Marble Countertops: 9 Tips for Choosing a White Marble Slab

However, the best way to live with marble countertops may simply be to accept that they will patina over time. “If you’ve been to an old bakery or pizza shop and seen how white marble patinas, and like it,” says Nussbaum, “then it could be the perfect material for you.”

6. Call the marble facility ahead of your visit.

“Call the slab marble facility in advance to inquire about whether they have marble slabs that meet the color, type, square footage, and dimensions you require,” suggests Toronto-based interior designer Ferris Rafauli. “Let them know when you’re coming and ask them to organize a tour [where someone] points out the various slabs of marble they have. This will also allow the supplier to pull out their various slab marbles in advance, so that when you arrive they are taking you directly to the selections that meet your needs.”

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7. Know the difference between cracks and fissures in your marble.

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Cracks are a sign that the marble has been dropped or improperly handled. Fissures, though, are entirely different. “A fissure differs from a crack in that it’s a naturally occurring feature in the stone and does not change the plane of the marble surface,” says Rafauli. “You should be able to slide your nail across a fissure without it catching. Depending on the look you are trying to achieve, fissures may be acceptable—say, if you’re looking for stone that will give you a more rustic look. Fissures don’t change the integrity of the stone; they are part of the stone’s character.”

8. Ask about the origin of the marble.

“These days, white marble such as Calacatta and Statuario is currently in high demand. As such, some marble suppliers will call their white marble with veins Calacatta marble. But it won’t be authentic, rather just white stone with veins that originates from China or some other part of the world,” explains Rafauli. “True Calacatta originates from mountain quarries in Carrara, Italy. The same is true for Statuario: True Statuario marble originates from Italy.”

9. Maintain your marble countertops by getting a sealed finish.

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Finishing marble countertops with a penetrating sealer is essential for long-term performance. Acids will still etch the surface, but if the countertop has a honed finish, an etched mark can usually be removed by scrubbing with a Comet paste using a Scotch-Brite pad, he says.

If it’s a polished surface, it will require different abrasives and technical skill to clean the marble, which might best be left to a professional. If the marble does get a stain, it can often be removed with an alkaline poultice that gradually pulls the offending material out of the stone as it dries. But any of these interventions will also strip the sealer, he notes, so it needs to be reapplied after the repair.

“The good thing about marble is that you can always sand it down or polish it again,” says Groves. “With a lot of other materials, once you damage it, you can’t do that.”

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens