Kitchen remodeling marble services in Colorado Springs? Both marble and granite countertops are quite durable, but ONLY if they are properly sealed every one or two years. Granite and marble are porous, so without a seal, liquids will penetrate and stain. When the seal fades and is not replaced, these stones can be easily marred by oil, wine, juice and anything acidic. Marble is especially vulnerable to acidic foods and liquids, so be very careful to keep them off the marble or to clean up immediately after contact.
Under normal use, the sealant should last about a year before it needs to be reapplied, Bruno advises, “so long as you aren’t using harsh cleansers on your countertop.” You’ll know it’s time for more sealant when you no longer see water drops beading on the surface. Clean daily—with care. To ensure that the sealant remains effective, you should wipe down your countertop daily using a nonabrasive cloth or sponge and only a mild soap (such as dish detergent) and water. Clear up spilled food right away, before it can seep in and cause a stain or discoloration (that can happen overnight, even with sealant in place). And obviously, keep some good-sized cutting boards on hand for food prep so that staining substances won’t come in contact with the countertop. Coasters help, too—red wine and coffee-cup rings are common culprits.
Because marble slabs are usually smaller than granite slabs, you may need more pieces to complete a full kitchen if using marble. Granite counters range in cost from $40 to $75 a square foot on average. More exotic stones, such as stones colored blue, may range in cost as high as $500 a square foot. For a 30-square-foot counter, the average material cost is around $1,000 to $1,500. Fabrication and labor add around $330 to the cost of the stone, a sink cutout adds another $100, and edging adds about $10 a linear foot on average. This makes the 30-square-foot granite counter cost between $3,000 and $3,500 installed. Fabrication, installation, cutout, and edging costs for marble are around the same cost. Material costs for marble are higher, starting at around $60 a square foot and going as high as $100. This makes the material costs for a marble counter of the same size between $1,800 and $3,000 making the total range $3,800 to $5,000 on average.
You don’t have to go nuts to achieve an on-trend kitchen. While an apron-front sink in a farmhouse kitchen isn’t exactly unexpected, a farmhouse sink in soapstone with brass hardware is a showstopper—especially when it’s set against white walls, wood cabinets, and stainless steel countertops. For those who fear color, focus on mixing up the finishes. Designer Cathy Chapman chose white beadboard on the ceiling and shiplap for the walls. She used unlacquered brass strap hinges and latches on the cabinets, black marble on the island countertop, and tons of warm woods on the floors, backsplash, and remaining countertops. When you want to maintain neutrality but still have some fun in the kitchen, shoot for the stars—or in this case, the ceiling. Here, the Madcap Cottage team chose to paint the ceiling a Southern porch-inspired blue (Blue Ground by Farrow & Ball) and added an elaborate antique lantern. Find extra details at Assortment of custom marble & Luxury Granite Colorado.
“Marble” is a term used by geologists to refer to metamorphosed limestone. It is a metamorphic rock composed of carbonate materials which is formed when limestone in the earth’s crust is subjected to high temperature and pressure. This causes the stone to undergo a metamorphosis stage where the calcite in the limestone recrystallizes and forms calcite crystals changing the texture of the rock. As the metamorphosis stage progresses the crystals become larger and can be seen as interlocking crystals even by unaided eyes.