The Pros and Cons of Marble Countertops
After deciding that you want to go with stone countertops, you have to make the time consuming decision of what type of stone you want to go with, with the most popular types of stone being granite and quartz. You can read about the pros and cons of granite here, and the pros and cons of quartz here. Each stone has a different look to it, and comes with a different price point and amount of maintenance. Marble is one of the less popular stones, but still has attractive qualities. Most fabricators recommend using marble for less trafficked areas such as bathrooms, offices, and other similar areas.
Pros of marble:
Marble is a beautiful natural stone that is linked to elegance and unique patterns. Colors range from bright whites to deep blacks and many in between. No two slabs are going to be exactly alike, meaning that you can know that you can know your countertop is one of one. Marble, like granite, has a high heat resistance, meaning that you can set hot pans on it for short durations, but still need to be careful because no stone is totally impervious to heat. Marble is one of the cheaper natural stones, and can be used in place of granite or quartz.
Cons of marble:
Marble is an extremely porous and soft stone, meaning that it is very sensitive to staining from juice, wine, oil, coffee, and other substances, and scratches easily from bottles, pans, knives, etc. If you choose marble you need to understand that to keep it looking its best, you need to do very regular maintenance. Other stones are often the first choice for countertops because they are far more resistant to this type of wear and tear. Many installers don’t offer warranties on marble that is installed in the kitchen because the delicate nature of the stone.
Marble may be very attractive because of the beautiful patterns, elegance, and low price, but you need to take a step back and determine if you are ready to accept the guaranteed drawbacks that have been outlined. For some, marble is worth it and they are very happy with their decision. If you are in love with the look of marble, but not ready to accept the drawbacks, look into quartzite or porcelain, both of which are known for their marble mimicking looks.
