(2cm Calcatta Laza prefabricated quartz.)
Why is marble not recommended for use in kitchens?
Marble is beautiful and timeless. It is a natural work of art that is also challenging to maintain. As a general standard, marble is not recommended for use in kitchens. Everyday use of kitchen countertops can make for an unfriendly environment for marble countertop care. Pots, pans, utensils, cups, tools, etc. will scratch the soft marble surface. Marble surfaces are more susceptible to staining by many common liquids such as mustard, oil, vinegar, citrus juice, toothpaste, mouth wash, hairspray, etc. Any acidic substance that may come in contact with your marble countertops will cause a chemical reaction that will etch and remove the polish of the marble.
Marble is a natural product that is more porous than granite and therefore, more susceptible to staining and chipping
Marble is a soft material which will easily scratch, even with your fingernail!
Marble comes with surface scratches and fissures (a form of crack that has no stone content and is usually filled with clear resin)
Marble has extrusions (small visual cracks that are not faults in the marble slab)
Marble has marks of efflorescence (appears as a white powdery residue on the surface of the stone)
Marble loses shine with wear
Marble requires frequent applications of sealant
So what stone is recommended for my kitchen countertops?
Granite and quartz products are recommended for countertops. It is hard to find a granite that has similar visual characteristics as marble but quartz has several options from different vendors. Our recent installation used 2cm Calacatta Laza prefabricated quartz and it turned out beautifully!
(The picture below is the “before” photo which had Formica countertops.)
Quartz products are a beautiful, durable and resilient countertop surface that will provide you with many years of trouble free performance.
- For every day cleaning use a soft sponge or dishcloth with warm water.
- For stubborn or greasy clean-ups use a gentle liquid cleaner like Mr. Clean, 409, Simple Green, Fantastic etc. or ordinary dish washing detergent e.g. Palmolive with warm water and a “White Scotch Brite”.
- Never use red or green Scotch Brite as they contain aluminum oxide (the same abrasive in sand paper) and may dull the finish.
- Do not use abrasive cleaning agents such as regular Comet and Ajax. If needed, Bon Ami and Bar Keepers Friend are both approved non-abrasive cleaning powders that will clean without affecting the finish.
- Though most common household cleaners have no effect on the finish, never allow your countertop to come in contact with drain cleaners, paint strippers or products containing Hydrofluoric acid, Methylene chloride, Trichloroethylene or any product with a very high or very low PH. These types of chemicals may etch or discolor the surface.
Once the tile backsplash gets completed this kitchen will look elegant and will be functional for years to come. Thank you Lori for sending us photos of your kitchen!
Contact us today for a consultation to turn your kitchen into an amazing living space!
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