The Counters Blog

Marble is easily stained, etched, and dulled, so it’s important to know how to take care of it well if you want it to last for a long time. If you have marble floors, use padding under chair and table legs. Clean up orange juice, wine, and coffee as soon as they are spilled. Use a second dry, soft cloth to dry the surfaces after they’re clean. If dust or other debris has accumulated a bit on your countertop or floor, dilute a gentle dish soap in a little warm water and use a soft cloth to clean your marble surfaces.Vinegar is a good natural cleaning agent for many surfaces, but because it is acidic, it can cause marble to corrode. If you choose to use a commercial polish, be sure it is actually intended for use on marble, not granite or another type of stone. Also, never clean your marble with vinegar- try hydrogen peroxide instead. Make sure you wipe up any spill as soon as possible to avoid stains or corrosion. Mix baking soda and water to the consistency of a thick paste. Cover the area with plastic wrap and let it rest for twenty-four hours.Lift the plastic wrap and wipe away the hydrogen peroxide with a damp cloth. Be careful with this method if your marble is dark in color, as hydrogen peroxide can lighten marble. Sprinkle a bit of corn starch over the grease spot and allow it to sit and absorb the grease for about twenty minutes. If it doesn’t work, you can repeat the process again, or try hydrogen peroxide on light colored marble surfaces. Lighter scratches should rub away with this method, and it’s the gentlest way to treat a scratch. Be sure to wipe away the soapy water and dry the surface of the marble when you are finished. For deeper scratches, try rubbing the area lightly with very fine-grain sandpaper. Call a professional if you have a scratch or stain you cannot remove. Even a fine-grain sandpaper can damage your marble if you scrub too hard, so be careful! Start with a 120 grit paper and use a small angle grinder with a sanding pad attachment. Work up through the grits to at least 400 grit for white marble and 1200 for black. This can be done with a variable speed hand grinder, white/honing pad and polish/honing powder. One wipe will do, then dry the table and wash it several times. This treatment is expensive and must be done by a professional, but it may help you keep your marble clean for a longer period of time. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the mixture, repeating the process if the stain is still there. To dust, dampen a cloth with natural, light-colored dish soap and a little warm water, then gently wipe the surface. To learn how to manage scratches in your marble, keep reading the article! To create this article, 19 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Obviously it is in all weather the year round, but it is now beginning to yellow very slightly. It is limestone that has metamorphosed and combined with natural elements, resulting in a relatively soft material veined with a range of colors and patterns. Read on to learn basic maintenance, stain removal, and tips for keeping your marble looking polished. Use coasters and mats on marble countertops to protect them from glasses and appliances. Marble stains very quickly, especially if a liquid is allowed to sit untouched for a period of time. Use a soft cloth and a little warm water to clean dust and small spills from your marble countertop and floors. Run the cloth over the surface, making a circular motion in the spots that need a little extra pressure. Don’t leave pools of water to try on marble countertops or floors, as this could end up leaving a stain. Use a natural, light soap or marble cleaner for deeper cleaning. For light colored marble, hydrogen peroxide is a good natural cleaning choice. A chamois cloth is made from a soft fabric that can be used to dry and shine your marble at the same time. Marble has special properties that can be harmed by certain chemicals. Although water is clear, leaving it on a marble surface for a long time could cause a stain. You may also make a poultice from flour and a nonabrasive dish soap, using the same method. Lift the plastic wrap and use a damp cloth to wipe away the poultice. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for twenty-four hours. Consider using a professional marble cleaning solution if you have a tough-to-remove stain. Leave the baking soda and water paste covered with plastic wrap for much longer to fully get rid of the stain. If this stain removal process doesn’t work the first time, you can try it again! Add mild dish soap to the warm water to create more friction if you wish. Do not use coarse-grain sandpaper, as this can create divots in your marble. Only use sandpaper as a last resort- try warm water and dish soap first to remove scratches! Even if you use a fine-grain sandpaper, be careful not to rub too hard or else you may damage the surface. Next, you’ll need to polish or hone (depending on whether your counter is shiny or matte) to remove the etch/stain. Once completed, clean the area again with the neutral cleaner. Most sealers wear off after a period of time so you’ll just have to “deal with it” if it proves to be more trouble to strip and reseal. Before applying any type of cleaner to marble, do a spot check in a discreet corner to make sure the substance doesn’t stain your surface. Apply it to the stain and cover it with plastic for 24 hours. For regular marble maintenance, wipe up spills with a warm, damp cloth and dry it with a cloth.

MSI Carrara 6 In. X 24 In. Glazed Porcelain Floor and Wall by homedepot.com

Maybe if you watch some of his videos, he can teach you as well. This is the third remodeled bathroom shower/tub we have used this tile in as the surround and behind the toilet. We have had to use different accent tile mosaics due to availability but any number or selection of accent tile will work very well. Used this tile as part of a kitchen, breakfast nook and entryway renovation in a very large and complex area. We really wanted authentic marble but were talked out of it but various knowledgable folks because of the potential for staining and difficulty in maintenance, particularly in a kitchen setting. We’ve received dozens and dozens of compliments, and we couldn’t be happier with the output.The only thing to keep in mind is that this is a glossy tile, so it can be slick with socks on, and will require more regular cleaning (steam mop is best) than a duller surface, only because you will see drips and things on the floor more easily. There were 16 tiles in the box and not one of them was usable. The pitting on the edges is a defect in the tile which must be part of the manufacturing process. We used the tiles for shower walls in both bathrooms. Our contractor didn’t have problems with chipping when cutting them. Used as both the wall tiles and floor tiles for our bathroom renovation.

