Marble is a beloved, timeless material adored by many home and business owners—and historical landmarks and art pieces. Here are some interesting facts about marble.
A natural material, marble features beautiful patterns you simply can’t get in other materials. Depending on the type you select and how it’s cut, you can end up with something truly unique and beautiful. Plus, there’s a lot of history and interesting facts about marble!
What is Marble?
Marble is a metamorphic form of limestone that appears naturally with a wide range of colors and elegant veining.
Due to its softer and more porous composition, marble is typically best for lower traffic areas and more infrequent use. But if you do decide to use it in the kitchen, there are some important care instructions to heed.
Marble needs to be sealed more often due to its greater level of porosity. To clean marble, don’t use anything you wouldn’t wash your own hands with. Use mild cleansers with a natural pH, avoiding abrasives or harsh agents like ammonia. These will break down the sealant faster.
Clean spills right away, especially wine, juices and vinegar. Be sure to use coasters, hot plates/trivets and cutting boards on the material’s surface.
Now that you know what marble is and how to care for it should you decide to include it in your next countertop makeover, let’s get into some interesting facts about marble!
5 Interesting Facts About Marble
#1. Marble Countertops Come From the Mountains
Marble is typically found amongst the oldest parts of the earth’s crust, mined from mountains across various parts of the world.
The mountains of Carrara, Italy is the most famous source for marble mining.
Marble can also be found in mountains in Vermont and Colorado in the United States, as well as places in South America, Asia and Europe.
#2. Marble Is Known for its Gloss
Marble is well-known for its gloss and reflective qualities.
In fact, the word itself originates from the Greek work “marmar” – a verb that means to glisten.
#3. Marble has Been Used in Historical Buildings and Art
Artists, sculptors and construction projects have long favored marble for its pure, luxurious appeal.
Marble was the primary material for major landmarks like the Taj Majal, the Pantheon, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Lincoln Memorial. Also, well-known sculptures like Michelangelo’s David are also made from marble. The translucent qualities of the material make it great to work with and create realistic effects.
While marble is typically not optimal for high-traffic use, it truly can stand the test of time. The beauty of these historical buildings and artwork have only gotten better through the years.
#4. Lemon Juice and Marble Don’t Mix
Sealing marble is important, but acidic spills may even penetrate a sealant, creating an “etch” on the surface. An etch is a physical reaction that occurs when acid interacts with a stone’s calcium carbonate makeup. The etch essentially looks like a dull spot on your marble. That’s why it’s so important to clean up acidic spills right away.
The great thing about marble is that, with the right products and professional help, you can usually lift stains, sand chips or scratches down and repolish it if any damage occurs (be sure to reseal after a repair). This isn’t always true for other natural stone materials that experience damage.
#5. You Can Hide Seams with Bookmatching
Bookmatching is when the veining and movement from one slab is mirrored in another. When placed end to end, the motion from one slab carries on to the next, creating a continuing flow.
If you have a particularly large or uniquely shaped area to place marble countertops, you might need more than one slab to cover the countertops. This means you might have seams. A perfect solution for this is to bookmatch the marble, in which adjacent pieces have a mirrored appearance.
Marble is a work of art in history and also your home! Work with a designer and your countertop installer to pick the exact pieces of stone for your countertops—and artfully place them so they look beautiful when they come together.
Browse our current marble inventory or schedule a visit to our showroom to learn more about this timeless material.
