Danby Calacatta Marble
I'm surprised there isn't more talk on the board about this marble. There was so much on Misty Cararra, and the Okite Cararra, and other white marble substitutes. This is supposed to be stronger than the usual white marbles, denser, more etch resistant, and less porous so it won't stain as easily.
The veining patterns aren't quite as pretty as the other real marbles, but it still is very pretty and nicer than the engineered stones. It comes with brownish, greenish, and blue gray veining and slabs with little veining.
Would love to get more feedback on this. I know one gal used it, but anyone else use it? It's a great option for kitchen counters I think.
Comments (13)
azstoneconsulting
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Which of these selaers would you choose for Danby marble?
Comments (6)I assume your dandy is honed. Polished stone will always be in most cases a lot less porous than when it is honed-any of those sealers will work well they are all good-somewhat different formulations but all quality. Before you begin sealing you may want to test your stone first by placing a few palm sized puddles of water in two or so locations . Let them sit for 10 or 15 minutes and then wipe away the water with a paper towel. If it leaves a dark spotit will give you a good idea how absorbant or not it is. Dandy is porous but it is good to see for your self what your seling and the difference the sealer will make. Just remember one fact that a sealer will only temporarily inhibit the intrusion of staining agents into the the stone. Temporary is the key word.If you do combine two compatible sealers you may get a better seal. But if your stone isnt all that porous the second sealer wont penetrate the first sealer so you have just spent a good buck on a sealer you dont need. The key to the whole sealing thing imo is that as a homeowner you can do a better job than most contractors because you arent hurrying off to the next job. You can do several applications (I dont call them coats)(because even if you do two coats back to back it is still one application)in this manner. Apply the fist application in managable areas (3-4 ft sections)keeping it wet for 15 minutes or so. Then remove the excess(all of it)so that it is dry to the touch. Remember the sealer is impregnating. (It lives below the surface)If you dont remove all the excess you will have an epic adventure removing the residue from the surface. Ok -when your ready to move to the next area repeat the same procedure but make sure you overlap where you left off. Now you can finish the rest of your surfaces in this manner. Then wait 24 hours and test it using the water test.If it is still absorbent repeat the entire process. The reason for waiting 24 hours to do the next application is that it takes the sealer a minimum of 24 hours to cure in most cases. Once it has cured the second application wont go below the first application resulting in a better seal. Also if you use the proper cleaning regimen using ph neutral cleaners you will prolong the life of the sealer. Be aware that sealers will not prevent etching from acidic products. Oh Yeah-just so you know if you ever do get a stain it can be removed using a poultice-but act quickly and use the right one. You can always email or call us if you have any issues. Stu Rosen www.mbstonecare.com www.stoneshine.com...See MoreWhite Calcutta Marble (not Calacatta marble)
Comments (12)Isn't that funny - one person's "stain" is another person's "gorgeous." Calacatta Gold isn't for everyone. canuk and autumn, it's great that you don't like it, most people can't afford it anyway. But for those of us, like carsonheim, who love it, nothing compares to its beauty. One thing's for sure, they are very different stones, both of them lovely, but very different stones. The slab you've shown is whiter than Carrara but similarly priced. You'll get less movement and more linearity from the bargain slab, but you can't go wrong either way....See MoreMy Danby Marble Tests...
Comments (24)Thank you, tantadoodles. I sealed it with "MB Stone Care MB-4 Stone and More Impregnator/Sealer" which is supposed to last 10 years according to the label. (The owner of the company is a guy named Maurizio, who is pretty much of a stone expert on the internet. He sure knows more than I!) I have to say that since posting my picture, I have further etched the heck out of the island with plain water, tomato juice (wiped up without staining, but left an etch mark), etc. It is going to etch like crazy and I'm not worrying about it. All the marble in our house is etching from plain water droplets, and we have a water-softener and whole house filter! I bought our Danby at Dente Trading Co., Inc. in NJ. they had both honed and polished and the honed was dull and pretty boring. The polishing really brings out the colorful swirls you see in my picture above. Our fabricator (Globe) offered to do a lower polish level for the marble, to more closely match the duller sheen of the perimeter counters, which are Caesarstone Raven. (For those who don't know, the manmade quartz countertops have a less shiny polished finish than regularly polished granite and marble.) Knowing what I know now, I'd still get the same marble, polished. Just know it won't look perfect or brand new for long. Good luck with your decisions, everyone! Here is a link that might be useful: Maurizio's Stone Care Site...See Morewhite marble wine test
Comments (4)Before installing Imperial Danby, I did the same test on unsealed, honed Imperial Danby & Calacatta marble. I did wine, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, & citrus. I was able to remove everything with Comet & a green scrubbie (including etching) from the Danby but not from the Calacatta. There are many on GW that have successfully removed etching with a moist green scrubbie, sanding sponges, Magic Erasers, marble polishes, etc. The one thing to note is that you may change the appearance of the surface of the marble using an abrasive action. In that case, you'd have to scrub/sand the entire countertop for a consistent look. I use a Magic Eraser & have successfully removed etches & water spots without changing the surface. I have one major etch from pickle juice that sat overnight under a countertop mat. I couldn't remove that etch with the Magic eraser. I'm pretty sure I could remove it with the Comet/Green Scrubbie method but I'd have to do the entire island & then reseal. I can't see the etch unless the light hits it just right & I'm looking for it. It doesn't bother me. Here's a picture of the visible etch. It's the horizontal mark in the middle. If you enlarge it, you can see the pattern of the counter mat. I can't really see any staining or etching on the thicker piece of marble posted in the above test. I would advise getting a sample of the marble you are considering & do your own testing....See Morekelleg69
15 years agoedlakin
15 years agoblondelle
15 years agojb1176
15 years agokarenyang
15 years agolissa711
15 years agoI recently installed Imperial Danby in my master bath and kitchen. I had originally picked out Calacatta Gold for my bath but the price was a budget breaker. The Imperial Danby gave me the browns and golds I was looking for but at a lower price.
I had originally planned to use Carrera in the kitchen but realized the browns of the Imperial Danby would look better with my cream and dark brown cabinets. The price was not much higher than the Carrera so I went with it.
I can't attest to the durability as we're not using either the kitchen or the bathroom yet. I'm hoping to be doing so soon though!
BTW-The marble in the kitchen is honed and in the bathroom is polished.
I'm sorry I can't help with a CA source as I'm in the metro NY area.
iris16
15 years agolissa711
15 years agoThanks Iris. The kitchen has been a long time in the making. Our 6 month building permit is due to expire in a week or two. Luckily we will be finishing up this week - all but the backsplash and some details in the butler's pantry anyway. They just did the floors over the weekend so some things are covered with plastic or pads for protection. Here are some photos of what we have right now.
Some Details about the kitchen:
Crystal custom cabinets with inset doors, country classic door style. Perimeter cabinets are Frost White with Van Dyke brown highlights. Island & butler's pantry are cherry with black highlights.
Floors are varied width oak floors to match existing.
Sink is Ticor SS508 (bought based on rave reviews from this site) So far I love the sink but have been unable to get the grid for it from Galaxy Tool Supply. I've been waiting 4 months for it at this point. Still holding out hope on receiving it.
Range is Wolf 6 burner gas. Ovens are Thermador Professional Series electric. Fridge is 42" SZ side by side. Microwave is Sharp 24" drawer.
Jean Popowitz
15 years agolissa711
15 years agonewkitchen10
13 years ago
remodelfla