Marble has long been the stone of choice for many builders and interior decorators for high-end homes and businesses. There is a reason why so many sculptures such as Aphrodite of Milos and David by Michelangelo were carved from this type of stone. It is known for its beauty, strength, as well as its durability to stand the test of time. But can you really use marble in your home kitchen? The short answer is YES, yes you can.

Of all the stones that can be used in your kitchen, marble is the most desired. It is formed in nature and has unique and dramatic swirls and veins that are best displayed in large section. This makes marble great for large countertops and vanities.

Marble is suited for kitchen use but it also requires proper care and maintenance to avoid scratches, wear, and chips. If you’re willing to put a little extra care into maintaining your marble countertop then it will last you a lifetime and then some.

How Is Marble Formed

When limestone, a sedimentary rock, gets buried deep in the earth for millions of years, the heat and pressure can change it into a metamorphic rock called marble. Marble is strong and can be polished to a beautiful luster. It is widely used for buildings and statues. As you can see from the picture, marble has a very sparkly luster. It occurs in many different colors such as white, pink, gray, red, yellow, or black.

Because mare occurs naturally in very large deposits it is also mined in large sections. This makes it perfect for covering large surfaces such as countertops as they can be cut from one large singular stone.  Each slab is unique with no 2 sections having the same pattern. This way you are guaranteed to not see your marble countertop pattern in any other kitchen.

What Are the Types of Finishes For Marble Countertops?

Like most natural stones, marble has to be finished to complete the installation process and help preserve the stone from wear and tear. Marble finishing also helps bring out the naturally occurring patterns in the stone. There are three primary types of marble countertop finishings including: polishing, leathering, and honing.

Polished Marble Countertops

A polished marble finish is created by grinding down the surface of the material using fine abrasives until it results in a natural shine. It is layered with an end coating that acts as a protectant and gives off a smooth and “mirror-like” shine.

When you think of kitchen countertops, polished finishes are probably what come to mind. They offer a glossy look that adds elegance to a room. The shiny finish makes the countertop always appear clean and dirt-free. It is a great addition to traditional or modern homes that boast extravagance and luxury

Leathered Marble Countertops

Leathered marble has a surface that is textured and pebbly, like leather. This type of finish is achieved by further processing the stone through sanding and buffing, sometimes using brushes and water jets. This finish can be put on darker marbles to bring out a rich texture.

Honed Marble Countertops

Honed marble has a matte finish that varies from completely flat to semi-matte, which is a bit more forgiving when it comes to scuffs and scratches, and “dresses down” the feel of the marble so it’s softer and warmer, rather than pristine and sterile.

Maintaining Your Custom Marble & Granite Connection Marble Countertop

Designers have been known to refer to marble as the “blue jeans of countertops” – they show the wear and tear of life, but that’s also what gives them their character. It’s true that keeping marble pristine requires some extra TLC; but some homeowners have found that perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The etches, the scratches, the stains, and splatters all tell the story of your family and how they use and love the kitchen. And other homeowners find that with the natural swirls and beautiful unpredictability of the marble’s veining patterns, the stains and scratches nearly disappear into its surface.

Seal Your Countertops Regularly

Sealing your countertops will help them repel water, but isn’t a guarantee against staining. It’s generally advised to have your marble professionally sealed to start with, but you can get a sealer to apply yourself when it comes time to reseal, which is usually every 3-6 months. Darker marble can go longer between sealing, whereas white marble needs more frequent upkeep.

Wipe Up Spills Immediately

Don’t let water pool on the stone, or you run the risk of stains, etches, or water damage.

Do Not Use Harsh Chemicals or Abrasive Cleaners

Stick to PH-balanced cleaning solutions, since acid will cause etching on your marble, and use a soft cloth when cleaning, to avoid fine scratches. Hot water and a soft towel are the best tools, but you can also disinfect your countertops once a day by sprinkling baking soda on the surface and gently rubbing it with a damp cloth.

Avoid Placing Hot Pots on The Surface – Use Cutting Boards and Coasters.

Avoid setting food, plates, utensils, or hot pots and pans directly on your marble – doing so can stain, etch, or scorch the stone. Never cut directly on your marble countertops, as you run the risk of scratching it with your knife – and, in the case of raw meat, leaving behind a place for bacteria to collect and multiply.

