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Marble Countertops
For sheer elegance and luxury nothing can
match the look of marble countertops. It
can be an expensive choice, but marble's
beautiful veining and lovely subtle color
makes it irresistible to touch. Although
popular in bathrooms, marble is also often
installed in high end kitchens. Marble is
a natural stone that is usually soft and
porous, although some marbles are harder.
Untreated, it is easy to gouge and stain.
Acids like vinegar and citric juices may
blemish marble; even water can mark it. Marble
can, however, be sealed to prevent this kind
of damage. Treated gently, marble can be
used for countertops that will last for years.
Consider the following if you
wish to install
marble countertops:
- Pay particular attention to the installation
of marble countertops. The veins in marble
are actually small fault lines along which
the marble slab can break if improperly seated
on the top of the cabinets. Since marble
is heavy, the cabinets need to be able to
support its weight.
- Marble comes from many parts of the world,
and is available in a wide
variety of colors
and patterns, each with its
own characteristics.
Adjoining pieces should come
from the same
source.
- Staining problems can be reduced by selecting
a darker colored or more heavily
veined marble
that will disguise the marks.
Although often
highly polished, marble can
be honed to produce
a satin like finish that can
be scoured with
steel wool to remove some stains.
Those stains
that remain will be somewhat
hidden by the
non-reflective finish. These
matte finishes
are becoming increasingly fashionable.
If your budget cannot accommodate large sections
of marble in the kitchen, consider installing
it in a smaller baking area. Marble’s cool
surface makes it an excellent choice for
rolling out pastry or making candy, such
as fudge. |
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