Marble

Marble is essentially transformed limestone, which implies that the limestone has experienced changes at the mineralogical, substance and crystallographic levels. The gauge component is calcium carbonate. Marble gets its name from the Greek ‘marmaros’ signifying ‘sparkling stone’, which has additionally formed into the English word ‘marmoreal’ or marble-like. Marble is related with the prophetic sign Gemini.

Natural marble is obtained from quarries the same way as granite is, but good marble (as flawless as possible) is relatively harder to find. It is also produced synthetically, but this marble is almost always easily distinguishable from the natural kind.

Marble has been a building medium of choice since the beginning of recorded time. Some of the world’s most famous historic structures, including the fabled Taj Mahal in India, have been built from marble. It is renowned for the beauty of its translucence, durability and ability to stay cool even under extremely hot conditions. In most Eastern countries, a home with a marble floor places the owner in a distinctly higher social category than the rest.

Marble is also the professional sculptor’s most cherished medium, both because of its beauty and the fact that its relative softness makes it easy to shape under the chisel. Its waxy properties lend it to the creation of life-like sculptures, such as those by historic Greek artists.

Various grades of high quality marble are known by the location of the quarries they are sourced from – for instance, the white marble most prized by sculptors throughout history is quarried from Carrara in Italy. Other places that yield precious marble are Paros and Penteli in Greece, Proconnesus in Turkey and Macael in Spain.

The world over marble, as an architectural or artistic medium, signifies refinement of taste and social eminence.

Faux Marble

Faux or false marble is a product that simulates the appearance of natural marble. Creating faux marble is an intricate process, since it must replicate the essentially chaotic appearance of real marble – its texture and grain. This is usually achieved by combining several layers of paint.
 

Faux marble is a cheap alternative to the real kind, since it can imitate the noblest of finishes effectively for a fraction of the cost. It is also available as a finished product, but the do-it-yourself or custom-made options are usually far more rewarding.

The most effective way of creating a faux marble effect is by applying alternating layers of carefully selected paint and tinted glaze on a white or otherwise lightly colored baseboard; that way the natural veins and grain of marble are simulated. The process, also known as ‘marbleizing’, can be used on walls and furniture. Though it is quite time-consuming, the effect can be quite fabulous and well worth the time and effort.

To achieve a convincing marble effect, one must choose a color scheme that closely imitates the natural version. The most effective shade combinations are gray/white with dark gray/black streaks, pink with peach streaks and eggshell or off-white with yellow/gray and green streaks. These are the usual color combinations of natural marble.

The different layers of paint are glazed over at regular intervals till the desired effect emerges. There are many variations of the process. Some use feathers for achieving a natural streaking effect, some employ candle wax. This is a creative process – have fun!

Faux marble can be bought or made at home; either way, it will add a sophisticated, colorful element to your home.

How To Clean Marble

Marble differs from most other stones because it is extremely porous. In other words, it allows dirt and stains to set in and be retained far more easily than denser stone. Also for this reason, it cannot withstand most conventional cleaning mediums – especially harsh detergents and acids.  

Remember that marble has a slightly unstable chemistry and is quite delicate. Calcium carbonate (which is what marble basically consists of) will immediately and dramatically react with any kind of acid, resulting in pitting and scarring.

The best way of maintaining marble’s overall cleanliness is with lukewarm water, a soft cloth and an occasional wipe down with a mild, non-abrasive detergent. The marble should be thoroughly wiped dry after such cleaning. If you like, a light coat of wax can be applied for further protection, but this is entirely optional, since marble will not gain additional luster from wax the way wood does.

The only safe way of tackling stains (blood, tea, coffee etc.) on marble is by gently soaking them off. To do this, any kind of absorbent material such as blotting paper or facial tissue can be lightly soaked in water and 20% hydrogen peroxide, placed over the stain and left there for several hours. The stain should wipe off easily after this treatment. Rust stains are best removed with regular rust removers; however, marble should not be exposed to them longer than strictly necessary.

