If you’re doing a kitchen renovation and considering finishes, you’ve probably at least toyed with the idea: Should I install marble kitchen countertops? They’re a staple in almost every Pinterest-worthy kitchen (likely paired with white cabinets, bright windows, and, of course, pink peonies). And, for good reason, they’re gorgeous.
Marble countertops look clean, chic, and always ready for a sunny afternoon spent baking. They weren’t a must-have on my list of things to look for when buying a home, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that they always ended up in the plus column. And, no surprise, I was delighted when the condo we found did happen to have marble countertops…but, I’ve learned a lot about them over the past year.
SHOULD I INSTALL MARBLE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS?
So, if you are one of those people wondering, “Should I install marble kitchen countertops?”, let’s chat. Right here, right now. We’re going to talk it out and decide if it’s right for you. Spoiler alert: if you’re a perfectionist, marble is NOT for you. If you love an aged patina, come on over to the marble side.
THE PROS OF MARBLE COUNTERTOPS
- Marble is a stunning, elegant option. Okay, we don’t need to get into that, but it’s the obvious biggest mark in the pro column.
- Marble is not actually that expensive. It’s not prohibitively expensive as it sometimes has a reputation for being, but it’s also probably not your #1 choice if your ballin’ on a budget. It’ll run you the same as a low-end granite assuming you’re going for a Carrara marble and aren’t too picky about it being bright white.
- Marble stays cool to the touch year-round. Not sure this really matters for anything except that I like that it’s cool.
THE CONS OF MARBLE COUNTERTOPS
- Marble is extremely porous. Yes, that means if you spill red wine and don’t clean it up in a timely manner, you can end up with a stain. Even grease and oil can leave a stain. BUT, you can get it sealed which will prevent this type of staining.
- Marble is soft. You can chip marble if you drop a heavy pot on it. Are you going to crack the slab in half? Probably not, but we do have a chip on the side of our countertop that I cannot recall how it got there.
- Marble is prone to etching. Don’t let water or acidic liquids sit on marble or you’re going to end up with very faint stains that are very noticeable from an angle. Think about the marble countertop at a bar. It’s exposed to spilled liquids all evening, every evening. Now think about all the rings and spots you’ll see on it. That’s what could happen to your pristine marble countertops. Supposedly this product polishes etches out, but I have yet to care enough to try it.
And, there you have it — those are the few considerations you have to make when deciding whether you want to install marble kitchen countertops or not. It all comes down to: can you live with imperfection or will you obsess over every etch and flaw? No judgement either way and, remember, there’s always that fake marble contact paper for your Instagram backgrounds if you really need it.
