Whether you are building a home or renovating your current home when it comes to the kitchen you will have a lot of different choices to make. You will be choosing from diverse types of cabinets, pulls, knobs, back splashes and of course, your countertops.
There are so many different countertop varieties out there. You have probably started thinking through all of the different choices. If you are considering marvelous marble countertops in your kitchen, you are certain to be wondering about the details.
At Arch City Granite, we want you to have the information you need to make an educated decision. If you are thinking of using marble countertops, we have put together a list of pros and cons associated with marble. That way you will have the information you need to make an informed decision. Whether you decide to go with marble, or one of our other types of stone countertops, you know that you will be getting expert fabrication and installation in your home. We are serious about stone and about countertops.
The Pros of Marble Countertops
- Cost: Not all marble countertops will break the bank. You can find good choices in common marble materials that can potentially cost less than higher grade granite, soapstone, quartz, or quartzite. Carrara marble (a gray version with softer veins) is a reasonably priced natural countertop material you can find on the market. Some Brazilian marbles are very beautiful and also affordable. Arabescus White and Arabescato Venato are few of the examples of Brazilian marble.
- Appearance: Marble has the look of elegance. It has that soft cool surface and beautiful veins of radiating color. As far as aesthetics go, it is hard to compete with marble. Its beauty can easily transform a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room into pure elegance. Your choice of hues includes solid white, solid black and a range of variety colors in the rose, yellow, gray, green, white and black. Every marble countertop is unique and beautiful in its own right.
- Heat: Marble can handle the heat. You can easily place hot items on a marble surface. Marble does not radiate heat well, so things straight from your oven will be just fine on your marble countertops. Marble won’t yellow from heat. Because of its ability to handle heat, marble is often used for fireplace surrounds. Still though, you might want to use a hot pad, because marble can be scratched.
- Antimicrobial: There is a rumor out there that since marble is porous, it can harbor bacteria. It simply isn’t true. Marble is naturally antimicrobial. Microbes do not like living on marble. If you want to add additional microbial cleaning, you can use a light mixture of antimicrobial soap.
- Flexibility: Marble is naturally softer than granite or quartzite, but being softer gives it a unique advantage. If your kitchen needs more than just a rectangle slab, this is where marble’s softness becomes an advantage. Marble is easier to cut into odd shapes and can be outfitted with fancy edges.
The Cons of Marble Countertops
- Cost: Even though there are some slabs of marble that will cost less, if you want to have a wide selection, you will be paying for it. When it comes to marble, it is all about supply and demand. If you are looking at a rare type of marble like Calcatta Gold marble, you are going to pay a high price. If you are looking at a common variety, you can potentially save money.
- Acids: Acids will etch your marble countertops. Marble reacts with acid. If you spill juice, wine (especially red wine), or even vinegar, you can damage your marble. Marble will come with a sealant that will prevent the stain from setting in, but you will need to act fast. If you forget about the spill, you will end up with a stain that may not come out. For this reason, if you have little children in your home that are not old enough to clean up after themselves, you might want to go with a different product.
- Oils: Since marble is naturally porous, things like acids and oils have the tendency to sink into the surface. Certain types of oils that you use in your kitchen can seep through the surface and leave a stain. When it comes to marble, you will always need to clean up any spills.
- Scratching: Marble is one of the softer countertops. Geologists have a hardness scale that ranks the hardness of natural stone materials. Granite ranks around a seven, while marble ranks around three to five. Since Marble is soft, it is more likely to scratch or chip than harder materials. In order to protect your marble countertops, you will want to use hot pads and trivets. You will always want to use a cutting board because a metal knife can scratch the surface of a marble countertop.
- Maintenance: Marble comes with a seal coat that protects it. To keep your marble countertops looking their best, you will need to reseal them every 6 months to a year. Keeping the sealant in place will do a lot to protect your marble countertops. Avoid heavy use. The potential to scratch, chip, or crack a marble countertop will always be higher than other surfaces. Remember that any stains can easily become permanent; you will always want to clean up spills quickly.
Arch City Granite
If you have more questions about marble countertops, you can always come and see us. If you have questions, we have answers. We will be able to help you choose the right type of countertop for your home. Marble is a beautiful choice that will always make any kitchen magnificent. But before making a choice, you need to consider the positives and negatives.
Once you have decided, you can view our wide selection of full slabs and find the right color that will make your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room simply pop. If you decide to go with a different stone for your countertops, no worries, we can help you find the right material for your needs.