Marble countertops have long been a symbol of luxury and style. Their natural veining and unique patterns make each slab a work of art, adding timeless beauty to any kitchens. While many homeowners are so clearly drawn to marble for its aesthetic appeal, however, many also worry about its durability with everyday use.
In truth, marble is actually quite durable, and can last for a lifetime if you’re willing to put effort towards proper care. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the essential steps and best practices to ensure your marble countertops maintain their beauty for years to come. That starts with understanding that not all marble is created equal.
Types of Marble
Marble is formed from limestone and classified as metamorphic. Because it is a natural stone, there are various types of marble in existence, each of which has its own unique characteristics. Understanding which one you have can prove to be beneficial in determining the most appropriate methods of care. Take these three popular options, for example:
- Carrara Marble: Known for its white or blue-gray color and soft veining. In addition to being the most commonly used types of marble, it is also relatively affordable. It tends to be less porous, making it slightly more resistant to stains, but still requires regular sealing.
- Calacatta Marble: Features bold, dramatic veining with a white background that is often purer than Carrara. Calacatta is viewed as more luxurious and has a higher price point. Due to its bright white appearance, stains and etching are a bit more difficult to camouflage.
- Statuario Marble: Also known as Statuary. A high-quality marble with distinct, dark veining. It is similar to Calacatta in that it offers a starker white background, but like Carrara, it is also considered to have a lower porosity.
Polished vs. Honed Marble
- Polished Marble: Polished marble has a glossy, reflective finish that enhances the stone’s color and veining. This finish is more resistant to stains but can show scratches and etches more easily. Polished surfaces require regular polishing to maintain their shine.
- Honed Marble: Honed marble has a matte or satin finish. The complete opposite of polished, honed marble is less likely to show scratches and etches but can be more susceptible to staining due to its more porous nature. Honed marble benefits from frequent cleaning and occasional resealing to keep it looking fresh.
Characteristics of Marble & Importance of Proper Care
The true beauty of marble lies in its veining. Because the color and pattern of such are created by mineral deposits, no two slabs are alike. That means that when you choose marble for your countertops, you can be certain that it will be unique from that of your neighbor, which in and of itself is enough to appeal to many.
Beyond its undeniable beauty, however, it’s important to recognize that marble does come with some challenges. For starters, it’s one of the most porous metamorphic stone, making it more susceptible to staining than say, Quartz. With calcite as the most abundant mineral makeup, marble is also considered fairly soft, ranking at a 3 on the Moh’s scale of mineral hardness (1 being extremely soft and 10 extremely hard). This means that it can be scratched fairly easily.
Now we know what you’re thinking: sounds like a lot of things for the negative column. Again, we concede that marble does come with a few challenges, but it doesn’t mean you have to let go of your dreams for beautiful marble countertops. These things can be managed with regular maintenance and a bit of help from the professionals at TuffSkin Surface Protection.
Protecting Marble Countertops
Addressing Stains and Their Damage
Now this is where knowing the type of marble you have can prove to be particularly helpful. While marble is more porous than various other stone options, different marbles have different absorption rates, meaning the degree in which liquids will penetrate the stone. The lower the absorbency, the lower the risk of staining.
If the type of marble countertop you have boasts a lower absorbency rate, like Carrara and Statuario, certain spills may not be damaging, so long as they’re addressed relatively quickly.
Preventing Scratch Damage
Again, ranking at a 3 on the Mohs hardness scale means marble can be particularly susceptible to scratching. Try employing some of these preventative measures to avoid excessive damage:
- Avoid Acidic Substances: Acidic substances like lemon juice, wine, and even certain vegetable oils can cause etching on marble’s sensitive surface.
- Use Cutting Boards: Of course, if you’re installing marble countertops in your kitchen, use of the above is probably inevitable. Protective items like cutting boards, coasters, and trivets are essential to maintaining the integrity of your marble countertops. These items help prevent scratches, as well as staining.
- Avoid Heavy Impacts: Be cautious and avoid dropping kitchen tools or heavy objects items onto your countertops that could scratch or chip the marble.
