Marble: they're not kidding about the etching!
Stacey Collins
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (69)
viva99
14 years agomomto4kids
14 years agoRelated Discussions
How do you like your marble countertops?
Comments (41)I often see posts about Carrera and Calacutta marbles --- has anybody done Crema Marfil? Is it really a "true" marble? I had a granite in mind for my master bath and there isn't enough of it. On my revisit to the stone yard I was once again attracted to the soothing qualities of crema marfil --- only a tiny bit of veining, very consistent, with once in a while fossils. It looks very pretty. My other granite choices just didn't seem to work as well with the fabrics and cabinets that I have in mind. The crema marfil would make a very monochromatic look, but it would allow my pretty windows to shine and would hopefully all just look pretty together. But, I came home, jumped on GW and saw so little about it that it worries me! Don't mean to hijack, I'm just hoping somebody has experience with this stone! Here is a picture of the combo --- the creamy color will be my cabinets, the dark brown paint and then the fabrics are window seat and window treatment. The little glass crackle tile would be periodic in the floor. I could do crema marfil floor tile as well, but again, not much info! BTW, kateskouros, if I had an island like your gorgeous island, I'd be propped up on it making margaritas!...See MoreTo Marble or not to Marble...that is the question?
Comments (14)You can have your marble rehoned in place. I have about 145 sq ft in my kitchen. I had to be rehoned after installation because the original fabricator did a lousy honing job. it's a wet process, but the crew taped and tarped everything up. they cleaned up very, very well...you couldn't tell it was done. I have a lot of marble...I think the cost to rehone was about $2,500. So...I say, get it live in it and forget about it. The etching won't ever really bother you unless you dump a whole bottle of vinegar on the counter. If you feel you must do something to sell your house at a later date, then have the marble rehoned. Not a big deal. I have had my marble for six years, beginning when my four kids were 4-10 years old. We all LIVE in the kitchen. I have a few etch marks, but not anything anyone else would notice. I love my marble and would easily do it again. I have one chip where DH tossed his car keys onto the counter. Very small. I have deep ogee edges (the easiest to chip) and I don't have any issues on my edges or around my sink. Good luck with your process!...See MoreEtching Carrara Marble
Comments (16)My friend has this marble and her household is not careful. I don't see the etching unless she points it out to me. But as others have pointed out, it will either bother you or not - she doesn't mind the look of a counter that is "aged" - think French brasserie. Aesthetics are important to me but I don't want to be a slave to my kitchen counter so if I loved the look of this marble, I would be fine with the etching that is inevitably going to occur. Have you considered some of the manmade solid surfaces as some of them now duplicate the look of marble to an amazing degree without the specific maintenance issues of marble. If I absolutely wanted marble, was worried about etching and didn't want to pamper my counter, I would probably go this route....See MoreWhy/How Does sandpaper/ScotchBrite help marble etches??
Comments (10)Thank you so, so much Fishies, Fletcher and Mykitchensdone. I always appreciate the many kind people on the forum who take the time to offer advice. All these links are great. I don't have much to report yet, except that I tried a SoctchBrite pad, and it left an identical etch just in a larger area. No big deal, I was careful to scrub just one area of the original etch. I'm just confused as to why it seems to make some etches disappear but in my case it just basially scratches and area to make an identical-looking etch. Fletcher, I'm wondering if the polish trick--polishing very lightly, maybe--would work on my honed marble to even out the finish. I'm going to call a couple of polishing compound manufacturers on Monday. Mykitchensdone, how much would you say your monthly scrubbing blends the etches? I'm a little afraid to try it, but the island has tons of natural and other lights shining on it, so I think I'll be tempted to do something like what you do to minimize the etching. My parents are visiting us for a few weeks, and I really don't want them to see me stressing about the new counters (or feeling like they have to stress!) I kept the etch incident to myself last night and just slipped off to post on GW, lol. I think this was a blessing in disguise. I was sick when it first happened (because we hadn't even started using the island yet and it was the result of me using the wrong combination of products to try to clean off a faint, barely noticeable stain left by the fabricator), but it's like the first ding in a new car. Now I can stop worrying, and just drive! I was determined not to stress when someone innocently squirts lemon toward their fish and it makes a crazy etch on the counter, and now I really believe I won't. The last thing I want to do is make my parents feel uncomfortable in my kitchen. So, I'll just live with the etches as they accumulate, and work on a solution when I'm alone in the house or early in the morning so I don't stress anyone out. I'll post my progress and especially anything I learn that could be helpful, any ideas or input would be ao greatly appreciated....See MoreStacey Collins
14 years agomomto4kids
14 years agoshipshape
14 years agomindstorm
14 years agoFori
14 years agoFori
14 years agopharaoh
14 years agoFori
14 years agomomto4kids
14 years agomorton5
14 years agonesting12
14 years agoerikanh
14 years agopharaoh
14 years agoStacey Collins
14 years agonovember
14 years agosayde
14 years agomorton5
14 years agobmorepanic
14 years agostonegirl
14 years agocaryscott
14 years agoscottbeth
14 years agoStacey Collins
14 years agoerikanh
14 years agoStacey Collins
14 years agokatieob
14 years agoStacey Collins
14 years agoerikanh
14 years agokatieob
14 years agobunglogrl
14 years agoStacey Collins
14 years agoteppy
14 years agotrobs
14 years agolagrant
14 years agosailormann
14 years agocrzyktchnlady
14 years agofirstmmo
14 years agosayde
14 years agolagrant
14 years agopeggross1
14 years agocrzyktchnlady
14 years agokippee
14 years agocoleen3201118
14 years agoella_socal
14 years agocoleen3201118
14 years agoella_socal
14 years agopeggross1
14 years agojdavisdasilva
11 months ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN SINKSEverything You Need to Know About Farmhouse Sinks
They’re charming, homey, durable, elegant, functional and nostalgic. Those are just a few of the reasons they’re so popular
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
Acidic solutions can damage your marble surfaces. Here’s how to keep marble looking clean and amazing
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNUsing White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty
Do you love perfection or patina? Here's how to see if marble's right for you
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESWhy Marble Might Be Wrong for Your Bathroom
You love its beauty and instant high-quality appeal, but bathroom marble has its drawbacks. Here's what to know before you buy
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHouzz Call: Tell Us About Your First Kitchen
Great or godforsaken? Ragtag or refined? We want to hear about your younger self’s cooking space
Full StoryFUN HOUZZEverything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned from Downton Abbey
Mind your manors with these 10 decorating tips from the PBS series, returning on January 5
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSElephants of the Kitchen? What to Know About Concrete Counters
Concrete countertops are beautiful, heavy and cool — and have their own peculiarities. And a lot in common with certain gray pachyderms
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESHouzz Tour: Much to Like About This Traditional Beauty
New elements mix well with old in a New Jersey family’s elegant and comfortable colonial revival home
Full StoryINSIDE HOUZZFor Houzz Pros: Learn About the New Affiliation Badge Program
Enhance your professional profile with badges showing your schools, associations and more
Full StorySTAIRWAYSClear Staircases — They're a Real Glass Act
If you're flush with funds, you can have a ball with crystal on your stairs. The rest of us can just marvel from afar
Full Story
erikanh