Installing countertops are part of the final
stages of the kitchen and bath renovation. If you are considering using marble
material as part of the project, you are likely carrying a little history. Marble
is a wondrous natural material found in historical temples, in marvelous
statues, and in prominent structures.
Some folks in the industry will immediately
shun you away from using this material. “Marble is high maintenance! It will
never stay clean” I remember one dealer explaining this to a client. By the
look on the client’s face I could tell that they were scared away from the just
having the thought. The truth is there is no right or wrong answer. It will all
depend on the homeowner’s fashion and lifestyle, whether marble is the perfect
material.
Let’s talk about the beauty of Marble.
Yes those light golden veins running through the white Calcutta marble and the
light and soft color tones of the Crema Marfil. There are thousands of quarries
and thousands of options. This is oh so captivating! Marble does carry a
timeless, prestigious, and eloquent look.
Marble is a soft and porous material and
it’s usually sealed. Even if the surface is polished or honed finish, the
marble will wear and tear. As soon you start using it you will scratch it from
the clashing pots, scraping pans, and knife cuts. It will stain from the wine,
oil, and even water marks. It wears its bright white value from sun light’s UV
rays. Doesn’t this sound awful? It’s not, because life happens.
If you want to explore different finish
protections ask your local dealer about acid wash finish treatment, instead of
the honed finish. The finish process “abuses” the marble by scratching and
treating the surface so it conceals the natural wear in tear better.
Some people call this aging process: Patina,
and I like this term. The palaces and temples of the Greeks aged through time. These
historical pieces survived fires and wars of changing times. Your kitchen or
bath transformations will not be severe, hopefully. Instead will have an old,
worn, graceful patina and that is what makes Marble so perfect.