Contact Marble & Granite Connection for the Best Custom Marble Countertops in Pompano Beach and South Florida

Marble & Granite Connection has been providing quality services to countless patrons across Broward and Palm Beach County for many years. We have been able to satisfy our customers with high-quality marble countertop installation. Contact us today for marble countertop installation services near me, We promise you that you’ll be added to our growing list of satisfied customers. For any inquiries, you may call us at 954-783-2118 or visit our contact page.

Stone countertops make a beautiful addition to any kitchen or bathroom. If you want that beauty to remain for years to come, then you have to properly clean and maintain your stone. Proper maintenance is essential to having your stone look its best and stand up to the wear and tear that comes with use. In this article, we will look at a few tips and tricks on how to properly care for and maintain your stone countertops.

Cleaning of Your Stone Countertops

It is always a great idea to clean your marble and granite countertops daily. Performing a soft clean on a daily basis will go a far way in preventing surface build-up and even more damaging stains from setting. Use warm water and a microfiber rag to clean away spills and wipe away crumbs  and waste food from your countertops daily

On a weekly basis, you should perform a more thorough cleaning. Remove all items from your counter including appliances, fruit bowls, utensils, etc. Use the granite cleaner over the entire surface to remove dust and debris that collects around appliances. doing this will serve to condition the stone as well as maintain the shine and luster over time.

Monthly Stone Countertop Cleaning

Temporary polishes can be used periodically to enhance the shine in natural stone and granite. These types of polishes are not for maintenance or repair and they are not what make the countertop shiny. Instead, it “enhances” the shine – similar to waxing a car – improves cleaning, and provides a small amount of protection.

If your granite countertop has become dull for some reason you will most likely need to consult a professional as no chemical or product will restore damage to a granite surface.

Yearly Stone Countertop Cleaning

You will likely know when it is time to reseal your granite countertops as you will start to see water around the sink darkens the stone instead of beading. This means that the moisture is absorbing and the surface requires resealing. Sealant is needed for whatever finish you have on your countertop. The most common marble finishes are either polished, for a high-gloss surface, or honed, which produces a softer matte surface.

Applying a penetrating sealant is easy. Simply clean and dry the surface and just wipe the sealant on with a soft cloth. with normal use, your sealant will generally last you a year before it needs to be reapplied. As long as you don’t ill-tread your marble countertop the sealant should last you a year. Once you start to notice that water no longer beads off the surface its time to re-apply the sealant.

If you find that your stone has become stained beyond what your at-home methods can handle, then consider using the service if a professional stone restoration and cleaning company such as Marble & Granite Connection

If you are looking to remodel your home, then you’ve probably come across ads for quartz kitchen or bathroom countertops during your google searches. But have you ever wondered where quartz comes from and how it’s turned into the gorgeous countertops in kitchens across the globe? If your curiosity has been peaked then read on to find out just how do they do that. In this blog, we will examine how quartz is made and try to provide and show why it has become a popular choice for home renovations and new construction

What is Quartz?

Unlike many artificial compounds, quartz is a naturally occurring mineral – among the most common minerals on earth. According to geologists, you can find quartz in a wide variety of rocks, in different shapes and sizes. It even makes up much of the composition of those gorgeous white sand beaches that we all love so much. It comes in crystalline form or small masses of globe-shaped stone.

Where Does Quartz Come From?

Quartz is generally mined from veins. In its purest form, it’s transparent in color – but the mineral itself can come in many different colors. Large deposits are routinely found in the United States, Brazil, and other countries around the globe.

How is Quartz Manufactured?

Quartz is a hard mineral, but it’s almost useless for manufacturing unless bonded with another mineral or some other substance. Typically, manufacturers mix quartz with a small amount of chemicals, stone, or glass to improve appearance, blend them together in special mixers, and then pour the composite substance into a mold to create the slabs used for kitchen countertops and other home features. Those slabs are then baked at extreme temperatures to create the durable, non-porous material we find in many homes.

The great advantage of quartz is the consistent color and pattern which you can’t get from a piece of granite. If taken care of, a quartz countertop can last you a lifetime without ever breaking. Stay away from harsh chemicals as they may cause the color to fade and reduce the bond between the resins and quartz.

Is Quartz Environmentally-Friendly?

When you think of sourcing materials such as quartz from the earth, you’ll immediately think of the environmental impact. Thankfully, quartz is in ample supply all across the world, and it’s blended with waste by-products of other manufacturing processes to form the end product. There is no natural stone explicitly quarried for the manufacturing of quartz kitchen countertops.

