When it comes to options for kitchen countertops you’ve done your homework. You know that granite is heat and stain-resistant and comes in a variety of natural colors. You’re aware that quartz is super-resistant to scratches and has natural anti-microbial protection against mold and mildew. Concrete is very durable, and you can customize the color of your counters. Bamboo is eco-friendly and surprisingly durable.
When it comes to marble, however, you haven’t really done much digging. Here are seven things you may not know about this stone.
Marble is available in more than just white, grey, and black. There are varieties available on the market that have colorful veins and striations, which include gold, green, yellow, and pink. These pigments are the result of impurities like sand, silt, and clay that are present in the stone.
Carrara is considered by many to be a top-of-the-line, luxury variety of marble which is named after the region in Italy where it’s found. It has a white base with blue-grey veins and is commonly used for kitchen counters.
Exotic marbles include Calacatta Gold—which has gold veining, Crema Marfil and Emperador—found in Spain, Giallo Antico (Tunisia), Levadia Black (Greece), and Connemara (Ireland). The state of Vermont yields a type of marble called Danby, and Colorado produces Yule.
Marble is a bit temperamental. Because it’s considered to be a soft stone marble can chip and etch (leave dull spots) easily—so beware of banging large pots and pans against it, be sure to use a cutting board, and clean up liquids from acidic foods like tomatoes and lemons. Due to its porous nature marble is prone to staining, so don’t allow spills like red wine to linger. Marble isn’t heat-resistant, so be sure to use a trivet before placing hot pots on its surface.
Although marble is susceptible to etching, you can choose counters that have a honed, or matte, finish which can help prevent etches and scars.
If you don’t use a recommended product to clean marble counters, don’t use bleach, or other abrasive. Only clean marble with something that would be safe to use on your hands. You can create a homemade cleanser simply by mixing a non-abrasive dish soap with warm water in a spray bottle.
Marble has been the material of choice for some of the world’s most well-known structures and works of art, including our nation’s Lincoln Memorial, Michelangelo’s David in Italy, and the Elgin Marbles, which are a collection of marble sculptures that were originally a part of the temple of the Parthenon and other structures in ancient Athens, Greece.
