Attn marble countertop owners

2 months ago

Hello. Looking for advice on products that you use in your kitchen to protect your marble from every day use like cooking prepping etc. we are taking the plunge and getting a marble countertop for the kitchen and will have it probably within the next two months I want to prepare and start researching and purchasing so that when the counters are installed we are ready. Thanks so much in advance.

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PRO

HALLETT & Co.

2 months ago

I had Carrara counters in my last house for 8 years. They were well sealed and never stained (two gay men but we really cook and occasionally leave wine drips, blueberries etc) That said they etch and scratch easily. We also chipped it by the dishwasher. Still loved them and would do marble again but opted for stress free granite in our new house.

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Comments (16)

millworkman
2 months ago
Seal it and go. It will etch (not stopping it), it will stain (even if sealed and not cleaned up promptly). Clean regularly and you should be good as long as the evitable etches, called patina do not not bother you.
roarah
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I have almost 20 year old marble counters. Talc is soft so more than even etching know that dragging a canaster or coffee maker across it will scratch the surface. Dropping a plate or even keys will leave white shock spots if not actuall divots and dents. I still think my well worn patina counters are lush!
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mschinzel8900
Original Author
2 months ago
Thx Roarah. I have many marble tops on old furniture so I also know and love the patina!! Do you seal yours? If so how often and with wHat sealer? Thx!!
Fori
2 months ago
Not all marbles stain easily. Get a sample and test it. (I used something labeled "Bardiglio" and it was stainproof.)
roarah
2 months ago
Mine were done before honing was really offered in my area so no need to seal as of yet. Honed needs sealing polished do not. I have only one light stain under my coffee maker.
M Miller
2 months ago
@HALLETT & Co. - I agree - life is too short to be stressing about kitchen counters. Or sink. Or floors. I went low maintenance materials on those. My granite counters don’t even get sealed, ever.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last month
More Anti Etch will prevent marble etching.
blueskysunnyday
last month
I am making the same preparations! My understanding is we need dish soap for cleaning and isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting. I also plan to have a larger-than-average cutting board in my primary work space (see Johanna Gaines’ cooking show) so I don’t have one area of extreme wear that stands out from the general patina to which I look forward.
sookmomof4
last month
I have carrara marble installed last year. It was much cheaper than the quartzite i wanted and we probably won't be in the house much more than 5 years from now. We use 2 xlarge heat proof mats on the main island and I have some glass cutting boards next to the stoves. The only time I protect the Island is when I have large parties.. and my 20 and 30 something kids come, then I cover it with a thick plastic sheet. Any etches I have gotten, have been scrubbed out in like 5 minutes with an anti-etch powder. I have sealed it well and it has never stained. After 1 and half , to be honest it looks as good as new. Yes, it takes a bit more work being careful -but it is really beautiful. It is so much nicer than the quartz look alike counters. To me they look worse than my faux painting. We can also get it buffed out for about $1, 000 and made to look like new.
Chrissy Anne
last month
We went with granite in our kitchen & marble countertops in the bathroom. Scan this app & the many problems faced from installation, cracking, water marks , etching, on & on! When we weighed it all out it just wasnt worth it. And if your going to be covering that marble every time you cook you won't even enjoy the beauty of it & kitchen will look cluttered most of the time!
sookmomof4
last month
https://www.houzz.com/user/christine-anne32 I hate clutter and really have nothing on top of my counters. The marble is well worth the price of using a few mats when cooking. Etching has been neglibible and I use etching powder which scrubs it out. It is timeless and gorgeous. As for installation -read the discussions -bad installation can happen with anything. Also, etching really does not show unless you put your eye a couple of inches from the counter and look in a certain light. I love my marble countertops.
Chrissy Anne
last month
Seems more than 'just a few mats for cooking'.. if 30 year old adults still need 'thick plastic sheeting' when entertaining as well. Just reads too old fashioned to me & again , when is the actual marble in use? And at what age can you remove the thick plastic?
sookmomof4
last month
last modified: last month
https://www.houzz.com/user/christine-anne32 Yep I have four son's 24-34 who are amazing, quite successful and I only ever asked them for excellent grades. My fault, I never taught them to clean. When we get the 4 and their fiances /GF's all cooking in the kitchen on Thanksgiving it is much easier to place the plastic. That is the only time I use it. I have carrara marble. The marble simply glows and I really have had no etching that a scrub and etching powder did not take out.
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
last month
Does the sealer in marble degrade from use or just age, I wonder? I have a friend buying a house which has never been occupied for the better part of a decade, marble kitchen. Does she need to reseal the counters? I think it's Calacatta Oro marble, or some other warmish one.
sprtphntc7a
last month
sookmomof4, no need to defend yourself! you do what works for you! you want to put plastic over when kiddos are there, go for it!! You do You!!! Enjoy that marble!