All About Marble Countertops: The Material and Maintenance Guide

Marble is a timeless, natural stone. Contrary to popular belief, Marble comes in a variety of colors beyond the classic white you may be envisioning. Marble is most commonly used in bathroom settings because it is more porous than Granite and Quartz. It is also softer than Granite and Quartz which makes it more prone to etching and staining.

Danby Marble has made a surge in recent years as The Marble Institute Of America has deemed it the only kitchen-safe Marble. It is produced right here in the United States by the Vermont Quarries Corporation which is a sustainable quarry. Multiple sources confirm that Danby Marble is the choice for Martha Stewart’s personal residence.

The Natural Stone Institute named Tesoro Bianco Marble the “2020 Stone of The Year” which is another great marble option for kitchen countertops. We have worked extensively with various marbles in both kitchens and bathrooms. Check out this recent project featuring Tesoro Bianco kitchen countertops by clicking here.

Mon Clair Danby Marble Kitchen Island by Titan Granite

What you need to know about Marble Countertops

Marble is a beautiful stone. It gives a look that no other material can come close to duplicating. The beautiful white color of marble makes it very desirable and timeless, Italians have been using marble in kitchens for centuries. Your marble countertops will last you a lifetime however, they will not look new for long. As long as you understand this and you can appreciate the bumps and bruises that will come with use and time, then marble might be a choice for you to consider. If you want a magazine-worthy kitchen and you want to keep it looking that way, marble is not a great choice. Here are the main concerns with marble countertops in kitchens.

  • Scratching

    Marble is a soft stone and is prone to scratch easily. Scratches WILL appear on your marble countertops with normal use over time. Sealing your marble countertops WILL NOT prevent scratches.  The only way to remove scratches or etching from your marble countertop is to have it professionally polished out. This is typically done on-site and it is a labor-intensive process that produces a significant mess. Polishing may not be able to remove all scratches or etching from the surface.

  • Staining

    Marble is a porous stone and is prone to staining. White marbles are even more susceptible to staining. Titan Granite recommends that marble countertops be sealed as often as needed in order to preserve their beauty.

  • Etching

    Etching is a term used to describe the dulling of a surface. In this case, your marble countertop. Marble WILL etch when it comes into contact with an acidic substance. Note that most cleaners, citrus, tomatoes, vinegar, etc. are acidic in nature. When they come into contact with a polished marble surface, they will create an etched surface.
    Sealer will NOT prevent etching! Etching tends to be less noticeable on honed, leathered, or other textured finishes. These finishes do not prevent etching but can be less noticeable.

  • Soft

    Marble, especially white marble, is extremely soft. It ranks between a 3-4 on the MOHS hardness scale.

Schedule your FREE In-Home Quote Measure Today!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Seams in Marble Countertops

White marble countertops are the most difficult to seam together. White marble usually has many different shades of white in it making it challenging to find one color of white glue to match the seam. Marble also tends to have some translucent properties to it which can create a shadow at the seam making its appearance more noticeable.

While no seam will ever be invisible, we do use the latest technology to ensure the best seams possible. Gorilla Grips are a pneumatic device that pulls each side of the seam together as tight as possible while also leveling each side out. While this device helps minimize the width of the seam, it will not make the seam disappear. No seam will ever disappear, you will always be able to see a seam when gluing two pieces of rock together. Direction, flow, and veining at the seam help to hide the appearance of a seam.

Eliminate Kitchen Down-Time with Titan Granite?

Our Northwood CNC Router polishing the edges of the stone.

At Titan Granite, we understand the investment you are making when you decide to purchase Granite, Marble, or Quartz Countertops.  Let us eliminate your worry about spending extra money eating out every night because with Titan Granite the average kitchen downtime is only a matter of hours.

Templating, or measuring for the exact dimensions of your new countertops can typically be done over your existing countertops. This allows you to keep a functioning kitchen as long as possible.

We have also eliminated the need for you to travel to multiple locations to select and purchase your new countertops. Your entire countertop purchase and fabrication occur in-house at Titan Granite. We hand select our stock inventory to ensure quality and availability.

Our 16,000 square foot showroom-warehouse houses over 100 unique granite, marble, quartzite, and quartz slabs. One stop into our showroom is all you need.

Interested in Marble Countertops? Check out this kitchen we just completed…

Show me More