Marble Benchtops: 9 Hints for Choosing a White Marble Slab
When it comes to selecting stone, a marble kitchen benchtop remains the top choice for many homeowners. It’s no surprise that these benchtops and splashbacks are so popular—the material has been attracting fans for millennia.
Among these options, a white colour is always a winner. In nature you won’t find anything as white as white marble.
But marble is not a perfect product. While good-quality ones, such as the world-famous products from Carrara, Italy, are dense and relatively nonporous—which makes them durable and stain-resistant—they also have weaknesses. A nonfoliate metamorphic rock, marble is generally composed of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate, which react to acids. An acidic kitchen liquid like lemon juice or vinegar can etch marble, leaving a dull, whitish mark where it has slightly eaten away the surface, even after the marble has been sealed.
But as long as you choose carefully, know what to expect, and care for white marble Benchtops, they can be a beautiful, functional choice for your Kitchen Design that lasts a lifetime.
1. If you’re concerned about stains, stick with white Marble
Although many people automatically think of creamy stone when they think of marble, however, it is generally recommended sticking with white marble. Because acid etching leaves a whitish mark, it is much more noticeable on coloured marble than on white marble.
2. Consider how the different Marble slabs will come together
Every stone slab is slightly different, so it’s ideal to select the exact pieces of stone that will be used for your Benchtop. Selecting the slabs is understanding where the veining is going to be located on the Benchtop, you want to artfully mark the layout like painting.
Also bear in mind that the longer the slab the less joints. It’s nice to Book-Match the Marble Slabs to have Mirrored Appearance.
3. Take veining patterns into account
Vein-cut that slices the block in a way to achieve a linear, striped appearance, or Cross cut, results in stone slabs to show open flowered pattern. Both cuts create a unique and artistic natural pattern, which you don’t get with many artificial materials.
4. You can transform the look of Marble with different finishes
Stone machining technology came so far in producing variety of Surface Finishes. It is transforming the product look and suitability for purposes (Benches, Walls, Floors, Fireplaces and Staircases). Different brushing and polishing techniques to achieve Leather, brushed, or river-wash finish.
But the most popular choices remain polished, which looks glossy, or honed, which appears matte. For homeowners concerned about acid etching, honed finish is recommended as polished finish etching is going to turn it dull and be more visible.
5. Consider curving the edges of your Marble Benchtop
Besides its natural beauty, there’s a reason marble has historically been so popular for sculpture: It’s easy to work with tools. Add modern CNC machines to the equation and almost anything’s possible for kitchen decorating.
There are countless Edge Profiles to choose from. Bullnose (Edge #16) which has the profile of a half circle, is also a timeless favourite and functional winner. Hard stones like marble are brittle, so if you hit a square corner with something hard, it will chip. With a curve, it’s highly unlikely that it’s going to chip.
It is possible to use a Mitre edge (Edge #25) of the Benchtop to add a thicker face with an almost seamless appearance without having a thick slab!
6. Call the Marble Supplier ahead of your visit
Always recommended to call the Stone Supplier in advance to inquire about whether they have slabs that meet the colour, type, square meter, and dimensions you require and let them know when you’re coming and ask them to organize a tour to view the various slabs of marble they have.
7. Know the difference between cracks and fissures in your Marble
Cracks are a sign that the marble has been dropped or improperly handled. Fissures, though, are entirely different. Fissure are naturally occurring feature in natural stone benchtops and does not change the plane of the surface. You should be able to slide your nail across a fissure without it catching. Depending on the look you are trying to achieve, fissures may be acceptable—say, if you’re looking for stone that will give you a more rustic look. Fissures don’t change the integrity of the stone; they are part of the stone’s character.
8. Ask about the origin of the Marble
These days, white marble such as Calacatta and Statuario is currently in high demand. As such, some suppliers will call their white marble with veins Calacatta marble. But it won’t be authentic, rather just white stone with veins that originates from China or some other part of the world. True Calacatta originates from mountain quarries in Carrara, Italy. The same is true for Statuario: True Statuario marble originates from Italy.
9. Maintain your Marble Benchtop by getting a sealed finish
Finishing marble Benchtops with a penetrating sealer is essential for long-term performance. Acids will still etch the surface.
