What Is Marble?

Marble is a metamorphic rock that is created as a result of the metamorphosis of a combination of rocks under intense pressure and temperatures. These rocks include calcite, limestone, dolomite and serpentine. The main component of marble is calcium carbonate and contains acidic oxide. Marble takes hundreds of years to form and is found among the oldest parts of the Earth’s crust.

Why Are Marble Surfaces Popular?

One of the top reasons homeowners select marble for their countertops and floors is the elegant beauty it imparts to the home. It can spruce up the dullest looking bathroom, kitchen, or walkway with its wide variety of colored marble patterns. With the right care, marble has good longevity and can be used in different parts of the home to add sophisticated and classy looks.

What Are Advantages To Marble Surfaces?

There are advantages to having marble countertops in the kitchen, especially for home bakers and personal chefs. The surface of marble stays cool, making it an ideal roll-out surface for pastries and doughs. Many people are not aware that marble is also heat resistant. It will not catch fire or burn, and you may place semi-hot pans on it for relatively short periods of time without damage to the surface.

How Durable Is Marble?

When marble is installed and properly sealed and maintained, it has the potential to last for a lifetime. Marble is a natural stone, so it is less resistant to scratching, staining, and cracking than other countertop surfaces. It is also softer than surfaces like granite, this makes it easier to produce a wide variety of edge profiles to make distinguished looking cuts and arches. These types of designs come at a higher cost, but in comparison to granite are still much lower.

Although some people prefer their surfaces to have a pristine polished finish, one reason why many gravitate towards marble is its ability to reveal its age.

There are two types of finishes you can apply to your marble surfaces: ‘honed’ and ‘polished’. The former is achieved by sanding the surface to produce a worn, matte finish that’s more susceptible to staining, but leaves scratches less visible; the latter’s coating makes the stone appear brighter and leaves it less prone to stains, but will still show scratches and etches on the surface.