Selecting Marble for Your Home
We sometimes receive questions about materials and techniques through our website. Recently a homeowner emailed to ask about the marble countertop in one of our ads. The image is from our Classic Hyannisport Home project, which does in fact have a treated marble island.
“Hello, saw your ad in the recent Design New England Magazine, with what appears to be marble on the kitchen island. We would really like to put marble on our island in our vacation home in New Hampshire, but have been told by some that is stains & is not practical. So we are wondering if your island top is some sort of treated marble or something that resembles marble?”
Marble is a soft, porous stone, and can stain, scratch and break more easily than granite, but it’s harder than limestone. Marble can be difficult to maintain and has a lot of potential for stain, gouging and long term durability issues. A honed (flat) finish is more porous than a polished finish (true with any stone surface). Professional sealing can also help to prevent staining and greatly reduces the marble's natural porosity. The benefits are more aesthetic than anything, as it’s one of the few available options if you want a white counter top, aside from manufactured stone products. There are also slab quartzite products available that can have the look of marble but offer greater durability.
When a client chooses to use marble in a project, we take care to review the pros and cons of choosing marble. It is important that the homeowner is aware of the potential wear issues, but with a little extra care, and an appreciation for imperfection, marble can be a beautiful addition to a kitchen or bath.
Pros:
Natural beauty
Develops pleasing patina
Heat-proof
Supports chopping
Cons:
Porous
Easily stained
Easily scratched
Requires ongoing maintenance
General Care:
Reapply sealant as needed
Wipe up spills immediately, especially alcohol and citrus juices
(Watch that red wine!)
Don't place wet or abrasive objects on the surface
Use trivets and mats
Below are additional examples of marble used in LDa projects:
