When considering Marble or Natural Stone, there are plenty of misleading paths that you mayfind yourself at the crossroads of.
There is a lot of misinformation online persuading buyers to look at reconstituted stone overmarble or natural stone varieties due to their perceived “easier care” properties.
However, technology has dramatically advanced over the last decade in terms of the productsand services available to help you maintain and care for your marble. It is now more affordableand feasible to have marble in your home with the introduction of these technologies.
So here are a few of your frequently asked questions and concerns answered in regards to howyou can live with marble in your home.
With any Natural Stone there is of course, the possibility that staining may occur if youdo not properly seal your marble and continue to follow the reapplication guidelineoutlined by either your stone mason or sealer provider. But remember, sealers are notbulletproof, you must maintain your stone to best protect it.
Yes. Natural stone can be repaired unlike reconstituted benchtops. The best way to thinkof natural stone is; it is repairable and not replaceable. There are many servicesavailable for the restoration of stone benchtops and surfaces.
Marble is heat resistant. It starts to weaken at around 200degrees. However, due to thefact that marble will stay icy cold even on hot days, it is not recommended to place hottrays or pots on top of the benchtop as you run the risk of giving your marble thermalshock – resulting in cracks throughout the affected area.
It depends on the particular stone and also if it is in a high-traffic area such as a kitchenbenchtop. It is recommended that you seal your marble once every 3 to 6 months. It isrecommended that you follow the instructions of the sealer you purchase. Sealing stoneis around a 15 minute process.
It depends on which material you choose. Limestones are characteristically made up ofmore exposed pitts so the surface feels a little more textured. A Dolomite should feelvery smooth to the touch. A Marble such as Carrara will also feel smooth to the touch. Ifyou choose an unfilled Travertine, you can expect to feel pitting and a rougher texture. Itreally depends on your selection.
Minimal. It is no different to a glass or tile splashback, the only difference is – marbledisguises marks more on a splashback than any other surface. Warm soapy water willremove any excess oil and as always – don’t forget to seal your splashback.
Great news is – on a sealed benchtop if you get to it straight away, you will most likelystop any staining. If for any reason, you cannot get to it and it remains for a little while,there are products on the market that we stock in our showroom, which remove stainsfrom marble and the process to remove them is a very simple one.
Etching is a physical change that occurs on the surface of your benchtop when acidreacts to your marble. Foods such as lemon juice,Tomato and orange juice should bewiped up immediately to reduce the risk of etching. Remember, sealers are notbulletproof – they give your stone a resistance to certain things but they do not preventthem from happening.If your stone is etched however, it can be repaired.