WHAT IS MARBLE?
Marble is a natural metamorphic rock that is composed mostly of dolomite and calcite.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE USES FOR MARBLE?
Marble is commonly used as kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, bar tops, fireplace surrounds, fireplace hearths, flooring, thresholds, entry curbs, shower walls, and shower seats.
ARE MARBLE COUNTERTOPS HEAT RESISTANT?
Marble is not heat resistant, but is nowhere near granite. Placing hot objects on your countertops may cause a change of color, and burn marks.
ARE MARBLE COUNTERTOPS SCRATCH-RESISTANT?
Marble countertops are not scratch resistant. Depending on the actual marble you get, some scratch easier than others.
WHAT IS ETCHING ON MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
The etching is marble, losing its polish when acidic foods or liquids contact marble for some time. Some examples are lemon juice and coke.
ARE MARBLE COUNTERTOPS ETCH RESISTANT?
Marble countertops are not etching resistant. Acidic liquids and foods should be wiped off quickly.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE ETCHES AND SCRATCHES ON MARBLE?
Yes, it is possible to buff the area and resurface marble countertops. This should only be done by a professional, though, as the process can cause further damages, and deeps in the stone when it is not done correctly.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON MARBLE COLORS?
Marble countertops generally come in white, gray, cream, and beige tones. White Carrara Marble and Calacatta Gold marble (both from Italy) and are some of the most popular white and gray marble options. Thassos white marble (from Greece) is a pure white marble option. Opal white marble is also a pure white marble with crystals in it. Crema Marfil Marble (from Spain) and Bottacino Marble (from Italy) offer warm cream colors.
WHERE DOES MARBLE SLABS COME FROM?
Most marble slabs in the market come from Italy, Spain, and Turkey; however, there are still a lot of marble quarries in other parts of the world such as the USA, Russie, Greece, Brazil, and India.
CAN I USE MARBLE FOR KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS?
Most of our customers use marble for their kitchen countertops for its beauty, not necessarily for its durability. The fact is that marble is a more fragile stone than granite, quartzite, and quartz; however, the fine marble look is not always available in more durable options. Marble has been commonly used as kitchen countertops for years in Europe. It sure showed some scratches and etched here and there over the years. In summary, we think that it is ok to use marble for your kitchen countertops as long as you are aware of its characteristics.
ARE MARBLE COUNTERTOPS STAIN RESISTANT?
Marble countertops are not stain-resistant. They need to be re-sealed like granite countertops. We recommend a miracle 511 porous plus to seal your marble countertops.
IS IT EASY TO SEAL MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
Sealing marble countertops is easy. The process is to apply some sealer on the stone. Let the stone absorb the sealer for 5-10 minutes and wipe off the excess sealer. We recommend that marble countertops are re-sealed every 6 months or so depending on your usage.
IS GRANITE CHEAPER THAN MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
Marble countertops are usually costlier than granite and quartz countertops, but the price also depends on the particular marble you chose.
HOW THICK ARE MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
We recommend 3 cm (1 1/8”) thick marble slabs to be used as kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops.
WHAT EDGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
We recommend slightly rounded edges on marble countertops to prevent the stone from chipping in the long run. The following are some of the edge options for marble countertops; pencil, ¼” round, 3/8″ round, half bullnose, full bullnose, o’gee.
WHAT ARE THE FINISH OPTIONS FOR MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
Polished, honed, and leathered are the finish options for marble countertops.
ARE QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS BETTER THAN MARBLE COUNTERTOPS?
Quartz countertops are more durable than marble countertops, but the look is not the same as real marble.