Forum
« Antique Back Bar for Sale House's title not clear, can the bank close »
December 27, 2008
Marble Counter Top - Practical?
I would love to use white carrara marble for our kitchen counter but have heard so many people warn about stains, scratches, and whatnot, that I am second guessing. Of course, most of these peeps have another stone or material for their own countertops... Anyone have experiences, good or bad, to share?
Thanks.
Comments
I'm a small contractor and I have seen white carrara used in kitchens. It always brings up the same debate, cleaning stains, soft material, chips on the edges, sealers. I love the look, but it is high maintenance compared to other materials you could use. If you really want it, I say go for it. You could always have it refinished in the future if it starts to look bad.
Posted by: Rick at December 28, 2008 8:14 AM
Thanks Rick.
Posted by: Colonel at December 28, 2008 11:32 AM
If you like the look of white marble, but want something easier to maintain, consider using white Ceaserstone. Obviously, it's not the same, but the stuff is impermeable and looks and fees like stone.
For that matter, white Corian done right can be very nice too, is much less expensive that carrara marble, and can be easily sanded to get rid of blemishes.
Posted by: IronBalls at December 28, 2008 2:56 PM
I love the look of marble, but I would be fearful of wine and oil stains. Consider this ceaserstone product that sort of resembles carrara:
http://www.caesarstoneus.com/catalog/product.cfm?ProductID=28
Not as gorgeous, but you won't regret the quartz surfacing.
Posted by: PHfamily at December 28, 2008 4:01 PM
The color is nice but not practical. Certain juices like beef juices, wine, oils, vinegar will easily be absorbed by the marble because it is porus. Pick a darker color and make sure it is pretreated with a resin.
Posted by: hannible at December 28, 2008 4:33 PM
we've had one for over three years. we have 2 small kids and cook. it's been completely fine- a few chips here and there, but to me it looks good and less precious. after everyone's warnings about staining, we haven't had a single one and we drink and spill red wine, make salad dressing, etc...
Posted by: miss priss at December 28, 2008 5:27 PM
We went with Silestone instead of marble or granite and we don't regret it. It looks fantastic and it's so much easier to care for. No stains, no chips or scratches, no damage from hot or cold. I highly recommend it.
Posted by: laurie11201 at December 28, 2008 10:37 PM
We spent months researching and debating this, and at the end, I conclude, all countertop surfaces are imperfect so choose what you love.
With the marble you have to accept it might look imperfect/patina-ed or you might have to spend extra time doing maintenance, but if you love it...
Many people urged us to get the ceaserstone, but we did not like the look of it -- too "artificial" looking. Meanwhile our friends who urged us to get it have found that after a couple of years it is not "perfect" anymore -- the ceaserstone has started chipping.
I think they're all fine, and none is perfect. Butcher block is a nightmare around a sink. That's the only bad countertop experience I've ever had personally. Marble is beautiful, though everyone will discourage you, even at the stone stores. Granite is beautiful, but after doing a lot of research, I started to feel it looked either boring or else ostentatious -- I couldn't find the middle ground. We ended up going with concrete.
Posted by: 146steven at December 29, 2008 9:00 AM
we have a marble counter & have had no problems despite heavy use. One night did get a red wine mark but this was faint to start with and now is invisible.
Posted by: going4broke at December 29, 2008 9:32 AM
Marble is beautiful. If you don't mind the look of patina on a stone, then go for it. (You can check out what a used piece of marble looks like at some bakeries or salvage yards). But yes, it does stain, etch and chip more easily than the silestone, corian, granite, etc.
Personally, the artifical stones don't look anything like marble to me. So if you opt to go with something else, pick something you like the look of rather than how it resembles something natural.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at December 29, 2008 11:44 AM
I'm thinking white statuary/carrara marble for my counters,too. I do spill some coffee nearly every day, though. Think that will stain alot?
I have a small white marble-topped table that's at least 100 years old that looks fine except for a crack that developed along the way. I've also seen really old French bakery counters that look great. Think marble will make it through my clumsiness?
Given my tiny kitchen's placement right next to a highly detailed bay window, I'm definitely going with simple traditional. I'm not too keen on the quartzites trying to look like marble. They don't seem to be able to match the visulal depth and randomness of the real thing.
Posted by: Bessie at December 29, 2008 4:06 PM
We have amber colored marble backsplash and marble kitchen floor. I will say this - the backspalsh still looks great, the floor has suffered some chips and stains and the grout needs replacing...
I say go for it - you can always change it in 5 years or so when it starts to wear, plus you might be into a different style by then anyway.
good luck
Posted by: gemini10 at December 29, 2008 9:06 PM
Silestone (quartz) is incredibly beautiful, germ resistant due to its patented Microban, and has dozens of colors to choose from. They have it at Home Depot, or you can also get independent countertop companies to install it. It's a natural stone, just treated, not fake stone. I have had mine for three years and am so glad I chose it over granite. Don't have any experience with marble, though, sorry . . .
Posted by: elizabethJane at December 30, 2008 10:39 AM
We went round and round and round on this. We loved the look of marble, but heard all the horror stories. We went shopping, fully expecting to pick an alternative and NOTHING and I mean nothing compares if you love the "life" and look of marble. We went for it. Bought it a few months ago so we don't have a long track record, admittedly. It already has a nick or two, but nothing to write home about. I do use a huge wooden cutting board (as was always my habit) and I'm a fast counter wipe (as was my habit), so so far so good on the stains and burns. But you know what? I adore it. Stains, schmains, bring on the patina. I don't think I'll ever regret it.
Posted by: kcf at December 30, 2008 8:44 PM
Just installed a monster peninsula in our new kitchen (promise a more detailed post here on brownstoner in a few weeks).
It's 8 feet x 5 feet and is in a whiteish marble with grey veining and looks absolutely sensational.
None of the artifical materials come even close to this.
It was called giorgia grey or something like that from SMC Stone in Brooklyn.
Am happy about certain aspects and unhappy about certain aspects, as discussed will post a longer overview in a few weeks, my point is this, go for wht you love as the artificials will always be a compromise.
Cheers,
Dean
Posted by: deanc at January 2, 2009 10:07 AM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.