fair.
Consider long-term expenses, too. Over time, marble surfaces might require resealing and occasional professional polishing. Typically, quartz does not require either. Factor that in.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Decide
- Will the etch marks be annoying, or will they be considered a part of the look?
- What foods do we use as a source of acid for cooking?
- Who cooks in the kitchen, and how careful do they take?
- Do I want to promptly clean up spills and close them up and seal them off every once in a while?
- Would a marble for just the island make me happier?
So, Is Marble a Good Choice?
Yes, for some busy families. Marble can be a good choice for many years if you have no objection to the natural (and lived in) appearance or marks. Select a honed finish, rounded edges and slab that offers plenty of movement. After that, follow easy maintenance.
However, if you want to have a counter that looks just as good 10 years from now as it did when you first installed it, marble may not be the appropriate material. And that’s fine. There are good alternatives that come close to the look with a lesser upkeep. The most appropriate one would be the one that would best suit the family’s lifestyle.