I watched my parents go without their desired luxuries and eventually pass away without ever getting them, even though they could have afforded them. They were just too practical.

I’m in the design phase of a whole house renovation which will be my first and likely my last. My heart wants marble. I'm “open” to Quartzite, but my heart will probably win the day – life is just too damn short.

I may even opt to get one of those expensive treatments which make marble almost bullet proof. Or, I’ll wait until the time comes when it needs to be professionally re-honed and have it treated at that time.

This is a very personal decision. I wish you the best in your choice. :-)

"But will every single glass of liquid set on the countertop etch it? Will every water drop of water around the faucet etch it? Essentially, will every single thing that ever touches the countertop etch it?"

Marble etches from looking at it. Embrace the funk or move on please. The biker boyfriend you're in love with has no job and is behind in his child support payments. Don't be the girl that thinks her love will change him please.

I love my marble. We went into it fully educated but I
still wondered if the etching would bother me. It doesn’t. I love the stone and it still looks beautiful to me every time I walk into the kitchen. You can certainly see the etched spots in certain light, but it doesn’t detract from the beauty, for me. Good luck!

I agree with Joseph 100%. if you “always use spoonrests” you are not a good fit for marble, in my opinion.

I have quartzite....love love it. I have had it for 5 years. Looks like marble in my opinion..., but invisible...

We have marble because I too love it and had my heart set on it for this house. It is beautiful and makes me smile every time I see it even after 6 years. I knew about the issues we do use spoon rests and cutting boards, but we did so in all of our former kitchens too. We travel a lot and marble is used in many places of the world in cafes and bars and sidewalks and buildings we decided we would live with what we loved even with imperfections.

As to having it repaired that is possible when for example a house sitter decided to not dirty a cutting board we explained was for use and cut lemons on a silicone mat. The result was an etching about 12 x 14 with a waffle print. We hired a marble restoration company they redid the whole surface then resealed. The cost was $900.00 and took a day, the pet sitting company paid for the damage.

I have crema marfil marble in our master bath - 7 years now. It was sealed upon installation and I have not sealed it again (though I should and will this winter) but water drops do not etch it. Nor do water glasses. My husband has an electric toothbrush that sits on its charger with all of its drips, etc. It has not etched. What did etch it was Bar Keepers Friend - I was shaking the bottle over the sink and a blob squirted out and it etched instantly! I was sick but now I barely see it (I have to lean down and look at an angle). I also have small etched areas from what I think is contact lens solution. I can live with those.

I have quartzite in the kitchen because I have a family of messy people - they are unaware when they squeeze citrus that it goes everywhere; they would drip red wine and not see it, etc. and they can't seem to remember to wipe down counters. If it was just me living in my home, there would be marble in my kitchen and I could live with MY mistakes. But if one of my people caused a problem, it would be harder for me to live with.

I love my "biker" marble. Over 2 years and that bad boy is sexy as ever! No problems from him. My love DID change his evil ways. :D

Not everything etches it. Just the things you know...citrus, tomatoes, etc. When it was brand new I was a bit crazy about it. I put kitchen towels next to the cutting board. That doesn’t happen anymore and definitely the most etched area is there. I don’t sweat it anymore. Yesterday I was making a tomato based soup and walked into the kitchen to see it had boiled up and there were splatters on the counter next to the stove. It didn’t even phase me. I do have a couple of clear “cutting boards” that I leave on the counter. They have a lip that keeps them in place. They provide a spot to put drippy things without worrying. They are called “acrylic cutting board with lip” on Amazon. They are nice and big. At the end of the day, I just adore my marble and the etching simply doesn’t bother me. Good luck!

I have had marble for a long time -- my island is a over 100 year old commercial pastry marble -- it's practically indestructible. My counters are newer marble and yes, I have been careless and put some acid things on them and one spot is etched (vinegar) but the rest is fine and I'm not careful with it either. My only regret is that it's shiny and I should have had honed.

@countrygirl2323, I have Taj Mahal in my kitchen and love it as much as my marble. I did a ton of research and am confident in my choice. I made sure the fabricators sealed the inside edges of the faucet and air switch since that's where I have heard people have had problems with porosity. I would have loved marble but know my family - and myself! - too well. Good luck with your decision. It's a big one. My island shows the beauty of TM - makes my heart sing.

I have the same quartzite love it. I get lots of guests. Or did before Covid. Wine drinkers ..drinks with limes and lemons. Just cooking with lemons. Vinegar... it looks brand new.. I have had it over 5. Years.

I have honed, hand-polished, carrara marble on my island. Only acidic things etch it, but I have a large, round ring etch which could have come only from a dripping pot lid someone has put down flat on the counter. I have no idea what was on the lid. I was surprised to find that activated yeast (in water) will etch, but I often roll yeast dough and oil-heavy pastry crust directly on the counter and it doesn't seems to faze it. I, too, was very careful when the marble was new (honed after we installed it), but now I ignore the etches, knowing I can re-hone and polish if it gets too bad. No one else coddles the marble, so I doubt the effort would be worth it.