Marble does tend to fade with the passage of time. This does not necessarily detract from its innate beauty. However, the luster of faded marble – especially on domestic home floors – can be effectively rejuvenated. There are specialty cleaning agents such as tin dioxide available at most leading housekeeping stores. Used as manual polish or in combination with an electric floor polisher, these work wonders in freshening up the lost shine of marble.

Keeping your marble in top condition is easy with a little care: it may be maintained with soft, conventional cleaning products; stains can be removed with hydrogen peroxide and it may even be polished to keep it looking new.

Marble Countertops

The first function of a countertop – be it of a bar, kitchen or bathroom – is to provide a suitably elevated working space. A suitably located countertop can help minimize spillage. The second function of a countertop is to be decorative. A medium like wood, though potentially decorative, cannot withstand moisture for long.

 

Natural marble is among the most visually appealing surfaces for countertops today, but it does have its limitations owing to its porosity. There is no sure-fire way of ‘proofing’ marble against staining from tea, coffee, juices and certain cosmetics. However, it is practically the only choice in bathrooms that have been designed in marble. When natural marble is used in bar and bathroom countertops, the owner should be prepared to maintain it carefully.

A more suitable alternative is artificial or ‘cultured’ marble. This is molded from crushed natural marble in a binding medium made up of resins, polyester, calcium carbonate and other materials. The end product can resemble natural marble to the point that the difference is unnoticeable.

Cultured marble is highly resistant to moisture, staining, scratching and chipping. Since it is a manufactured material, major cracks and breaks can be repaired easily. At the same time, the nobility of marble shines through. Tough though it is, cultured marble can still suffer damage from certain cleaning agents. However, the supplier will invariably point out what can and can not be safely used for its maintenance.

The color of cultured marble countertops can be changed by resurfacing. Such services are offered by porcelain or enamel refinishers and the results can be quite visually appealing. It must be remembered though that the ‘marbled’ effect will be entirely lost and one solid color will result.

While cultured marble is the most practical option for a gorgeous countertop, natural marble is a beautiful choice for a more decorative counter surface.

Marble Fireplaces

Even run-of-the–mill fireplaces make home a more pleasant place to return to, and there are many good wood, gas and electric varieties on the market today. However, nothing can compare to the rustic splendor of a marble fireplace. It lends class to a home’s living room or bedroom like nothing else.
 

There are various styles available, many reflecting a certain historic period, including English and French Renaissance, Tudor and contemporary. The arched and baroque styles seem to be amongst the all-time favorites. But basically any fireplace artistically fashioned in marble is an instant attention-grabber that lends character to one’s home. The most spectacular are custom-carved by professionals, often out of single blocks of marble.

Installing a marble fireplace requires a firm foundation because of the heaviness of the stones involved. A homeowner will therefore have to consult an architect before proceeding.

Although fireplaces have decorative appeal, there are several drawbacks to installing working fireplaces. In the first place, fireplaces are far from the most efficient and economic ways of keeping a home warm in winter. Secondly, building fires can be hazardous to the clueless. In America, there are approximately 22,500 chimney fires that cause more than 50 fatalities each year. The Chimney Safety Institute of America requires all chimneys and fireplaces in active use to be cleaned by a certified professional.

If you decide to go ahead with using your marble fireplace for actual fire-making, all the precautions for safe use at home apply. A fire extinguisher should be kept handy at all times (never use water to douse an accidental blaze). An appropriate fuel medium should be used, and smoke detectors installed.

It must be remembered that working marble fireplaces require regular cleaning to prevent the marble from staining permanently.

Whether you are looking for a purely decorative or fully functioning marble fireplace, you should be able to find exactly what you want from the wide choice available today.

Marble Floors

During the last ten years, marble floors have seen a rebirth – a sales increase of close to 400%, in fact. Fine marble floorings were a rich man’s option in the years when marble was quarried solely in Italy, but now one can get perfectly serviceable grades from quarries in China, Spain and Mexico.

 

The two most commonly employed kinds of marble for flooring are the white and black slabs and tiles. Both lend a unique character to the surroundings and can, under artistic guidance, be mixed for stunning effect.

