Marble kitchen counters have long been seen as a premium choice for your interiors. People would pay over the odds to get great slabs of marble as their worktops, and it’s been a huge luxury design trend for years. The main draw of marble counters is the aesthetic appeal; few people will deny that marble looks great in the kitchen.
Beyond this, there’s very little to add.
It turns out that marble worktops are all style and hardly any substance. Sure, they’re cool to the touch, which helps if you’re an avid baker rolling out pastry, but other than that, you gain hardly any practical benefits from this material and end up with some concerns. What are the main drawbacks of picking marble for your kitchen counters – and what are the better alternatives?
The Practical Drawbacks Of Marble
Marble is a natural material, which is why it looks gorgeous, and every counter will be unique. That’s why so many people turn to this option, but you have to contend with the following problems:
- Poor durability – Marble is naturally quite soft, meaning it’s nowhere near as durable as it needs to be for regular use. Accidentally dropping things on the surface or banging a pan down too hard will cause scratches and chips.
- Hard to look after – The last thing you want from a kitchen worktop is to go back and treat it regularly. That’s what happens with marble. The porous nature of this material means you have to seal it quite often to prevent stains. Other materials simply let you wipe them down after use, and that’s it.
- Does not react well to liquids – As mentioned, marble is naturally porous, so if you don’t seal it often, then liquids will seep into the material and cause stains. Not only that, but any slightly acidic food substance (citrus juices, vinegar) will cause permanent damage.
Best Alternatives To Marble Worktops
If you want something that can rival marble’s aesthetic appeal and still look luxurious, yet provide better practical benefits, then quartz kitchen worktops are probably the right choice. They look fantastic, are way more durable, offer easy maintenance, and don’t need constant sealing.
Alternatively, granite worktops also have some great benefits. They’re not quite as durable or stain-resistant as quartz, yet they provide the best heat resistance of all kitchen countertops. It’s also hard to scratch them, and you’ll find granite counters in a wider range of prices to suit all budgets.
One other thing to note about marble is that it can develop a patina over time, which occurs when the material oxidises and starts discolouring. Some people like that, but both quartz and granite provide a consistent look the entire time.
Is This The End Of The Marble Trend?
It could be, but marble counters always have one thing going for them: they look the most premium out of all countertop options. For some, that’s enough to convince them to get marble kitchen worktops.
However, if you’d rather something with a better mixture of substance and style, then quartz or granite are better all-around choices.
