Wow that is beautiful! I don't see why you couldn't put glass on top. But I think you would want to make sure it does not have a green tint to it.

The picture certainly does not do it justice! It looks spotted here, but is actually blue prisms that look almost like snowflakes.....Ahhh!

There are so many beautiful options for counter tops why would you knowingly purchase a material that is inappropriate for your lifestyle?

I heard of it before. I haven't broke my glass top yet. 10 yrs.

I feel your pain! My husband and I also just found a slab of similar marble and feel in love with it! Unpractical for us also. I love visualizemaven's idea.....a backsplash!

Because I really hate and refuse to use granite....and most man made options are just trying to mimic granite any more. Even laminate all "looks like granite".
I had planned to use Vetrazzo, but it only comes in 9ft slabs when my island is 10ft. A seam for one extra foot...meh.
So that leaves marble as the next line of options. I was told the calcite was a bit harder than marble, and I really thought it was gorgeous. It is the first stone besides creamy marble (that is so overdone right now) that I liked.

Do you want to lift off that slab of glass to clean between the glass and calcite? If your kitchen is heavily used, something will spill and get between the layers which could create a little mess or a much bigger issue.

Happyleg; what is under your glass?

Really stupid and expensive idea for a wet workroom. A kitchen isn't your grandmother's dresser. It's a chemistry lab that you want prettified a bit. You need to back off the crazy ledge here and put FUNCTION first.

If you dislike granite and man made options, quartz could be an alternative and it could really compliment your calcite if you love it and used as a backsplash. I wouldn't add glass on top of the calcite from both a visual and practical perspective. Also think about resale issues down the road.

I agree with Sophie this is just a crazy idea , then you will need a chpping block on top of the glass just makes no sense .Maybe have a table made with this for the top it is beautiful but if nort practical for a kitchen run away.If you want something really different ( I dislike granite too) check out a product called Stratifiacato from Abet Laminati it is like nothing you have seen before is used in labs because it is amazing this pic is a black but literelly comes in hundreds of colors that can be mixed for different layers cuts with wood working tools looks amazing.

Truly, I am tired of stressing about it! I currently have cracked Corian, and have always had laminate counters in my other houses. I am horrified at the thought $5k+ worth of stone getting ruined!!
I would put laminate in because the stuff wears like iron and it is relatively cheap, but my husband is pushing for 'nicer' countertops. I am trying to find a good compromise. The glass was his idea to get the nice ones, and me not freak out constantly!

Well, the backsplash idea as mentioned, or if you have an island, maybe there?

The island would get the most wear, that is the part I am worried about. The design is basically a galley with a wall on one side, sit-at island on the other with the sink in the island. Like this...

Maybe something in this article will help.

http://www.homedit.com/13-alternatives-to-granite-kitchen-counters/

Have you looked at quartzite slabs? You will find a similar look that is natural stone. Tough as nails.

I'm a big fan of Quartzite but keep in mind it is as expensive as exotic granite.

To answer your literal question, no, glass can't harm calcite just by sitting on top of it. OTOH, as others have stated, kitchen counters must be practical, and doing this layering would be anything but practical. You didn't make it clear whether you were planning a removable installation of glass, or having it permanently bonded, but both have serious issues. And in fact, unless you go to the superhuman effort of having your protective glass made from an iron-free melt (so it won't have a green tinge), having it coated with an anti-reflective film, and somehow getting the installer to make all the seams and edges and index-matched adhesives perfect, the glass will inevitably impair the appearance of the calcite....more so with the inevitable wear.

Visualizemaven gave you a great idea that meets your goals best.....please consider it.

That's like using clear plastic slipcovers to protect your velvet sofa.

Lol!!

Is quartzite more expensive than calcite covered with tempered glass? I don't think so, but maybe. If you love the calcite, put it on the island and just use it. Some people, especially in Europe don't have a problem with the etching and staining. It gives your space a unique lived in look. I think we're getting too obsessed about wear and tear. We're not living in model homes.

You should know that the glass will scratch and maybe harder to keep free of smudges. I have a glass cover on my kitchen table it has scratched and chipped along the edge and things get under it too. Just a thought!

There's probably a good reason (or many good reasons) this isn't something that's done often (ever?).

Have you thought about getting glass counter tops and just forgetting the stone all together? There are some absolutely beautiful ones now with all kinds of patterns and colors. Expensive but then again, that stone you picked doesn't look cheap so maybe the price difference wouldn't be so bad. You could get glass countertops with an under light. This company has great ideas. http://www.thinkglass.com/glass-countertop-residential/kitchen/glass-countertops-kitchen

Onyx looks great back lit too. Put some light behind the calcite and you won't believe it.

@ casandra383, a stove top.

tedbixy, you are right about the glass tables! I have a clear glass dining table - never again! That is an excellent link you provided. As for non-tempered glass, Houzzers, don't even think about it. That glass breaks and it can cause serious injuries. We made that mistake once with a coffee table. All turned out well. But I will NEVER buy non-tempered glass again.

On a Houzz article, porcelain was cited as a current counter surface.

I had a glass piece cut for my wood kitchen table. As TedBixby points out above, it's not a perfect solution. The edge is hard to clean and I am constantly lifting the glass and trying to clean underneath. A huge pain.

That being said: the glass company said that they often did this for counters as well. If you decide to go with the glass, there is a glass type that doesn't have the green on the glass edge. You might want to do that.

goid luck

It's like putting plastic covers on the living room furniture. It just never looks right and detracts from the real thing. Either live with the idea of wear, think reclaimed wood, or don't do it.

We have nixed the calcite altogether. So far I am unimpressed with my choices and have absolutely no idea what I am going to use!!

Is Corian a really awful choice? That is what is currently in the house and though ugly and cracked, it doesn't look worn even though it is 20 years old. (The crack is from the previous owner's stupidity). There is a plain white or gray that I could use then do a really cool backsplash...

Corian is no where near the calcite as far as the look. It isn't awful but not as upscale as granite or quartzite or marble.

Quartzite is a natural stone that is very hard and durable unlike marble for kitchen counters. Taj Mahal quartzite reminded me of your calcite with a little of the iridescent look.

The aggravating part is all the stone suppliers are an hour and a half away. So trying to 'just go look' is an all day affair. :(

Maybe hire a designer by the hour who is near the stone. She could send you pictures. Then make one last trip to meet her and make a decision?

The stone that Leelee is showing is very pretty. I think suzyq53, posted it too. Casandra383 - why not show this to your husband for his opinion.

The biggest "issue" people have with calcite stones (including marbles, travertines and limestones) is that it etches with exposure to acids. On a highly polished, glossy surface this manifests as dull spots or rings - or what people commonly refer to as "water marks". These are areas where the acids ate away the top layer of stone, marring the surface.

To negate this somewhat and to make these kinds of stones easier to maintain, you could request to have the slabs honed. This gives the stone a visually softer, satin finish and the etch marks, even though they will still happen, will not be nearly as visible.

Honing will soften the colour too, but the application of a good quality impregnating colour enhancing sealer will return some of the depth of colour without changing the satin finish.

Please note that you would not be able to prevent acid damage by applying any impregnating sealer. Since acid etching does not require absorption (the only thing a sealer will prevent), this type of damage will occur regardless of whether the stone in question was sealed or not.

Any calcium containing stone is prone to developing a life history (patina) over time with use, much like a wood floor would develop life marks. This is to be expected of these materials and if you have your heart set on such a stone, you would have to adjust your expectations and embrace the fact that your tops, beautiful as they are and will be, wil not be perpetually new looking.

Thank you so much SFA - well said and explained