marble worktops
Thinking about Marble Worktops for Your Kitchen?
The fact that you are here means you are looking for something for your kitchen. The following write-up is for you if your concern revolves around kitchen worktops near me. By the end of this, we are gonna know some things about marble worktops.
Let Us Tell you a Little about Geology of Marble
This beautiful piece of earth is a metamorphosed rock that evolved under various pressures and harsh conditions to become what it is today. Just like humans evolving to become the best version of themselves, every succeeding day. Fascinating right?
In more scientific terms, their formation can be described as such. Dolomite or limestone, which is a sedimentary rock, comes under the influence of heat, pressure, and chemical processes in the centre of the earth’s surface. These extreme conditions cause the transformation of the rock to get recrystallized to form the now metamorphosed rock, that is marble. Check out these stones for marble worktops near me that are of high quality within an affordable budget.
NERO MARQUINA MARBLE |
RUIVINA ESCURA MARBLE |
WHITE ORBETELLO MARBLE |
Why is Marble Worktop Popular?
Cost-Effective
Despite the stunningly expensive outlook of this material, it can cost less than other natural stone worktops materials. However, the actual price varies depending on the chosen type and thickness. It is often less expensive than granite or quartz worktops.
Rich Number of Varieties
Every other piece of stone is different in look. The beautiful and distinguished veining exhibited by the stone is a result of impurities trapped in the limestone when the earth’s extreme heat and pressure act upon it to transform it into marble. With the composition of minerals within the limestone that went through the metamorphic process, a completed marble can be found in a wide range of hues and colours, depending upon the area of origin, and the time of excavation of the particular slab. This wide range of varieties available in the market attracts a large number of customers to suit their preferences, respectively searching for kitchen worktops UK.
Heat Resistant Worktops Marble
Since time immemorial, it has been adorned by builders and all kinds of project workers dealing with it for its ability to create a cool temperature effect. This becomes a benefit while interior kitchen installation as it helps maintain the rapidly increasing temperature inside the cooking area due to different cooking activities and also makes the rolling of pastries on the surface easy. Marble worktops can withstand heat from appliances and shows fire & burn resistance. Your kitchen is safe with marble but regardless, it is always advised to use trivets while placing hot pans and pots rather than directly contacting them with the surface to prevent tarnishing of sealant and polish, ensuring it a longer life.
Historical Significance and Durability
Ancient Rome and Greece have shown wide evidence of this material, ranging from structures to sculptures and gigantic pillars. This acts as an assurance to prove the durability of the material and its capability to withstand the extremities of time.
Attractive Designing
The softness of this material makes it possible to incorporate captivating style elements during the process of fabrication such as extravagant edges and customized designs. Commercial buildings and tourist-attracting places can use this as an advantage where the craftiness and the unique display have the potential to attract customers.
SILVER FANTASY MARBLE |
WHITE FOLLONICA MARBLE |
MOCCA CREME MARBLE |
What More Should You Know?
Porosity
What is porosity, first of all? Stone porosity is a calculation of the total space occupied by the pores that occur in the natural stone when in comparison to its net weight. This porosity is generally expressed in percentage. So, those stones or any materials that show a high level of porosity means they are easily susceptible to staining. Since marble has numerous interspaces in between its stone composition, it shows a high amount of porosity. When a slab after being fabricated is used in a kitchen for purposes like kitchen worktops, a countertop or alike, it is undeniable that the surface comes in contact with vegetable and fruit liquids, acidic spills from citrus fruits, wines, tea spills, and all that a cook deals with, regularly. Spills like these on meeting the surface enter those voids and occupy that space, as a result of which the exposed countertop face gets stained. This makes a marble worktop high maintenance material which could become a drawback for it. Thanks to the discovery and manufacture of sealants, this can be corrected. As the name suggests, these sealants seal up those pores, so that the liquids cannot be absorbed and hence the marble is no more vulnerable to blotches and marks arising from the messy kitchen works. Therefore, to sustain its longevity, it is very important that right and standard quality sealants are being used. After installation, sealing is to be repeated annually or biannually to preserve its quality.
Scratches
As marble is a comparatively softer material, it becomes prone to abrasions arising from regular cooking cutworks and dragging of appliances, so much that it could even disfigure the surface. Lemons especially must be avoided from direct chopping on the surface, as their acidic substance when exposed for a longer period can etch the sealant, making the surface dull and wear out sooner than expected.
There is one possible solution to this problem which is installing a honed material instead of a polished one. Although complete prevention is not possible, a honed or matted surface can mask the scratches and marks arising from works better than glossy ones.
Time Investment
Given all the aforementioned matters, marble work-tops are not for homeowners with extremely busy lives unable to dedicate a quality moment for its cleaning and management.
However, if they can consistently dedicate some moments to it, this exquisite material will bring life to one’s kitchen with its compatible nature to pair up with almost anything from brass to gold accents.
Some Popular Varieties:
Marble Calacatta;
This one comes under the expensive category because of its exclusive deep golden and grey veining on a crisp white background. Though being rarely available as compared to other materials, they are quite popular in demand for flooring, work-tops in the bathroom as well kitchen and backsplash among many others.
Carrara Marble;
Originating from Italy, this particular piece is a feasible option that can be used to make cheap marble worktops in comparison to other marble alternatives.
Arabescato Orobico;
The polished texture of this marble makes it suitable for a wide range of activities like kitchen worktops, bar countertops, bathroom worktops, benchtops, hearths, floorings, tabletops and much more.
CARRARA MARBLE |
CALACATTA VAGLI MARBLE |
ARABESCATO OROBICO MARBLE |
Wishing you a Marble-ous Purchase Ahead!
Use our cost calculator to get a rough estimate of your budget. For any assistance or general queries, please email info@work-tops.com
