Home Improvement DIY

Although marble is a wonderful material which comes in so many different colors and styles, marble is not one of the best choices for a kitchen countertop. The problem is that is more porous and softer than you may expect which means it is easy to scratch and is easily stained by food and liquid. Because marble not cheap you will want to make sure you understand marble’s limitations as you may decide that you would rather choose another material. If you really have your heart set on marble then you will need to make sure that you look after it really well.

Caring for Marble

Using a sealer will go a long way to protect your marble countertop from scratches, also make sure that you quickly wipe up any spills, especially wine and fruit juice. Otherwise you can end up with permanent surface etching. When cleaning marble use a mild cleaner – do not use abrasive or caustic cleaners and never rub with oil or wax.

The most durable form of marble is one which is “honed”. This means that it hasn’t been polished so has no shine and can be scrubbed using abrasives, beach and soap.

Alternatives to Real Marble

Cultured Marble is synthetic but looks like real marble. Some benefits include: much cheaper than real marble, does not need to be sealed, more resistant to scratches and can be easily resurfaced if damaged.

Granite is a natural stone and is considerably more durable than marble so will last for a good number of years. Granite is also about the same price as marble so you won’t need to pay any extra.

Quartz is made up of 90% quartz and 10% epoxy resin, is extremely durable, requires no sealing and comes in a variety of colors. One manufacturer of quartz, Silestone, has even introduced Microban which prevents to growth of bacteria and germs.

If after reading this article you may or may not want to buy a marble kitchen countertop. I suggest you do as much reading as you can so that you can decide for yourself. If you are an avid cook then there is more risk of you accidentally damaging your marble and because it is not a material which can be easily fixed I would suggest you have closer look at buying granite.

 

Related Entries:

• How to Seal Granite Kitchen Countertops - I’ve already talked about how great granite is as a kitchen countertop material. The colors are beautiful it is extremely durable; the prices are the most affordable they’ve been in years and it’s bound to increase the value of your home. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want a granite kitchen countertop.
• Quartz Kitchen Countertops/Worktops - Quartz surfaces are made from approx. 90% quartz and 10% epoxy resin with some composites looking just like real stone. Often people will call quartz kitchen counters Silestone however this is just one of the brands available, others include: DuPont’s Zodiaq, Formica’s Crystallite, Okite and HanStone. Color and Finish of Quartz There is a massive range
• Granite Kitchen Countertops/Worktops - Granite has always been synonymous with quality mainly because it has until recently been unaffordable to most people. It is a wonderful material as it is highly durable (which is ideal if you are an avid cook) plus looks stunning. Colors of Granite Although you can only buy granite in natural colours there is still
• Guide to Buying Marble Flooring - The dictionary’s description of marble is a hard, crystalline metamorphic limestone. That in itself doesn’t sound beautiful. It sounds rather dull. However when you take a piece of this metamorphic limestone, polish and smooth it, you get a wonderful material that has been used for centuries. History of Marble The ancient Romans would use marble in their
• A Buyers Guide to Pool Decking - Is there anything better then taking a dip in the back yard pool during those hot summer days? Being able to dive in, take a swim and then be able get out and relax in the sun. While this is a fabulous thought, there are many dangers that come from owning a pool. The water