Apart from the distinctive touch of class marble floors lend to a home, they are also much in demand because of the cooling effect they have on the whole house. This is because marble is essentially a dense solid with low heat conduction properties – it takes a long time to warm up. For this reason, marble flooring is in great demand in the tropics. In countries like India, it is not uncommon to find decorative mats and carpets as the sole pieces of furniture on such floors, since this enhances the beauty of the marble floor.

Though marble remains the connoisseur home-owner’s flooring of choice, it does take a lot of maintenance. Since floors are high-impact, wear and tear is common, and white marble is an easily stainable area. Therefore, it is recommended that one employs a specialist service for marble floor upkeep. For a marble foyer, professional cleaners should be employed at least every one and a half years, and for living room, bathroom and kitchen floors. Also, marble floors will require treatment with neutral pH breathable sealers to compensate for the stone’s porosity and tendency to absorb stains.

Marble floors lend a beauty and class to your home, but remember, they require loving care to keep them looking their best.

Marble Repair

Minor blemishes in marble caused by stains or scratches can be corrected by a good grade polishing powder or tin dioxide, available at most leading monument or household maintenance stores. Rubbing in the powder with a properly mounted piece of felt and waxing over the affected area should do the trick.

 

However, marble’s extreme porosity makes it susceptible to more serious damage, like easy chipping, cracking or breakage. Where actual pieces of marble have broken away, the separated pieces should be located and all edges wiped down with acetone. This will remove all foreign material and facilitate proper bonding with glue. You can choose regular epoxy glue or professional marble repair cement to stick the piece/s back into place. This is a fairly straightforward process which works much better with marble than with many other materials. Two precautions must be taken – first, ensuring that there is no excess glue which will mar the surface after the glue has hardened, and second, making sure to apply sufficient pressure for long enough to ensure a perfect join.

If the pieces from the chipped or broken corners in marble blocks or tiles can’t be found, the marble must be reformed with material closely resembling the surface. The exact contours of the broken pieces must be retraced by a makeshift mould lined with wax paper. When this is done, a mixture of marble dust and polyester resin cement can be used to fill in the missing piece. It will harden into the desired shape. If this is done properly, the regenerated piece will be indistinguishable from the original.

The same marble dust/resin cement mix can be used to fill in holes in marble. The ratio of marble dust and resin should be calibrated to best imitate the shade of marble in question.

Fixing marble surfaces can be a fiddly affair, but taking the time to do it right will pay off – your marble will look like new!

Marble Tile

Marble tiles are the most spectacular flooring media on the market. In popularity, they beat even the highest grades of granite hands down. They are most commonly used in formal master bathrooms, both on the floors and walls, but have a variety of applications.

 

However, there are certain precautions that must be taken before using them. First of all, be sure that you understand the basics of marble – what kind of maintenance is required, the grades available, the going rates attached to each, and the drawbacks of the material.

Yes, there are drawbacks to using marble tiles. Apart from the fact that they require far more careful cleaning other tiles, natural marble tiles (unless they are of the pristine white variety) usually cannot be laid out in a visually seamless manner. This is because most natural marble has subtle veining and color variations that will, under most circumstances, not permit a perfect visual match.

It must be borne in mind that marble tiles are usually the ‘leftovers’ from the cutting of larger slabs, since the largest possible sizes are given preference in the cutting and grading processes. This being so, finding a set of visually and texturally compatible tiles large enough for one’s purpose can be quite a chore.

For this reason, care must be taken on two counts – first, buy marble only form an authorized and reputed dealer. Second, employ the services of an experienced installer, since the only time that reasonable consistency can be ensured is at the installation stage.

The installer will also ensure that there is no future warping of the marbled surface by embedding it in a consistent mortar bed. Colored marble tiles such as the green and black kinds have a tendency to wrap or ‘curl’ when they are exposed to too much water. An experienced installer will anticipate this and take appropriate precautions.

If you are prepared to maintain and install your marble tiles properly, you will enjoy the benefits of this fine and beautiful material.