Choosing a honed finish for your marble countertops can also aid in preventing scratch damage. Since this type of finish requires the stone to be pre-etched, it minimizes the appearance of scratches.
Regular Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular cleaning is the foundation of marble countertop maintenance. The key is to use mild products, as acidic and abrasive cleaners have the potential to cause etching, dulling the stone’s finish. Ultimately, a pH-neutral stone cleaner (or mild dish soap), a soft cloth, and some water is all you need. Just wipe the surface of your marble countertops to remove crumbs and debris, spray your pH-neutral cleaner, and wipe the surface with the cloth. If you’re opting for the dish soap, apply warm water to a cloth, add some soap, and wipe along the surface of your countertops. Follow up with a dry cloth.
Ultimately, the cleaning process itself is very simple. The biggest hurdle is being able to act quickly when spills or messes occur. But what if you didn’t have to?
Sealing Marble Countertops
Because marble is so susceptible to stains and etching, sealing is a great way to add a layer of protection and maintain its beauty long term. Traditional sealing methods often involve applying a liquid sealant that penetrates the surface to create a protective barrier. While great in theory, these sealants often trap moisture (which leads to flaking), cause buildup that creates an unnatural and unsightly appearance to the stone, and require reapplication every few months.
TuffSkin Surface Protection offers a superior alternative to traditional sealants. Unlike liquid sealants, TuffSkin is a proprietary stone laminate applied directly to the surface of the marble. It effectively forms a physical barrier between the actual stone and outside forces, preventing any liquids or substances from coming into contact with the stone.
The Benefits of TuffSkin for Sealing Marble Countertops
- Stain Proof: With TuffSkin, stains are no longer a concern. The laminate prevents substances from penetrating the marble, ensuring that spills and other potential stain-causing agents stay on the TuffSkin surface, where they can later be wiped away as if nothing ever happened.
- Etch Proof: TuffSkin creates an etch-proof barrier, protecting the marble from alkaline and acidic products. Your marble countertops will not be scratched, chipped, or stunned. Think of TuffSkin kind of like the screen protector on your phone. The protector itself may sustain damage, but what’s underneath remains unscathed.
- UV Inhibitor: Over time, exposure to UV light can cause marble to yellow and lose its natural clarity. TuffSkin incorporates a 99.9% UV inhibitor, which helps reduce yellowing and maintains the marble’s original color and appearance. This feature is crucial for countertops in areas with high natural light exposure, as it preserves the stone’s beauty for longer periods. It also makes it possible for TuffSkin to be applied on outdoor kitchen surfaces.
- Heat Resistant: Marble is known to be naturally heat resistant and the addition of TuffSkin won’t inhibit that attribute. Our surface protector can withstand temperatures up to 400°F, providing an additional layer of protection against heat damage.
- Easy to Replace: Unlike traditional sealants that wear off and require reapplication, TuffSkin offers a long-term maintenance solution. If the laminate becomes scratched or damaged, it can be easily replaced without compromising the stone underneath.
How to Apply & Maintain TuffSkin
- Professional Installation: TuffSkin is always installed by our very own team of certified professionals who have been trained to apply the laminate seamlessly. The installation process is quick and does not require any special preparation of the marble surface, making it a convenient option for homeowners, as well as business owners who can’t afford a lengthy installation process.
- Application Process:
- Cleaning the Surface: The marble surface is thoroughly cleaned and dried to ensure proper adhesion of the TuffSkin laminate.
- Applying the Laminate: A slip solution is sprayed onto the marble surface and the TuffSkin film is carefully applied, ensuring no air bubbles or wrinkles.
- Trimming and Finishing: Excess laminate is trimmed, and the edges are carefully sealed to ensure a smooth, invisible finish.
- Maintenance:
- Routine Cleaning: TuffSkin requires minimal maintenance with no special requirements for cleaning. Just wipe away spills and messes as they come about and go about your day.
- Replacement: If needed, TuffSkin can be easily removed and replaced by a professional, ensuring the marble remains protected over time.
