Bwahahaha. Right.

Your contractor is silly, I am sorry.

i have white quartz and definitely not. we use a wine coaster for wine bottles but that's only because i like to be neat, not because the wine stain wouldn't come out:) are you looking at some kind of delicate granite?

Coasters, with marble or limestone counters, perhaps. But with granite, quartz or soapstone? Totally unnecessary.

No way, I have fantasy brown and don't baby it. Nothing has left a mark that a spray of alcohol and water wouldn't remove. I use coasters on my wood side tables for drinks and my farmhouse dining table.

My husband uses a coaster on our granite counter only because he thinks it cools down his hot drinks! :)

Oh, please.

Thanks for replies so far. The contractor's contracted bid came back materially higher on the counters from his original bid (without us changing materials or size of the counter), so he has suggested marble instead of quartz. Has promised that with the special factory sealer that it's durability will be on par with granite or quartz. When we showed concern based on the research we had done, he promised the marble would be on par with granite/quartz--we just couldn't cut on it or put hot items on it. Also, we need coasters regardless of material. Durability is the theme of this remodel...I'm concerned.

...he promised the marble would be on par with granite/quartz...I'm concerned

As you should be. Marble is beautiful (I have it and love it) but in no way does it perform the same as granite, quartzite or quartz. Our marble is sealed and we have not had any issues with stains. Etches, on the other hand, are everywhere. A few scratches, too. Hopefully the special factory sealer isn't one of those plastic-looking coatings and just a standard sealer for stains. I would ask more questions to find out.

Coasters? Huh. Would have never figured that into the equation. Are there children anywhere near? I mean that is just so unrealistic and unnecessary. Disclaimer - maybe not for marble but for granite or quartzite? I can't believe it.

I never put anything hot (from the stove we aren't talking coffee cups here) on my granite but that's habit from having laminate and just being smart/safe I suppose. Why risk that but coasters - nope. No way.

Your contractor clearly does not have children. And perhaps only a few friends ;) kidding. But that is ridiculous to expect you to use coasters constantly.

Silliest thing I've ever heard. Will you need placemats under your mixing bowls as well?

I think your GC might be out of his element here between coasters and marble-from-a-factory.

I would suggest politely acknowledging his comments and then tell him what you're getting.

OP, what do you mean the contractor's contracted bid came back materially higher than his original bid? Are you already contracted with him?

Good question. From initial bid to the final proposed contract.

That's silly, especially with quartz. The only place in my house where I use a coaster is my quarter-sawn oak end table. I don't even use them on the coffee table, which is indestructible.

Has promised that with the special factory sealer that it's durability will be on par with granite or quartz.

I hope he is not talking about a thick acrylic-like coating that I have seen applied to marble that ruins the beauty of marble. Analogous to those thick plastic slip covers on furniture from decades ago. Don't do it!

Marble is a gorgeous material but you have to be OK with patina and etching. Coasters would be ludicrous. In France people have marble blocks that proudly display wine stains and etches. In North America, people feel differently. If your lifestyle has been for 14 years with an easy-care granite, only you can know whether you are OK with a counter that behaves differently.

I would not use this contractor. He is displaying poor judgement.

Agree with alley2007, I also have marble.

No, counter tops are made to be tough and functional. If your beer bottle will cause a problem, choose something different!

Your contractor sounds like he's trying to weasel out of his original bid by trying to get you to go with the marble, which is why he told you you'd need coasters on all materials. He's full of BS and knows he screwed up his bid.

Update: I'm coming clean fully. When I started this post, the project had already been done. Contractor had installed marble with the promise that it would be extremely durable after he messed up on his original bid on quartz, which immediately then etched. Two different stone experts confirmed it was sealed properly and what we had on our counters was etching not staining. Contractor disagreed and said proper sealer would prevent what we were experiencing. I wanted to just find out 2 things by starting this post 1)Was it really a normal expectation to have to use coasters on counters (per our contractor you should use them even on granite), 2)Would any sealer really prevent what I was experiencing?.

Long story short, I'm still not happy with the contractor -- he wanted to seal the counter again. My fear with that is that he was then going to be "done" and I'm stuck with an etched counter with no recourse (other than going to court). Alternatively, he agreed to split installation of Clearstone. Wanting to avoid the legal route, I went with the Clearstone (polished finish). I am incredibly impressed. It looks great. Edges look great = can't tell that there's a protective cover. I even wrote on it with a sharpie and it came right off. I know it's very expensive, but after I saw the labor involved, I understand why.

Thanks to all for helping me get to at least some resolution (in my mind) on this.

"1)Was it really a normal expectation to have to use coasters on counters (per our contractor you should use them even on granite)

I'd rather pinch a little red wine between a coaster and the bottom of a glass overnight than pinch a little red wine between a stone or estone top and the bottom of a glass overnight. Coasters are unnecessary with Corian and other solid surfaces.

2)Would any sealer really prevent what I was experiencing?

Yes, but the sealer is proprietary to Antolini and must be applied to the slabs at their factory in Italy, so practically speaking, no, you can't seal your way out of etching from a can. Clearstone of TuffSkin will prevent etching.

Local restaurant granite.