Marble is a rock of metamorphic type comprising of crystalline carbonate minerals, generally termed as calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not laminated, although exceptional cases are there. Marble looks great, it is available in a variety of colors, finishes and textures, and it is widely used in different kinds of construction projects. In addition to making some stunning sculpture, marble can also serve as a great material to make benchtops.
Marble is the stone of choice and applied to many luxury kitchens. It is a unique type of porous material with a natural translucence that other benchtop materials like engineered stone and porcelain cannot duplicate or replace. As compared to granite, there are wide ranges of colored marbles to choose from although prices for marble benchtops is quite high, it may largely depend upon the type and finish of material you choose, and the size of the area you want to cover with it.
How Marble Gets is Looks?
There are two categories of marble, namely calcite and dolomite. The presence of these two substances in smaller amounts during rock formation can cause the veining, cloudiness and mottled shades in marble. This textured effect can widely vary from very fine uniform grains to large random crystals of calcite material. The color of the marble is based on its mineral composition and can vary from brilliant white to completely black, including different shade combinations of blue, grey, red, yellow and green. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen’s interiors, as you have a whole lot of options to choose from.
Things to Know Before You Install Marble Benchtops
Although marble is a tough and sturdy material, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind in order to keep them for long:
#1. Abrasion:
Marble benchtops can withstand abrasion to a great extent. When installed on a kitchen benchtop, it is susceptible to a lot of abrasions due to kitchen utensils, cutting boards and other such sources. The marble benchtop stays protected under all these circumstances. However, one thing you need to remember is not to use cleaners containing abrasives on your marble benchtop.
#2. Chemicals:
Chemical exposure and marking is the most common abusing condition on marble. Exposure to acidic solutions, such as lemon juice, juice of tomatoes, vinegar etc. can cause loss of beauty from marble benchtops. The use of improper cleaning agents can result in acid-related etching and loss of attraction. Applying sealer may mitigate vulnerability to chemical marking and keep your marble surface protected.
#3. Stains:
Marble has a high absorption affinity and is easily damaged by mineral acid. Application of sealer can be helpful and can retard the rate of water absorption into the stone surface, but you will need to reapply frequently. Thus, it is important to select a marble benchtop only if you can take its proper care and maintain it well.
Thus, we can conclude that to add a touch of aristocracy to your kitchen, marble benchtops are pivotal. Pure white marble is preferred, as this kind of marble is formed as a result of metamorphism of a very pure limestone or dolomite minerals. The characteristics and colours vary widely due to the presence of various mineral impurities in it, such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides or chert. Price remarkably varies based on the colour and texture of the marble as well.
If you think that you can care for your marble benchtops efficiently, then nothing would be a better option than this one. It not only looks great but lasts long too, provided that you serve it well.
