Talk me out of marble countertops: UPDATE

[krisim]

We are building a house and I'm deciding between the only two countertops that our builder offers that I like: 1. marble and 2. quartz.  The marble is beautiful, matches my cabinetry perfectly but I'm terrified that I'll hate living with it.  The quartz is durable but the color is a little off white and our cabinetry is pure white. What would you pick?

1. marble


2. quartz 




I was able to see a slab of the quartz we are considering this weekend and it looks a little whiter in person!

[lys]

My view on marble is NOT in a kitchen, but YES in the bathroom.

Is the color in quartz uniform in all slabs? (such that the final product will be exactly the same color as your sample?)

I would still go with quartz - By your choice of lighting and also adding a pop of color in the kitchen, you will hardly notice the difference.

You will LOVE living with quartz!

[mich1]

Not in the kitchen.

If you don't like this quartz, look at another company. There are a lot of them out there.

Also, I STRONGLY suggest that you go look at the slab of quartz if you decide to go this way (or not). The colors in the samples are not exactly those in the slabs. They are a decent representation but there can be differences in shades and figuring. The full slab of quartz at the warehouse might whiter.

I ran into this when we replaced our counters last summer.  The quartz I wanted had 2 different examples, I liked one and not the other so I went to the warehouse to see which one they had......and ordered something totally different!  I wasn't impressed with the store sample, but really liked it when I saw it in a full slab.

[hbomdiggity]

Dec 4, 2015 14:02:17 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

doesn't marble stain easily? For that reason I wouldn't put it in the kitchen. Maybe you can pick out your own granite slab that has a color pattern you like better.
ETA: they are both beautiful! 

It does. We just had it installed in our master bath and there is no way of want it for my entire kitchen.

I would go to a slab dealer and find something else you like.

[krisim]

Dec 4, 2015 14:05:49 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Not in the kitchen.

If you don't like this quartz, look at another company. There are a lot of them out there.

Also, I STRONGLY suggest that you go look at the slab of quartz if you decide to go this way (or not). The colors in the samples are not exactly those in the slabs. They are a decent representation but there can be differences in shades and figuring. The full slab of quartz might whiter.

I'm going to try and see a slab (of the quartz) before we make a decision.  Unfortunately these are our only "marble/marble-like" options as our builder only works with specific suppliers (and that is what is built into our contract).   

[mich1]

The only way I would want marble in the kitchen is if I had a dedicated pastry region, no where near the stove!

[mainelyfoolish]

Marble is soft and stains easily. I would definitely go with quartz, but maybe another color than your sample picture. I think I would pick something darker, maybe a gray with a little bit of white in it.

[y4m]

I love, love, love our quartz. I'd keep looking if you don't like the look of it - definitely no to marble in the kitchen

[raangoli]

I think @juno has some marble in her kitchen - she might be able to offer more help.

But given marble's reputation, I'd go with the quartz.

[sunshineluv]

OMG no, durablity is KEY to a counter top in my kitchen. Kitchen countertops are made for spills.

The marble won't be as beautiful with red spots on it.

My mom had a marble cutting board she ruined after one use. . .

[msmerymac]

The only way you should want marble in the kitchen is if you are NOT a perfectionist and don't mind it developing a patina over time - scratches, etching, staining, etc. Quartz look sooo similar.

Another option would be to do a contrasting color, and not the white. I think dark counters look great with white cabinets, but it depends on your space.

[cajunmom]

I agree with Juno...the problem with marble staining seems so overblown. OP, If I were you, I'd either get the marble you love and seal it, or get a contrasting quartz...NOT the off-white one. That one will drive you crazy with your white cabinets.

[scsarah]

We did marble in our kitchen (and some butcher block), and I agree that the staining issue is pretty overblown. We've been there a year, and although we're careful, we don't have issues with staining. Get it sealed, and get a cleaner that is specifically for marble, but that's all you need.

Etching can be more of an issue, so that's something to consider. You can't use vinegar to clean the marble, nor is it recommended to use the clorox wipes or stuff like that. Citrus can create etching issues too. For us, we just cut those sort of things on our butcher block, not on the marble, and we know it won't stain that.

Could you do a mix of counters like that - something that you wouldn't worry about as much in one space? Our kitchen is long and narrow, with three separate counters, so it works for us.

[krisim]

Dec 4, 2015 16:00:35 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

The only way you should want marble in the kitchen is if you are NOT a perfectionist and don't mind it developing a patina over time - scratches, etching, staining, etc. Quartz look sooo similar.

Another option would be to do a contrasting color, and not the white. I think dark counters look great with white cabinets, but it depends on your space.

That would not be me~it would bug me to no end to have the counters looks dirty! 

[krisim]

Dec 4, 2015 16:32:48 GMT -5 @booby said:

we just redid our kitchen and b/c we wanted white countertops, we went with quartz. I LOVE it. I don't like the quartz in your photo -- are you limited to that one choice? I don't understand why you can't pick one that is white instead of off-white.

For whatever reason that is the only "white" quartz they offer than has the "veining" like marble.  The do have some other white granite/quartz options with flecking, but I was really set on more of a marble look.

