Marble

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Marble is an elegant natural stone, rich with beauty. A truly unique look and feel. Images of extravagance and wealth come to mind. It’s been used for centuries in palaces, temples, and for sculptures. It can be formal or casual. The surface of the stone can be polished, honed or brushed.

Marble is one of the oldest architectural and decorative materials. In many cases, the statues and buildings made of marble far outlasted the ancient cultures that built them. The white marbles of Carrara/Italy: Calacata, Statuary and Carrara were widely used in ancient Rome. White marbles are very trendy nowadays and widely used for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, fireplaces and tub surround. White marble floors and walls, using white marble tile and mosaic are also very popular. Marble has been valued for thousands of years for it’s rich palette of beautiful colors and appearance and is perfect, pretty much anywhere in the house. This stone was made to be admired. A one of a kind beauty.

Geologically marble is a sedimentary rock, which consist of limestone that has undergone heat and pressure metamorphosis under temperatures in excess of 1800ºF. The texture of marble depends on the form, size and uniformity of grains. The element components of marble determine the color of the stone. Generally, calcite and dolomite marbles are of pure white color. Variations of whiteness of pure marbles are due to the mixture of foreign substances

By tumbling or antiquing it, the look and feel becomes more comfortable and less formal. This stone was made to be admired. A one of a kind beauty.

Marble is a beautiful and durable natural stone. Think of your lifestyle and where you want to use it before deciding on marble. It is a unique natural stone which has been used as a building material for hundreds of years. If you absolutely love the look of marble and are comfortable with the maintenance, choose marble. You’ll be glad you did.

MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Abrasion Resistance

Most marble has low abrasion resistance. Compared to granite, marble is a much a softer stone. It should not be cut on because it will scratch easily. But, it’s not as soft as soapstone.

Dolomite marble is much denser and less prone to scratching.

Absorption

Most marble has a moderate absorption rating and will stain when exposed to oil and highly pigmented liquids. Dolomite has lower absorption rate and is less prone to staining. All marble should be sealed after installation.

Acid Sensitivity

All marble will acid etch when exposed to acidic foods such as lemons or vinegar. Marble is a calcareous stone consisting mainly of the mineral calcite. It is highly reactive to household acids found in vinegar, orange juice, and lemons. These acids will etch the stone and leave dull marks or rings. Because of its tendency to etch, marble is not recommended for kitchen countertops, unless the customer understands the possible outcomes and is comfortable with the higher maintenance.

In general, light-colored marble is difficult to maintain in flooring applications with heavier traffic and dark marble tends to show more scratching.

Dolomite marbles have a weak reaction to household acids and more appropriate for kitchen countertop application. They are very frequently used in design as a countertop material with very good results. However, they are not immune to some etching, so that possibility should factor in your decision to use Dolomite for your kitchen countertops.

HELPFUL TIPS

• Always seal marble prior installation
• To reduce the appearance of etching in kitchen countertop applications, choose a honed, white marble with a low-moderate absorption rating.
• To reduce the appearance of staining, always wipe up spills immediately. Oil and highly pigmented liquids can penetrate and stain the stone and may need poultice to remove the stain.
• Always use a neutral detergent to clean marble.
• Always check the abrasion resistance rating. For marble with a lower abrasion resistance rating, use walk-off mats at entrances and expect the material to patina rapidly.
• If acid etching is an issue, choose a material with minimal acid sensitivity rating, such as quartzite or granite.
• Expect to see factory-repaired cracks and fissures. The quality of the repair is dependent upon the factory of origin, the fabricator of the stone and the installer.

APPLICATION & FINISHES

Applications

• Interior Flooring
• Interior Tops – Kitchen Countertop Application Limited to Dolomites
• Interior Wall Application
• Tub Surround
• Exterior Pavers
• Exterior Cladding
• Monuments & Statues

Finishes

• Polished
• Honed
• Brushed
• Tumbled
• Variety of Designer Finishes

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