When people think of an elegant, cool, and stunning countertop they usually think of marble. One of our biggest attractions to marble is those veins of color. When marble is formed under the earth, different minerals are exposed to heat and the veins of color are created. No two slabs of marble look the same. Your kitchen countertop will always be unique. Unfortunately, marble comes with its own issues.
At Arch City Granite, we specialize in the fabrication and installation of countertops. We understand that even though marble has its undeniable charm, it comes with higher demand for maintenance. If you are looking for that marble look, but without the maintenance, we have a solution.
Meet Marble
Marble is resistant to heat, and since it doesn’t absorb heat well, many bakers love its cool properties. You can set a hot pan, or pot down on the surface of your marble countertop and not worry about the heat doing any damage. Marble has been used for fireplace surrounds because it can handle a few sparks and won’t yellow from the heat.
Marble has a lot of qualities, but it is also a soft, porous rock. Because it is soft, you might never set a pot down on the surface, because you will be terrified of scratching it. Marble countertops will scratch very easy. You will want to have a cutting board whenever you are preparing a meal, because a knife blade can mar the surface. Because it scratches easily, most people will even put a soft cloth under their cutting boards. If you decide to use a scrubbing pad to clean the surface of you marble, you can damage the entire surface. It is that soft.
Marble is very susceptible to acids as well. If you spill some orange juice, wine, or any liquid that has acidic properties, the acid will etch the surface. Spills have to be cleanup up immediately. For this reason, people with young children often avoid getting marble countertops. Kids just make it difficult to have nice things.
Remember how marble is porous? That means that things can seep into the marble. Oils, coffee, and other drinks can seep into the porous rock and stain it. Since marble is so porous, you can get a surface sealer and a deep soaking sealant. Both will help protect you marble and give you precious minutes to clean up a spill before it can stain your beautiful countertops. Both types of sealant degrade over time, so you will need to have your countertops resealed.
The time frame is different, depending on the amount of use, but it can range anywhere from a few times a year, to once every one to two years. This is where the maintenance comes in with marble. If you forget to reseal, you will be faced with impossible stains that you can use elbow grease to remove, because scrubbing will scratch your marble.
Meet Granite that Looks like Marble
You have heard that granite is hard. That hardness gives it the durability people expect with a granite countertop. Geologists created a ranking system that measures the hardness of rock and they call it the Mohs hardness scale. Marble comes in at a 3 to 5, while granite comes in at a 7. Diamonds are a 10. Granite is non-porous and very, very hard. You can set hot pots down on the surface; some people even prepare their meal right on the surface.
Although, we recommend that you still use a cutting board, you will find that granite can withstand scratches from knife blades quite well. Since Granite is non-porous, you can spill things on the surface and never worry about stains occurring. Granite has a lot less maintenance. Like marble, granite does require a sealant, but many homeowners find that they can go a few years with heavy use before they ever have to add a new seal coat.
Your Marble-like, Granite Solution
If you love the look of marble, but you want the durability and the low maintenance associated with granite, then you are in for a wonderful surprise. There is a form of granite that has veins of color and looks like marble. That’s right, you can get granite that looks like marble. You can have your beautiful flowing marble look without all the work that goes into maintaining a marble countertop.
Bianco Romano granite looks a lot like Carrara marble. You will notice the white color with the greyish veins flowing through the surface. Your kitchen will come to life and you won’t have to worry about your children destroying your countertop.
Here at Arch City Granite, we can help you find a beautiful slab of granite that will give you the look of marble that you want. When you want the most out of your kitchen, you need to come and see us at Arch City Granite. We can help you pick the right countertop for your home. You can even watch the fabrication process, where we take large slabs of stone and transform them into beautiful countertops for kitchens, bathroom, and laundry rooms.
At Arch City Granite, we work to beauty homes, one kitchen at a time. Why not make your kitchen, the next one we transform?