Hi,
There will always be an issue with etching though sealers have helped with staining problems. Etching is when something acidic is spilled on the counter and it starts a chemical reaction to roughen the surface. If you don't wipe it up fairly quickly, it will etch.
Some people choose to use marble and accept the inevitable patina it will get. Using honed helps it to be less noticable when some etched spots lose their shine.
We are choosing to use marble only on the peninsula, under a glass cabinet arch, since it is not a work or prep area. I would trust myself and dh, but not our 2 young sons. I just had to have it, so we are hoping that putting it somewhere "safer" will be the solution.
Of course, we will have out dozens of coasters when we entertain, lol.
IMHO - the look of marble is worth a little risk ;)
HTH

Look at the Vermont Danby Marble.

It's recommended for kitchens. As far as I know, it's the only one.

It's also called High Density Marble and is much less porus than other marble.

Here's a link so that you can see it.
It will scratch and stain but get it sealed and it will be fine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Danby Marble

Wopnad-
I've had marble counters for going on 3 years now. Mine are Calacatta Oro, sealed with a couple of coats of Miracle Sealants 511 Porous Plus (NOT the Impregnator).

I did a lot of "testing" on sealed marble samples before installing my counters. Nothing I did stained them. Red wine, coffee, mustard, blueberries,etc. NOT A SINGLE STAIN. The sealant did its job!

Etching is a different story. Acidic/citrus products can etch marble. The sealer isn't really a deterrent there. Vinegar, lemon juice, etc, will leave etch marks. Of course, the sooner it is wiped up, the less of an etch it will leave. Etching, imho, is not that big of a deal. I have tiny little "flecks" here and there from squirting lemons. No one sees them but me because I know where they are. Knocking over a bottle of lemon juice or vinegar, that's a different story. That might become noticeable. An etch mark will look like an even duller spot on an already dull finish. Not a tremendous eyesore on honed marble (different story on polished marble!).

Marble is "softer" than granite so it is possible to nick or chip it. Something as benign as tossing your key ring on the counter could cause a chip if a key hits just so. You can get surface scratches from dragging rough-bottomed plates, bowls, etc.

A ScotchBrite pad, fine grade sandpaper, silicone carbide sandpaper...these will help you "buff" out many scratches and etch marks to the point where no one would notice. I've fixed a number of spots on my counters. Be sure to reseal the buffed areas so as not to expose the marble to staining risk.

The only extra care I take with my counters (vs when I had other surfaces)...is that I try to use a larger cutting board when using products that etch. Other than that, I don't baby them. If you think you might hyperventilate every time someone who is not "marble educated" approaches your counters and such instances are often, I'd reconsider. If you can be relaxed, you'll really enjoy marble!

It's a great idea to get some samples of the marble you're considering, seal them, then abuse them. Also try to "fix" etches or scratches yourself. If you do happen to somehow get a stain, there are several different poultices that do work.

Lastly, if you do get marble counters and some huge etching catastrophe happens, the counters can be rehoned in place. My builder's fabricator did a lousy job honing my marble. I had another company come out (after we had already moved in) and rehone them. It's a wet process. The guys taped off and cleaned up...you couldn't tell they did that kind of work in my kitchen! Once I saw that, I realized that nearly any worst-case scenario could be remedied, I relaxed. I love, love, love my marble counters!

HTH. Good luck!! MT4K

Here is a link that might be useful: Miracle Sealants

Kate & MT4K - Thanks so much for your enthusiastic responses, they're just what I needed. I've poured over all the marble threads over and over, as I do love the stone. Recently I began to feel like I was chickening out...and I was. But you've reinforced my desire for this beautiful stone. Thanks again to all.

oofasis: glad to see some use the search function, LOL! there definitely needs to be a section on stone counters in the FAQ.

Wopnad, marble can be a great choice as long as you're ok with it being a "living surface". That means you accept the fact that the occasional etch mark, chip or scratch mearly adds to its beauty.

If you're not ok with that, consider picking a white granite instead.

Here is a link that might be useful: white granite thread

Hi there, I was on these boards watching Momto4kids having her beautiful counters installed during the time that I was making my final selections. I have acid washed carrara marble counters in my kitchen and ensuite bathroom. After more than two years of living with them, I wouldn't change them for anything!!! I used the same sealer, have never had a stain (we use a lot of berries so the potential would be high!) I have a few etch spots, but they are not highly visible because of the acid washed finish. Like Momto4kids, I use a massive cutting board, try to wipe up things before they sit, but other than that I do not baby these counters in any way. If it is what your heart desires, then do it and enjoy.

