Marble countertops give your home an elegant appeal. If you love baking, they are the perfect units to go for, as they give you the perfect surface to work on.
If you are looking to buy the countertops, there are a number of things you should know. These things include:
If you are worried about stains, go with white marble
Although many people associate marble with creamy, white stone, there are hundreds of varieties that you can go with which include taupe, green, gold, red, and black.
White marble is best used for kitchen surfaces. This is because there are higher risk of stains forming here than anywhere else. In the event acid etching leaves a pale mark, it is considerably more visible on colorful marble than on white marble. You don’t want everyone to notice the stains on your surfaces, do you?
You should be ultra-cautious when using dark marble or nonwhite marble for kitchen countertops, as they can easily look dirty and out of place even with minor stains.
Consider how the different slabs will come together
Every stone slab is unique, so it’s best to choose the exact pieces of stone that you will use on your countertops. There’s an art to marble and choosing the right slabs and understanding the location of the veins is critical.
You want to artfully place the markings so that it’s almost like a painting. At the same time, it’s critical to consider how various components work together.
The longer the slab you can get without any seams, the better. If you do have seams on your slabs, it’s always nice to book-match the marble, so that neighboring pieces appear mirrored.
Take veining into consideration
Every quarry is unique, however, certain types of marble blocks can be cut in two different ways to produce distinct veining patterns.
For example, cross cut, or fleuri cut, produces stone slabs that are random and are good for book-matching.
Vein cut, also known as striato, slices the block in the opposite direction to create a linear, striped appearance.
Over the years, designers have used both cuts to create some unique looks. Some use vein-cut on the wall and cross-cut on the floor.
Consider the best finish to transform your marble
The entire stone industry has been experiencing a massive wave of technology, which is transforming the product.
Now, there are more options than ever to finish stone, including various brushing and polishing procedures. You can give your countertops an orange-peel texture, which is unique and adds interest to your surfaces.
While this is the case, you should note that the most common options remain polished (glossy) or honed (matte). For homeowners concerned about acid etching, go with a honed finish.
On a polished finish, etching will make the slab dull and more visible. With an honed finish, you’re dulling an already dull finish, so it disguises it.
Before you get the finish, take time to research it and find the one that will be best suited for your surfaces. If you are confused, get the input of a professional.
Consider the edging of the countertops
Aside from its natural beauty, there’s a reason marble has always been popular for sculpture: it’s easy to manipulate with tools. When current computer numerical control milling machines are included, practically anything is feasible in terms of kitchen decorating.
There are many edge profiles to choose from. For example, there is the simple softened edge, which reduces the sharpness of a straight 90-degree corner.
Hard stones like marble are brittle, so if you hit a 90-degree corner with something hard, it will chip. With a curve, it’s highly unlikely that it’s going to chip.
You need to ensure that during installation, the contractor you hire doesn’t leave a straight edge that will hurt the people or pets walking around. It also eliminates the chances of the stone getting damaged.
Take time to know the difference between fissures and cracks
Cracks indicate that the stone has been mishandled or poorly handled. However, fissures are quite different. A fissure differs from a crack in that it’s naturally occurring in the stone and does not change the plane of the marble surface.
Your nail should be able to slide across a fissure without getting caught.
Fissures may be okay depending on the look you’re going for—for example, if you want a stone with a more rustic appearance. Fissures do not affect the stone’s integrity; rather, they are part of its character.
When you are buying the marble, you will come across plenty of slabs with fissures. As mentioned, there is nothing wrong with fissures.
The problem comes when the countertops have cracks. You should avoid countertops with cracks as they tend to be weak.
Know the origin of the marble you are looking to buy
You should be cautious of the source of the marble you are looking to buy as it determines the quality of the stone.
White stones like Calacatta and Statuario are particularly popular right now. Some marble providers would refer to their white marble with veins as Calacatta marble.
But it won’t be authentic; it’ll be white stone with veins from China or anywhere else in the world, which tends to be cheap and low quality.
True Calacatta is sourced from mountain quarries in Carrara, Italy.
The same is true for Statuario: authentic Statuario marble comes from Italy. If you’re in a showroom and the vendors are offering something like carrara marble or carrara white, it’s important checking the stone’s origin.
To be on the safe side, go for marble that comes from Italy as it tends to be high quality.
Parting shot
These are some of the things you should know when you are looking to buy marble kitchen countertops Raleigh. After buying the countertops, you should ensure that you have them perfectly installed by experts.
You also should take good care of them. As a rule of thumb, don’t place hot objects on them, as they will get damaged. Also, be cautious of the cleaning products you use. You should always stay away from acidic cleaners as they are known to damage them.