Ask Builderguru
Question:
What is the difference between granite and marble?
- Category:
- General Building
- Posted:
- Oct 23, 2007
Answer:
Granite gives much the same look as Marble but without many of the worries associated with the softer materials:
Staining
Staining can happen when oil or water based liquids seep into the spaces between the crystals. Even though the crystals are impervious, these contaminants can get into the microscopic spaces between them. Some sealers can be used that extend your clean up time (necessary to prevent permanent staining) from 30 minutes to as much as 24 hours.
Scratching
Scratches in marble can only be polished out. It’s best to deal with a company that really knows stone from the start. Do scratch tests on your desired samples to see how easily they scratch. The Marble Institute of America has a rating scale A through D that identifies those materials that are least porous and most stain proof.
Dulling
Dulling is one of the harder issues to deal with, especially when using marble as a counter top surface. Since marble is a carbonate, spills of vinegar, lemon juice or other acids can cause the same fizzing experienced when taking antacids. If this happens to a marble counter top, the reaction eats into the surface and leaves a dull spot. Sealers only seal the spaces between the crystals, not the crystals themselves, so they can’t help this issue. Coating the entire surface can solve the problem but then your work surface is plastic, not the expensive marble you paid for.
Granite – The Easier Choice?
Granite has none of the above issues. The biggest issue it has is that everyone else has Granite as well. If you don’t want to worry about your material and would rather just use it, go with Granite.