See for yourself how the TuffSkin installation process works:
Frequency of Resealing
While traditional marble countertop sealants may require resealing every 3-6 months, TuffSkin offers a more durable solution. Once applied, TuffSkin provides continuous protection without the need for frequent resealing.
Historically, we have seen hotels choose to replace TuffSkin every 8-10 years, busy restaurants and bars every 1-5 years, and homeowners every 4-8 years. The decision to replace is typically based on aesthetics and not lack of performance over time.
Enhancing the Natural Beauty of Marble
With the addition of TuffSkin to your marble countertops, you may just free up time to focus less on the maintenance of the stone and more on its beauty. Marble countertops can be a real focal point in any space, so why not find ways to build around them in your interior design and truly make them shine?
Proper Lighting to Showcase Marble Countertops
When someone mentions lighting in reference to interior design, your first instinct is probably to assume they’re talking about the fixtures themselves. While the color, size, and placement of a lighting fixture would certainly play a role in accenting your marble countertops, we’re talking more specifically about the lighting itself.
Color temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale and can play a key role in how your kitchen looks and feels. Temperatures on the lower end of the scale are considered warm whereas those on the higher end are cool. If you’re like most people who are attracted to marble countertops, a large part of the appeal is that crisp, clean white aesthetic. In this case, you’d want to opt for lightbulbs in the 4,000-5,000K range. This will help to keep your countertops looking bright white, as opposed to a bulb around 2,000-3,000K, which would reflect more of a yellow/orange hue.
If you want to achieve a bit of balance, you could also consider a mixture of warm and cool color temperatures. For example, choose 2,700K bulbs for under-cabinet lighting and 4,000K bulbs for the pendant lights above your island to really make the large marble slab stand out.
Coordinating Paint Colors with Marble Countertops
Whether it be paint on the walls or on the surrounding cabinets, you’ll want to consider how the color choices you make for your kitchen coordinate with the look of your marble countertops. A good place to start is to determine the undertones of your slab’s veining. If we use our three popular examples of Carrara, Calacatta, and Statuario, we’re mostly looking at shades of gray. Depending on which shade your slab has, you could be looking at undertone variations of blue, purple, pink, brown, or gold.
Once you’ve established your undertone, you can start looking at paint colors that would complement it best and avoid any sort of clashing. Keep in mind, however, that the Kelvin level of your lightbulbs can also have an effect on paint color!
Accessorizing and Decorating
Marble is clean, and timeless, which of course is never a bad thing. Accessorizing and decorating your countertops with pops of color or different textures, however, can be a great way to break things up, add warmth, and really balance the space. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Decorative Trays: Organize and display items without cluttering the countertops. Depending on the other materials used throughout your kitchen and the tone you want to set, a large wooden tray could be a great way to add warmth.
- A Bouquet of Flowers: Flowers are good for the soul and your home décor. A bouquet of fresh flowers breathes life into your kitchen and stands out beautifully against your more neutral marble countertops. What’s more, with TuffSkin Surface Protection, you won’t have to worry about anyone accidentally knocking over the vase and spilling water across the surface.
- Swap Out Fixtures: Much like with paint colors, you can use the undertones of your slab’s veining to determine the best fixture colors to really accentuate your marble countertops.
Final Thoughts on Preserving Marble Countertop Beauty
Marble countertops are undeniably stunning and can elevate the elegance of any space. Their timeless appeal, however, does come with the need for mindful maintenance. By understanding the type of marble you have, choosing the right finish, and implementing some of these key suggestions, you can protect your investment and ensure it remains as beautiful as the day it was installed.
Remember, the key to maintaining the beauty of marble lies in proactive care. Incorporating solutions like TuffSkin Surface Protection can further ease the burden of maintenance, offering long-lasting defense against stains, scratches, and etching while preserving the natural beauty of the stone. With TuffSkin, you can spend less time worrying about potential damage and more time enjoying the luxurious look of your marble countertops.
For more information about TuffSkin and how our team can best assist you with maintaining the integrity and beauty of your natural stone, contact us today to discuss your project.