The Benefits Of Marble Kitchen Countertops

One of the most highly prized materials for kitchen countertops is marble stone.  Although the main reason for the popularity of the marble countertop is the beautiful appearance of the stone, there are many other properties that are signature to marble that make it an excellent countertop material.  Any person that is considering a marble countertop for their home should know what the benefits of having a marble countertop will be in order to make an informed decision about their purchase.

Marble countertops are some of the most expensive types of countertops to purchase for your home, but they are also some of the most long lasting types of countertops available for purchase.  If a marble countertop is cared for properly, it could easily last for a hundred years in the same condition in which it was first fabricated.  Ancient civilizations used marble stone to create statues that are still standing today.

Marble countertops can be found in a wide variety of different hues and colors.  The color of the stone is determined by the area from which the marble was mined and the finishing process brings out the natural colors and glow of the stone.  Because marble is a natural stone that must be mined, each piece of the marble used to create the countertop will be unique and it may be very difficult to find matching marble pieces at a later date to add to your countertop.

Marble countertops are heat resistant to temperatures well above anything that may be used in the kitchen area and will not burn or catch fire, but the finish of the countertop may be damaged if hot items are placed directly on the surface of the countertop.  For this reason, it is recommended that something that is also heat resistant, like a pot holder or a place mat, be placed between the surface of the countertop and the hot object to protect the finish of the countertop from the heat.  

The heat from the hot object may not burn the actual marble core of the sealed countertop, but the heat of the object could cause the marble in the countertop to change color permanently.  The area where the hot object was placed will become significantly darker than the surrounding marble, effectively ruining the appearance of the marble countertop.  Once this has occurred, there is no way to repair the damage and the entire countertop will have to be replaced if the homeowner is unhappy with the appearance of the color changed area.

Because marble countertops are made from natural stone, they are also highly resistant to scratches, cracks, and breakage.  It would take a great deal of force to damage a marble countertop in these ways and, in many cases, marble countertops that become damaged are damaged by a natural disaster or intentional destruction.  Although the sealant finish of the countertop can become damaged by a wide variety of items, this can be remedied by having the sealant stripped from the surface of the marble and reapplied by a trained professional.  The properties of a marble countertop make it an attractive addition to any home and the expense of purchasing the countertop may be worth the length of time that it will last in the home.