Marble is a countertop choice that is both trendy and timeless—and it has tons of great qualities, like its heat resistance and versatility. Every slab is unique, allowing your countertop to be a statement as bold as the art on your wall.

Marble can last a lifetime after it’s installed, and the patina will evolve as your family does. For some, this could be a scary concept—the stone changing? For worse or for better? There are a lot of misconceptions and worries surrounding marble and its accessibility, and that’s what this article is here to change.

Marble’s Staining and Absorption

Marble is known for how porous it is, but don’t let this fact scare you away. All natural stones are porous to a certain degree, which is why they call for periodic resealing. When you love natural stone, this is something that comes with the territory.

Not all marble is the same, though. Different variants have different absorption rates, which means that some are more susceptible to staining than others. The absorption rate is the degree to which water will penetrate a stone (and eventually damage it), so if you’re worried about marble’s more delicate nature, all you have to do is pick a variant with a lower absorption rate. And at Sanford Granite, that’s something we can help you do.

(Hint: Three styles of marble with low absorption rates include Bianco Carrara, Thassos, and Statuary.)

On these types of marble, stains aren’t that big of a deal as long as they’re cleaned up right away—with warm and soapy water, preferably. Harsh chemicals (and acidic ones) can damage the surface of your marble and cause etching.

If your marble countertop does end up stained, there’s still hope. You can apply a number of poultice solutions or, in dire situations, get a professional refinishing company out to remove the stain.

Marble’s Finish

The two most popular marble finishes are polished and honed, and choosing the right one can determine how hardy your stone ends up being.

Marble slabs with a polished finish are shinier and more stain resistant, while honed finishes are great to fight etching from occurring. There are benefits to both types; it just depends on what you’re looking to get out of your countertop specifically.

Sealing Your Marble

All natural stones require periodic resealing, as we mentioned earlier. This is less work than it seems—and a small price to pay to keep your stone looking gorgeous. Talk to our team at Sanford Granite to figure out how often your unique marble should be resealed.

You can always test if it’s time for resealing with a glass of water. If condensation from the glass of water beds up on the surface, you’re set on sealant for a while. If a dark ring is left behind from the glass, you’re due for resealing.

Maintenance of Marble

The reason many people love marble is that they show the wear and tear of everyday life in a classy, sophisticated way. Etching, scratching, stains, and splatters give them character in a manner that keeps your kitchen both updated and beautiful. They can be used to tell a story!

If that type of story isn’t for you, marble can still be a contender. In a lot of cases, the natural veining of a marble slab will do a lot to cover up the everyday marks that it gathers.

Here are a few things you can do to make sure your marble countertop stays in tip-top shape:

Reseal it regularly.

We’ve gone over this already, but it’s worth saying again because of how important it is. The life of your stone depends on regular resealing.

Clean up spills quickly.

Stains left for a long period of time create an environment for unnecessary stains, etching, and water damage.

Avoid harsh chemicals in cleaning products.

When cleaning your marble, stick to cleaning solutions that are pH balanced. Acidic cleaners will cause etching. Using a soft cloth can also prevent fine scratches from occurring.

Use coasters, cutting boards, and hot pads.

To get the most of your countertop, stay away from setting hot things directly on top of it—you can avoid stains, etching, and scorching this way.

To keep from scratching your countertop with a knife, avoid cutting directly on top of it as well.

Your Marble Countertop

Like any stone, marble is a great choice for family life as long as the right precautions are taken. At Sanford Granite, we consider ourselves experts in all things marble, so if you have further questions or would like to schedule a consultation, give us a call at (407) 490-4914.