If you want to live with pretty hard sponges that scratch and stain in your bath, then it's up to you. You have no right to gripe when marble behaves as marble behaves.

Marble patina · More Info

marble patina · More Info

marble patina · More Info

marble patina · More Info

marble patina · More Info

And the FUN thing about marble...urine stains it VERY nicely! Yep. Big ol' pee stains right where you can't get at it = beside the toilette against the wall.

Urine is an acid = etching. Urine is yellow = staining. Sealing will reduce staining but not etching (and it takes a lot of effort to get a marble tile sealed for bathroom use = expensive STONE setter not a tile setter).

There are marble experts who suggest sealing the marble BEFORE install (some say seal it twice), and then it MUST BE sealed AFTER install. But....you have to let the adhesive dry (couple of weeks) before you do that. Until then you have LIGHT use (tooth brushing) on the marble.

You can seal it as many as 2-3 times after install (the couple of weeks after the tiles are laid) and then as often as every 6 months for the rest of it's life. And what ever you do, do NOT let a "maid service" anywhere NEAR that floor. Their cleaning products will EAT your finish!

Once the etching becomes too "horrible", you can then have a stone polishing professional come in and refinish your stone (sanding down, etc) and then you start the sealing process all over again.

I love the marble. It think it is stunning. I wouldn't live with it as a floor. There are FAR BETTER porcelain tiles that look just as good for less than 10% of the effort/heartache.

Good luck. I hope you find the product that makes you happy.