a suggestion: while folks can post pictures you really need to do some in home tests to see if you can live with etching - you have to see it in person. go to home depot or lowes and buy some marble squares or whatever product you are considering. seal them then test out various spills like lemon, tomatoes etc. seeing what it looks like in person will aid you in determining if you can live with it. i have marble and love it, would do it again in a second. i am a single working professional and do not have children and i have cutting boards strategically placed to limit etching. it has made it very manageable. if i had kids with sippy cups and all the other madness i would not select marble.

It's difficult to capture a picture of etching. I remember that you have T&M in your area. Any luck getting them to transfer the Calacatta Macaubus Quartzite, like Michelle16's? Also, have you considered Danby marble? T&M tranferred our Danby slabs from Minnesota to our local T&M.
I have successfully removed the etches from my samples of Danby. It does require resealing after removing etch marks. This is a benefit of Danby that is not an option with other marbles. Also, I think many of the etches that marble owners get are not that visible & don't bother them. If you get an etch in a highly visible area or have a bunch if them, removing & then resealing is something you could do as a homeowner.
The wonderful thing about marble it is timeless & can always be restored/repaired.

Romy718, hahaha...coincidentally, I called T&M this morning and am having two slabs of Calacatta Quartzite transferred here!! They will be here Oct. 30th. So bizarre that you are suggesting that the same day I actually did it! And if you knew how many stone yards we have around here, it's even more bizarre. I think I'm happy with this decision...just waiting for my fabricator to give me the quote. My first choice is still the Extra Superwhite from T&M, which also happens to be a bit cheaper. However, I just worry about how it will wear. If my quote comes back too high, I may default to my first choice and live with the etching! Either way, I will love the counters:)

I don't know why I never thought of this, but I have a marble top coffee table in my family room (it's brown marble). I've had it for 15+ years and my kids eat and spill on it daily. It is etched I'm sure but it isn't noticeable because of the veins/pattern. I guess this would be an equivalent to how the counters would look.

The man that was helping me @ T&M when I was there last week actually showed me four kinds of marble that wear a lot better than the others. I remember Danby being one of them. He did mention that etching can be removed from them w/o too much effort. Not sure about the Superwhite though. They don't even categorize it as a granite, marble, or quartzite...it's under the "specialty" category.

If you are questioning it the answer is probably no. Do you have kids, what's your kitchen use, will you be willing to repair?

teachertile, I know, I know!! Yes I have kids and depending on who is using the kitchen, messes don't always get wiped up right away. I wouldn't mind taking the extra work to scrub out etches w/a poultice or whatever would be required. That isn't really my issue. The issue is...I would not be happy if the etches were not able to be removed and were there permanently. I think I would be OK to wipe them down and know they were clean. But I would probably do the extra work on the etching once/month or so and then reseal. Are etches always able to be removed?

I believe on most marbles, except Danby, etching has to be removed professionally. I do like the comparison that someone made to having your "carpets cleaned" and periodically having your marble rehoned/repolished.
I had a very hard time deciding if I could "live" with marble.
lcskaisgir, good luck. I hope you love the Calacatta Quartzite!

This post was edited by romy718 on Wed, Oct 16, 13 at 22:52

There was a post recently where someone had their marble polished every few years, to the tune of $500.

I may as well have the Clearstone put on them. I was quoted a little over $2000, which comes w/a 15 year warranty. I just don't feel like going through the hassle though. The closest person I found for Clearstone was in Cincinnati, which is at least 4 hours away. He mentioned that I would also have to pay for lodging...apparently it is more than a one day job. I should be OK w/the Calacatta Quartzite anyway, from what I hear. Fingers crossed that the quote is within my budget:)

from your comments i would select another surface. it sounds like etching will bug you too much. with children you could be spending hours every week monitoring and fixing etching - does not sound feasible.

Ditto on getting a sample piece to see how you really feel about etches.

This is what I wrote on another thread.

Hola,
Do you have another focal point other than the countertop?
How would you feel during the in-between period, between when it's brand sparkling new and the end beautiful patina stage?
In due time, all the scratchings and etchings will all patina together.
But until then, I love my new layout, my fabulous windows/loads of light pouring in (perfect for Spring weather), and toasty toes from the radiant heating, so that I barely notice the countertop so much.

We did get gorgeous Vermont marble countertop and full backsplash behind the hood.

But my gorgeous countertop was the #4 on my most loved list.
1. New better layout.
2. fabulous 5 down-to-countertop wall of windows
3. radiant floor heating
4. honed marble countertop

I thought I wouldn't mind the etching much, but the 3 (now 10+) spots/areas are so very noticeable in my eyes.
My DH and kids are very untidy, never cleaning up after themselves. So while I am telling myself to just live w/ the slow patina process, it bothers me that I spent so much money on something that annoys me so much.

If I didn't have the other 3 top plus other stuff (my new mudroom) to distract me, it would bother me to see a new etch every other week, etc.

Good luck,
Amanda

Amanda, well it's good that you are enjoying most of the things in your new kitchen! I can imagine that I would feel the same about the counters. I thought the Vermont marble was one of the ones that you could get the etching out of?? It's a good point that eventually the etches/scratches all blend together...this has definitely been the case with my 13 year old Corian counters. And I don't mind it one bit. However, when there is just one etch here and there, they probably stand out much more.

I can't wait to show you mine! They are etched like crazy, large rings, and pits included! The first one crushed me, but it got easier, and now I really don't mind. I have embraced imperfection in my home and in my life. I have never felt more at ease! Lets hope I can remember to take the photos when I get home.

Just wanted to let you know I feel your pain! After much deliberation we chose to get honed carrara marble. We are putting it in all 3 bathrooms and on the kitchen island. We are putting Ceasarstone Piatra Gray quartz on the perimeter counters so that I can still make a mess in the kitchen when I want to be carefree...and make mojitos! :)
I wish I could tell you more about it but it's not installed yet. But I did search the internet for weeks trying to get reassurance that it was ok to put marble in my house. This is the quote that assured me to get it...and maybe it will help you out.
"Marble is a stiletto and everything else is a sensible shoe." I am pretty sure I saw this quote on this website. I mean I know I am the first to complain when I wear high heels but damn don't they make your legs look so good and you just feel hot when you have a good pair of stilettos on! :) I wanted a hot kitchen so I went for it!! Good Luck to ya!

I think this is one of the best testaments to marble I have ever read. I would definitely read this when deciding on whether marble is right for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Great info and take on Marble

twn85, I can't wait to see yours!!

aktillery, that is a great article! I believe marble is not right for me and ruled it out. Calacatta quartzite...yes!!

I would like to see pics of marble that has made it through the initial phase of etching and made it to the 'patina'd' phase where everything has blended together.