Have you ever heard of carrara marble? If so, have you ever wondered what is carrara marble made of? It is the white marble that is quarried in Carrara, Italy. It is a beautiful age-old material popularly used in the construction of magnificent looking architectures since the Roman times. Rumour has it that Michael Angelo himself would go down to the quarries to seek inspiration from the mountains of marble that are one of the many wonderful aspects of mother nature. And you can have that legendary material on your kitchen countertop. Isn’t that amazing?

The White Carrara marble is often confusingly pronounced and written as Carrera marble. It has always been the source of visual delight for designers and builders. Even the modern engineered stones seek inspiration from these stones and imitate the subtle veins, colour contrast, and contours. 

What is carrara marble’s durability?

Many people wonder whether it is worth paying for a carrara marble worktop. Well, given the proper care and maintenance procedures are applied, your investment will remain graceful forever. Remember: this stone was also used thousands of years ago, so you have many options to sustain its glory.

However, the question remains: is carrara marble porous? Does carrara marble stain easily? Let’s see the actual pros and cons of carrara marble countertops.

1. Loss of shine

What is carrara marble’s probability of lossing shine? Marbles are known to lose polish. Especially, the Carrara marble that is smooth and softer than compared to granite, wears off its natural shine in due course, and it is inevitable. Repairing is possible with a professional hone and polish, but you need to keep the floor free from dust most of the time.

2. Etching

What is carrara marble’s probability of etching? When acidic substances —mostly liquids— fall on the white Carrara marble, they cause etching. The only thing you can do is to avoid contact of the marble with any cleaner or chemical that is acidic in nature. It can be bathroom or toilet cleaners, or food and beverages like oranges, lemon, etc. You can remove a light etching with marble polishing powder, as long as it does not absorb too deep.

3. Staining

What is carrara marble’s probability of staining? Natural stones like marble are more susceptible to staining easily than granite. This is because marble is porous and most foods, drinks, oils, and rust will stain the marble. One of the primary precaution to take is to clean any stain the moment it occurs. Don’t let it set in. For this reason, you might want to keep a consistency in applying a sealing at least once a year, or more, depending upon your usage.

4. Yellowing

What is carrara marble’s probability of yellowing? Yellowing can occur due to several reasons —embedded dirt and grime are the common causes for a yellow and dingy look. Also, if you have waxes or coatings applied on the white marble, it can cause yellowing too. White marbles yellow with age naturally because of the natural iron content that oxidises with time. This process is accelerated when you use it in humid places like bathrooms.

Most of the problems faced by white natural marble owners are listed above along with a fixable solution, but you need to act fast to get the best results.

Published by Jesus Alberto Mouzo on November 7, 2017