The timeless beauty of marble has been known to cultures as far back in history as the Aztecs. The Ancient Greeks utilized marble for statuaries and the Romans used marble to erect spectacular monuments to their own modernity. Today marble serves similar purposes as an architectural finish. We use marble in exterior finish systems, as a flooring material, on the walls and, of course, we use marble as a countertop material. Marble countertops have, for the last decade or more, been perceived as the height of countertop luxury. A marble countertop lends a timeless elegance to most any space.

By definition, marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. The word marble is thought to derive from the Greek mármaron, which means “crystalline rock” or “shining stone”. Metamorphism causes variable recrystallization of the original carbonate mineral grains. The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals. Show a stock photo of the Taj Mahal – it’s entirely clad in marble.

Questions as to the durability of marble countertops have been at the forefront of industry conversation for the last several years. And the professionals all seem to have reached a general consensus: while most marble countertops are more porous than many granite countertops, with regular care and maintenance, a homeowner can expect his/her marble countertops to retain their beauty for years to come