Renovating your kitchen involves making many choices. Deciding on the countertop of your choice is undoubtedly the most important one. Usually, homeowners look for surfaces that are stunning and timeless but durable and easy-to-maintain too. For this reason alone, marble kitchen countertops have been a favorite choice for a long time.
When it comes to countertops, you want to get the material right the first time around. If you choose the wrong one, you’ll be unhappy with the results, exorbitant cost, and the countertops may not fit in with your aesthetic.
You need to take your time to make sure you’re choosing the perfect material for both your lifestyle and aesthetic. So, what fits your aesthetic and style? Is it marble, granite, or quartz?
Marble is a popular kitchen countertop choice for generations. But there are ten things nobody tells you about marble countertops that can make or break your decision.
1. It’s Best for Bakers
If you’re a baker, you’ll be happy to learn that marble is one of the most heat-resistant stones out there. This quality makes marble a popular choice for kitchen and patisserie countertops.
As it’s naturally cool to touch, marble can come in handy while cooking or baking various loaves of bread, cakes, quiches, pies, and more. So, if your kitchen sees a lot of impromptu bake-offs, marble countertops are the desired option.
2. Marble is Prone To Staining
Though it’s naturally ice-cold, you never want to place a piping hot pot directly on it. The hot pot can discolor or instead burn the surface. It’s best to use pot-holders, cutting boards, coasters to place your heated cookware or drink glasses. If there are any spills, make sure you clean them immediately to avoid staining.
3. Marble Develops A Sheen Over Time
Look at old houses and kitchens in general with marble kitchen countertops. It looks like the surface was exposed to a thing or two. Unlike quartz, marble develops a patina with age.
This is a pro rather than a con as the color of your marble darkens over time. The veining gets more profound, and all the etches, scratches are unnoticeable and uniform.
No wonder marble has been the top choice for generations now. It creates history, looks organic and high-end with every passing year. If you’re not into high gloss or patina, you might want to opt for something more like Corian, concrete, or quartz.
4. You Can Clean Marble Countertops Easily
Marble kitchen countertops are stunning, but most people stay away from them because they stain easily. But that’s only partially true. Let’s discover ways to keep your marble countertops looking brand-new.
For the best marble care, the safest bet is to use a specialized cleaner from a marble supplier. Always read the label before you use it to ensure you’re using the correct ratio to dilute.
If you don’t have a specialized cleaner, it’s best to use this: grab a bucket of warm water and microfiber cloth. Squeeze your cloth and remove any excess water. Then lightly wipe the surface with the cloth. Once you’re finished, make sure you dry the surface to avoid leaving any watermarks.
If you err on the side of caution and avoid using harsh chemicals on your marble countertops, you’ll always get a beautiful result. Marble is a gorgeous natural stone, so it’s essential to look after it.
5. You Must Avoid Abrasive Cleaners
Marble can be a luxurious add-on, but sometimes it’s difficult to clean or maintain. Generally, it’s best to keep your everyday cleaning products away from your marble countertops. They can cause damage to the porous nature of marble.
Marble is softer than granite and far more delicate. It’s also easily damaged by acid, and you’ll find most of your cleaning products have an acidic base.
It’s also important to avoid vinegar, baking soda, bleach, or even detergent when you’re self-cleaning. Marble is prone to water staining, so avoid using a steam mop.
6. Impurities Make Marble More Attractive
Yes, the impurities in your marble countertops are what gives the surface some character. Not just that, the veining is so unique that you cannot find it anywhere else. Not even on another marble slab.
7. There’s Life Beyond White
It’s a common misconception that only white marble countertops are the best kind for a kitchen. With changing trends, kitchen design has seen a lot more colored marble than ever.
Yes, we’re talking about pink, blue, green, gray, black, and of course, ivory. There’s so much more you can do with these beautiful colors to elevate your kitchen design.
8. Marble is High-Maintenance
All the rumors you’ve heard about marble kitchen countertops being high-maintenance are true. Marble is porous, so it is vulnerable to stains and spills while cleaning.
The wine or the gravy you just spilled will seep deep into the surface of the rock. The damage is often irreversible. You could clean it immediately, but you must get used to it if there’s any staining.
To avoid this, you can seal your surface at the time of installation and repeat periodically.
9. Get Used To Seeing Some Scratches
Your marble countertops have a sealant and some sort of polish over it. Acidic or abrasive chemicals or simple ingredients like lemons can cause it to chip.
This will make your countertops rusty and dull with time. So is there a solution? Honing your marble is a great option to make those scratches go unnoticed. But unfortunately, it won’t protect the marble from unintentional scratches.
10. Marble is Expensive and Heavy
Marble is the epitome of luxury. You will find marble in different places and sources. With a forever rise in demand, you will find marble in various prices and quality.
Of course, you can find budget-friendly options during a kitchen remodel or even run-off-the-mill quality options, but some marble countertops are far beyond in pricing and quality.
For a pristine, smooth, one-of-a-kind marble that glisten and shine for a lifetime, you may need to invest in a much superior one. Whichever marble you choose, you need to know that it’s going to be ridiculously heavy.
On that note, if you think you can single-handedly do a DIY install on your marble kitchen countertops, think again. You’ll need professionals for the installation process and later for the sealing.