You can rest assured in the fact that selecting quartz for your countertops and surfaces for your home has a lesser impact on the environmental impact than choosing natural stone, a limited and non-renewable resource.

Although it’s not entirely stone, quartz a great substitute and can be used in various places around the home apart from the kitchen. It is an affordable method of experiencing the aesthetics of natural stone. And is a wise investment in your home and kitchen as the material is designed to last a long time.

Get Quart Countertops in South Florida

Marble and Granite connection is the premier supplier of quartz countertops in South Florida. When you are ready to remodel your kitchen or build one from scratch, contact us to speak with a knowledgeable quartz expert. Call us at 954-783-2118 or contact us here.

Is Marble Hard to Clean?

So, you’ve decided to remodel your kitchen. You’ve looked at cupboards, sifted through Pinterest, and decided on appliances. The next big question is what kind of countertop will you choose? After much thought you select marble. Installation day comes and your brand new custom marble countertops are ready to become the focal part of your kitchen and the envy of your neighbors.

Now that you have these stunning marble counters how do you keep them clean? Florida homeowners are often times scared at the prospect of how to clean their marble countertops. In this blog, we will look at how to clean your marble counter and keep them looking shiny and new.

How Do You Clean Marble Counters?

Cleaning marble countertops and backsplashes is actually simpler than you’d think, but, as with maintaining any surface (especially ones that get as much traffic as a countertop), you need to know what you’re dealing with. Daily marble cleaning should be part of your kitchen cleaning routine but there are some special Jedi Cleaning tactics you need to summon when your neighbor “accidentally” pours too much wine into her glass and spills an entire bottle of Malbec across the length of your beautiful, white marble island. Then there are the times when your little bundle of joy wants to feed themselves and end up feeding spaghetti sauce to your marble counter. Not to worry, after reading this blog you will become a marble cleaning pro—here’s how to clean marble and make it stay that way.

Marble is more porous than most other countertop materials such as soapstone, quartz, and even wood. As a result, it can be more susceptible to etching (tiny surface scratches), staining, and even changes to the stone itself. Because of this, you will want to perform regular cleaning and sealing on your marble counters.

Sealing Your Pompano Beach Marble Countertops

Regardless of what type of marble you select it is super important that you have it sealed once every few months. While sealants do not make the stone impervious to stain, they do ad a defensive layer and help to make the stone stain-resistant. This layer will give you a bit more time to grab a rag or towel and clean up that spill before it has the opportunity to stain the stone. It is always a good idea to invest in some coasters and placemats for those high traffic areas like breakfast bars and coffee counters.

Daily Cleaning of Your Marble Countertops

For routine daily cleaning, and to pick up occasional spills it is best to use warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge or cloth. Note that marble does not like acid so stay away from cleaning agents that contain acids, also stay away from citrus (lemons) and vinegar-based cleaners.

How to Clean Stains On Marble Counters

For those times that you don’t catch those pesky spills and they are allowed to settle on your marble surface, not to worry, all hope is not lost. For most food stains it’s recommended that you use a solution of a few drops of ammonia and 12% hydrogen peroxide. For oil-based foods such as salad dressings and vinaigrettes, a mixture of detergent and acetone can be used to gently dissolve the oils.

How To Correct Etching

Scratches are inevitable, after all, it’s a home and not a museum, so your marble countertops will be used.  For light scratches, you can try buffing the area with a dry #0000 steel wool, however, if the scratches are any deeper than surface level we recommend that you call in a professional to assess the area and perform maintenance. Marble & Granite Connection not only sells marble countertops we also provide professional re-sealing and maintenance services in South Florida.

The etching issue also gives marble the reputation of being finicky and hard to clean. Yes, you don’t want to use some common and acidic natural cleaners like vinegar and lemon juice. But other than that, marble is just like other natural stones: durable, easy-wearing, and really easy to clean.

Get Marble Countertops In Pompano Beach

When you’re ready to get a quality marble countertop installed on your kitchen, contact the professional team at Marble & Granite Connection today! Marble & Granite Connection has been providing quality countertops for many years, making us one of the most experienced and established marble, granite, and quartz countertops providers in all of South Florida. We are confident that when you choose Marble & Granite Connection for your marble countertops, you’ll be absolutely happy with our work. To get a quote contact us today at 954-783-2118 or click here to drop us a line.