Let’s face it, marble is a classic material that has stood the test of time immemorial and people keep coming back to it for one reason or another. The problem is, there are some things you may have never heard of with marble. Here are 10 things that nobody tells you about concerning marble and what happens when you try to use it at some point in time for countertops.
1. Mountainous Origins
You can find marble, a metamorphic stone, in mountainous areas. Think of places like Vermont and Colorado as well as Italy, other places in Europe, South America and Asia. Marble is made through heat and pressure in which limestone transforms itself both physically and chemically into a harder and denser material. That process is called recrystallization.
2. Shining Stone Derivation
From his work On Stones, Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, formulated names for different stones. Marble is derived from the green word “marmaros” (shining stone) and “marmalerein” (to shine).
3. Differences in Slabs
Because of the veining patterns in marble slabs, no marble slabs are alike. The way mineral deposits are patterned indicate the differences. Each piece is distinctive from slab to slab.
4. Carrara is the Most Identifiable Marble
Of any prevalent marble, Italian Carrara is probably the standard. If you happen to see pictures or examples of marble, Carrara is probably the one that will come up most often. You can recognize it from its light gray background with gray veining. The look is soft and gossamer-like. Other Italian marbles include Calacatta and Statuario.
5. Marble has Graced Important Works of Art
Think of the Lincoln Memorial, the Parthenon Marbles (Elgin Marbles-classical Greek sculptures) and Michelangelo’s David. They all have marble in common, and that’s due to the purity and elegance of the product. Sculptors prefer its use in statutory as it lends not only realistic features but a luminous effect to the surface.
6. Impurities Bring About Distinctiveness
With the access to nearly every color under the sun, marble is rich in hues beyond white and gray. Because of its impurities, there are other colors in slabs of yellow, pink, green, gray, gold and black. The rich colors result from those mineral impurities that have been infused there during the hardening process.
7. Did You ever Think Marble would be in Your Toothpaste?
As a source of calcium carbonate, marble is added in powder form to paints and even toothpaste. It’s actually used as an abrasive in toothpaste. You can research it further through Tom’s of Maine, the natural toothpaste provider. Calcium carbonate is also an ingredient to make lime and lime wash paint, or lime plaster.
8. Cleaning Can be Easier with the Right Tricks
Marble isn’t easily maintained. It’s really not that resistant to heat, etching can appear and it can chip if you hit it hard enough and in the right place. You have to be careful with marble. Use cutting boards when putting together acidic foods. Lemons, tomatoes, wine, vinegar and other food items can react with the marble and leave etched spots. You can also select a honed marble finish to help stop the etching, staining and scarring. A matte finish is part of the answer.
9. Etching Problems? Take a look here
If you do have marble and have experienced etching with it, there is a product that helps with getting rid of the stain. Tenax Marble Polishing Powder works. Simply rub it into the etched surface. The marble appears to be good to go once the product has been used. If that doesn’t work, try sandpaper. Just gently smooth it over stains and other blemishes and see the difference.
10. Marble in all the Small Places
Marble can get expensive, especially if you decide to go full steam ahead and use it in large amounts on countertop and island areas of a kitchen, or your entire floor. Use it sparingly to achieve the look you want. Marble can be beautifully accented with scraps. Use those small pieces as a surround for a fireplace, as bookends, top covers for radiators, regular shelving, small vanity areas, and other smaller places where a piece would bring distinction to the area.
Other Unknown Facts
Since marble is likely to take on chips, nicks, and scratches over the course of a lifetime, any imperfections will add to the overall feel of the piece whether it’s the richness found in the patina or other flaws that add to the mystique of marble. You imagine that people appreciate marble because of the imperfections.
Another thing about marble is it absorbs skin oils, which means that whoever is gathering in the kitchen area and handling food will be part of that kitchen space for a long time to come. So, you may want to accept the fact that the stains, chips, etching, and basic wear and tear will be part of your world for some time to come.
With all these unknown facts about marble, you would think that people might be a bit wary about using it in their house and on their countertops. The thing is, there is something about it that just makes people come back to it. Whether it’s the patina shine, the elegance, the pattern and color choices or just the general look and feel of marble, it simply attracts you to it. If you can’t get that attraction out of your head, or just have general questions about marble, complete the online contact form and a representative will get back to you with the answers you need. Make marble part of your life, even if in just a small way.