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Best Quartz Countertops That Look Like Carrara Marble | Duration 4 Minutes 56 Seconds This is a slightly thicker than normal, well made porcelain tile. However, it is easily cut with a tile saw and the cut line is very clean. Maintenance free exceedingly durable and frost resistant this supremely stylish stacked stone-look ledger panel is a natural choice for. Grade 1, porcelain tile for floor, wall and countertop use 6 in. This white colored tile with a natural marble look adds class to contemporary aesthetic. I had my installer pull out the ones with the brown veins and we simply returned those back to the store. The surface is perfect for keeping the bath area clean, the marbling throughout the product pieces is varied and makes a great “non-pattern” look, and when setting the tile vertically it makes a short bath/shower look taller. There has been no issues with cutting the tile, they do not crack or break when doing so like marble can, the edges are smooth straight from the saw table and cutting or drilling holes into the tile is easy with the proper cutting tools. Tile was installed by a local professional who was extremely impressed with the quality, and noted how “hard” it was based on difficulty of cutting. This tile was really the next best thing and quite possibly, is even better. We’re considering using the same tile for some bathroom applications in the future. The tile arrived very quickly but every tile had at least one pitted edge which makes the tiles unusable. These tiles are 12×24 and the pitting is on one 24 inch side of every tile.The contractors kept breaking them while moving and cutting them. It is quite strong and is difficult to cut with a tile cutter that scores the tile and then breaks it over the score line. The outside edges of this tile are not rounded, as are most floor tiles, so you have to take this into consideration when you decide how to use them. They were originally tiled with 6×6 terra-cotta tile and these, when cut lengthwise, provided a much cleaner appearance. It is an impressive mix of both tone-on-tone and multicolor stone looks with all the benefits of durable porcelain.

Natural Stone Countertops by cdgranite.com

Our natural stone countertops bring a sense of luxury to your home. We offer the best stone countertops selection and a knowledgeable team to satisfy our customers. Although very similar, quartz and granite have their differences . Imagine sitting down to breakfast on a chilly morning with your family. Heated stone countertops eliminate the cold feeling other stone countertops tend to have. Heated stone countertops can be cut to fit into any countertop. Installing a heated stone countertop will make your home welcoming and relaxing. Simply place your smart phone or device on the surface to commence charging. Your new stone countertop will be elegant and functional when you add a stone countertop charging station to your kitchen or bath. We will work to find you the best stone countertops for your kitchen, bar or bathroom. New granite countertops will also raise the value of your house. Both granite countertops and other natural stone countertops will add timeless style to your kitchen and bathroom. There are many alternative color options that range from neutral colors, like white granite countertops, to more earth tones, such as blue granite countertops. Give you and your family the quality and luxury of granite countertops. Colors vary from white to black marble countertops along with countless other color and texture option for your dream kitchen. Cultured marble vanity tops look astonishing in bathrooms and will impress anyone who enters your bathroom. Granite knows that marble countertops look beautiful and that you want your countertops to last. There are myths about marble being difficult to clean. These solid surfaces look like marble countertops and granite countertops, but are a man made mineral mix of color and textures. Even though they are mineral mixtures, they still look like real, natural stone countertops. By adding natural quartz countertops to your home, you truly increase the beauty and overall appearance of your kitchen or bathrooms. Soapstone countertops have been a classic choice for home owners for many years. Whether you are going for a theme from modern to rustic, soapstone countertops will make your home look beautiful and your natural stone countertops stand out. You will want to use a cutting board and pot holders on soapstone countertops as opposed to not needing to on granite countertops. Many customers enjoy the look of soapstone countertops without oil and wait years between oil applications to keep that look. Soapstone countertops are flexible and offer whichever look suits your taste. Granite guarantees we will work with you to choose the best stone for your quartz countertops, marble countertops, soapstone countertops, or granite countertops. Choose from kitchen countertops or bathroom countertops, vanity tops, and other stone surface options for your home. There is a lot to consider when choosing which type of stone countertops you want in your home. You lean on the counter and instead of feeling a cool sensation, you feel relaxing warmth. Stone countertops are beautiful and heated stone countertops are an excellent upgrade to the beauty they will add to your kitchen countertops. Heated stone countertops are easily installed and are easy for homeowners to take care of. This is an excellent feature for multitasking, you can cook or clean while your devices charge nearby. Our expert stone countertop advisers and installers have the expertise to help you find the perfect stone countertop to fit for your home. Upgrading your kitchen or bathroom with granite countertops is the perfect solution to updating your home. In addition to granite countertops, other natural stone countertops will have the same effect. Granite stone countertops are durable and will last for many years to come. We will work with you to find the perfect kitchen or bathroom granite countertops for your home. Do not settle for fake, cheaply made countertops that are not build to last.These stone surfaces are excellent choices for any kitchen because marble is highly resistant to heat damage. We provide instructions on cleaning and caring for your countertops as well as helpful hints on how to make your marble vanity tops last for years to come. However, marble countertops are easy to protect and bring a wonderful natural atmosphere to your home. We can help decide which natural stone is right for you. Quartz countertops are low maintenance and durable countertop options. Offering quartz countertops allows us to provide a more cost effective choice in alternatives to natural stone countertops for our customers to choose from. These natural stone countertops make a home look stunning when paired correctly with your cabinets. Soapstone countertops have a special oil that can be applied to give them a varying appearance. Other customers like to oil their stone countertops routinely because they prefer the oiled look. Soapstone also makes a stunning statement around a fireplace.