My neighbor who has beautiful marble countertops just puts out a giant silpat mat and does all her prep work on that. The mat catches any spills or squirts that escape the cutting board. The advantage of the silpat mat is its very light and easy to move around. After cooking, the mat just requires a wipe - she rolls it up and stores it under her sink. Other than that, her children are pretty messy, I have seen pizza sauce, berries, etc. hit her counters and the counters have held up very well.

I like the idea of the silpat mat. That sounds ideal. The cutting board that I have been using is the epicurean cutting board which is made of Richlite and is heat resistant, can be put in the dishwasher, does not dull knives and won't harbour bacteria. It has a groove around the edge to catch spill. Mine is 18" x 27". It requred a custom storage slot in my island. Most of the time it stays on top of the island though. Expensive, but even my husband figured that it would be foolish to skimp on the board, given what we spent on the counters! Here is a link to see one:

http://www.gourmet.org/category/cutlery/cutting-boards/cutting-boards/313375/

Hey all,
Just want to add that we have decided to do all marble after all. I had loved reading the responses on this thread that were encouraging and then we went to the stoneyard and fell in love with a marble called Bardiglio Nuvolato Apuano amost instantly (that sure is a mouthful, lol!).
It will complement the VOP Extra marble we had picked for our island, which is like a clean Statuario with grayish purple swooshes (the technical term, I believe). The Bardiglio has a gray base with wild black & white throughout. It is what I would have designed if I knew it were possible.
I wanted to come back and thank those who had shared their happy marble stories because that helped us decide to not listen to the fabricator nor stoneyard salesperson when they advised against any marble in a kitchen and to follow our hearts.
I guess we are lucky in that we both agree on this counter so much that no one can point a finger if it is a mistake, lol.
I will buy a ton of Miracle 511, so you may want to add some of their stock to your portfolio now ;)
Thanks again!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bardiglio thread

just puts out a giant silpat mat and does all her prep work on that.

You can easily cut right through a silpat mat.

"You can easily cut right through a silpat mat. "

I think what the original poster was suggesting was using a silpat mat beneath a cutting board to catch spills, as opposed to using it as a cutting surface:

"just puts out a giant silpat mat and does all her prep work on that. The mat catches any spills or squirts that escape the cutting board."

Waggn,
You said (6 posts above) that you have ACID WASHED carrara marble counters. Is Acid Washed the same as Honed? If not, how is it different?

Ah--acid washed. Momto4 got me thinking when she mentioned spilling an entire bottle of vinegar. I was wondering what would happen if one were to...well...treat the entire surface with vinegar. Beat that etching at its own game, so to speak.

Then I saw the post about acid-washing. Details please! Any photos of how acid washed looks compared to honed?

Francy

Bump! I would like to know about the acid washing too!

I recently started looking at granite slabs but am always drawn to the marble slabs. Until today, I thought they were a no-no for the kitchen. The store I went in today said that granite is "passé" and marble is in (they must be the distributor of more marble than granite...). Anyhow, they recommend "antiqued marble", which looks a little more rustic and dull then the honed one. Apparently any scratches or etchings would not show as much. They have 13 available colors and plan to have 20 by next year. They had a demonstration of a spill and scraches on the 3 different finishes (honed, polished and antiqued), and the antiqued looked the best. They had the carrera and light and brown emperador, and they all looked stunning. Does anybody have any experience with antiqued marble? I have to say that I had never heard of it before.

When I was marble shopping I saw an incredible antiqued marble, a Rainforest Green. It was so beautiful with stunning veining in reds and browns. I'd never seen an antiqued stoned before and couldn't stop touching it. However, I selected what my heart has wanted all along, a honed white Carrara, and haven't looked back. (Well, it's only been three or four weeks since it was installed, but still...)

@dianalo just checking in to see how the Bardiglio worked out. Fell in love with a slab today and just wanted to know if it etches white, like black marble does (problem) or if it just gets a bit dull, like a whiter marble... Any advice would be appreciated!

This thread is over 7 tears old!