[y4m]

I'm pretty sure I have that exact quartz based on the pattern. Again, LOVE. It's like indestructible - hot pans, citrus, whatever. Contrast that with the marble counter we put in my upstairs bath that already has a tiny mark from when I set down a bottle of wine on it and it dripped. NOPE.

[macmars45]

H and I dream of the day when we own a SFH and can install quartz counter tops in the kitchen. We love quartz. (We currently have formica in our TH.)

[carrierroe]

We have dark grey quartz tops and have had zero problems with staining/discoloring or scratching. I've even put hot pans on them. I also love the look of marble and they are pretty durable overall. Just tour some old houses and see. They are a bit like hardwood floors - beautiful, durable and timeless, but can show wear (patina). If you do the marble just be prepared for them to not be perfect like Quartz.

[aurora]

Dec 4, 2015 17:05:21 GMT -5 krisim said:

Dec 4, 2015 16:32:48 GMT -5 @booby said:

we just redid our kitchen and b/c we wanted white countertops, we went with quartz. I LOVE it. I don't like the quartz in your photo -- are you limited to that one choice? I don't understand why you can't pick one that is white instead of off-white.

For whatever reason that is the only "white" quartz they offer than has the "veining" like marble.  The do have some other white granite/quartz options with flecking, but I was really set on more of a marble look.

I actually like this one much better.

[aurora]

Dec 4, 2015 16:48:37 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

...I also don't understand why people are so hung up on putting hot pans on counters and cutting without a board.  Those are just things I have never done, even with a tile counter.  

We never used to, but then we bought a house with granite and I have to say it's super convenient not to have to worry about trivets anymore. I'm not saying it would be a deal breaker in a house, but if I were choosing between two new countertops I'd pick the more heat resistant for sure.

[mich1]

The Pental Quartz collection has what looks like a true white marble like quartz.  This is the company we got our quartz from.
pentalquartz.com/products/avenza/

[boiler717]

I LOVE our marble. But it is not for every one. We don't have any stains but do have etching. Make sure you know what etching looks like and are okay with it, as well as being okay with the maintenance.
I could never find a Quartz that compared to the beauty of marble. It's just gorgeous.

[boiler717]

Dec 4, 2015 16:57:04 GMT -5 krisim said:

Dec 4, 2015 16:00:35 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

The only way you should want marble in the kitchen is if you are NOT a perfectionist and don't mind it developing a patina over time - scratches, etching, staining, etc. Quartz look sooo similar.

Another option would be to do a contrasting color, and not the white. I think dark counters look great with white cabinets, but it depends on your space.

That would not be me~it would bug me to no end to have the counters looks dirty! 

I'm a total OCD perfectionist and love my marble.

[aurora]

Dec 4, 2015 20:07:01 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Dec 4, 2015 19:00:42 GMT -5 aurora said:

We never used to, but then we bought a house with granite and I have to say it's super convenient not to have to worry about trivets anymore. I'm not saying it would be a deal breaker in a house, but if I were choosing between two new countertops I'd pick the more heat resistant for sure.

Our installers said that it was more heat-resistant, but they still recommended trivets because the heat can discolor the sealer or make that area more susceptible to stains.  I have no idea if that is true, but I still use trivets on our granite counters.   

www.kitchenbathdesign.com/kitchen/article/10348240/a-look-at-the-most-common-myths-about-granite

This may be true but we've been using no trivets for 10 years and have no discoloration, so I won't start worrying about it now.

[imojoebunny]

My neighbor has 3 young kids and marble countertops.  She does not drink at all (so no red wine) and is fastidiously tidy.  They are awesome for her and look great, but I know my limitations, and those of my drinkie friends, and I am much happier with my light colored granite, with sprinkles of color that hide my messy moments.  

Is that quartz your only choice?  I like some quartz a lot, but that one has to much yellow for me, if the color is coming across correctly on my screen.  Also, can you get the honed finish over the shiny?  That might help.

Edit:  I love the other sample you showed of quartz.  I generally do not like things that try to mimic things they are not, like the quartz to look like marble, which is my own prejudice.  I like the quartz that looks like quartz a lot.  

[qubit]

Of those two, I'd pick the marble because it coordinates better with the cabinets. We just redid ours with Cambria Quartz in the Torquay color. It's so easy to clean! I just wiped dark red Sharpie off with a quick swipe of the magic eraser. If I didn't have kids, I might have chosen marble.

[cosmowife]

I don't like that quartz sample with your cabinets. We have pure solid white quartz in our bathrooms. Easy, great, perfect. We have marble in our kitchen. It is not for the faint of heart. It is etched all over. However, it doesn't really stain - we've had coffee spots sit for days and they still come up. I don't know about red wine, however. I also cut beets on my table just in case. But other than that, it doesn't really stain (and I barely ever seal it and only have ever used butcher block oil to seal it). If my heart was set on marble, I would definitely not get quartz - it isn't the same no matter how good of a replica it might be. However, if I had to do it again, I would definitely get honed instead of polished - i really think that would have made a big difference in the amount of etching we have.

[sfy]

Will the builder give you a credit to use another supplier? I would want to find a better looking Quartz over these two choices.

[krisim]

I'm feeling a bit better about the quartz after seeing it in person. The slab was in the shade so I couldn't see the true color of it, but I think it does look whiter!

[dexteroni]

That quarts is really pretty. I would definitely go with that over marble.