July 25th, 2018

Marble vs Granite | A Guide to Using Natural Stone in Your Home 

Natural Stone adds a feeling of luxury and class to your home. Find out how to maintain your natural stone, as well as the pros and cons of the most commonly used natural stones in households, Marble and Granite!

​Natural Stone adds a classy touch to every kitchen and bathroom and each different type requires specific care, so the maintenance of your natural stone is extremely important. Here, we’ll teach you about the most common types of natural stone, as well as their most common uses in a typical household. Plus, we’ll be giving you our best tips on making sure you keep your Natural Stone products looking immaculate for years to come!
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Which Natural Stone should I use?

​Deciding to use Natural Stone in your home is the easy part. Choosing a specific type is where things get a bit more complicated, as it can be hard to notice the subtle differences at first. Here’s a quick breakdown of the 2 most common natural stones in households, Marble and Granite.
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Marble

• Elegant and luxurious appearance – comes in a large range of colours but white with dark veins is the most common type.
• Commonly availably in polished and smooth finishes.
• No two pieces of Marble are the same – the patterns and veins are unique to each piece of stone.
• Porous surface – this means it absorbs liquids which can permanently stain the stone. A marble sealant can counteract this, but you will need to reapply at regular intervals (6 months to 5 years depending on your marble and the type of sealing chosen).
• Softer than granite – more resistant to scratches, chips, cracking and heat damage.
• Typically more expensive than granite.
• Sensitive to acidic products – Vinegar, lemons, tomatoes, wine and other commonly found products in the kitchen can leave permanent staining if left on its surface.
• Cleaning should be done with a damp cloth and light dishwashing liquids if needed – be careful using harsh chemicals and cleaners as it may react with the surface of the marble.​​

​Granite

• Typically has the “flaky” and “layered” look to its surface, but there are many different types of granite available.
• Granite is usually a bit more affordable than Marble.
• Granite has a uniform look across it, whereas with marble each piece has unique and different patterns on it.
• Less Porous than Marble – However it can still absorb liquids. It is advised to clean spills immediately and reseal the surface once every 6 months to 5 years depending on the granite and sealant previously used.
• Granite is often regarded the strongest natural stone. It is chip, scratch and heat resistant. This means you can place hot pans directly on its surface or cut food directly on its surface without leaving knife marks.
• With Granite you get the beauty of natural stone in your home without requiring as much maintenance or care as marble.
• Not sensitive to acidic substances – Using chemicals that aren’t too harsh is still recommended to protect its sealant.

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Choosing the right material for your needs

In summary, Marble has more of a classy and elegant look, but comes at a higher price, less convenience and more maintenance. You also need to be more careful with acidic products and strong chemicals. Granite is a bit cheaper, but still looks great – there is a very wide range so you can find one that suits your taste. It is more stronger and you don’t need to worry about chemicals, spills, scratches and chipping as much as you do with marble. 

​At CHE we make sure all our clients are aware of the extra care and attention natural stone products need. We make recommendations for our clients based on their needs, wants, lifestyle and budget.

We hope this blog helped you to understand the differences in each type of natural stone and how they require different types of care. Thanks again for reading and don’t be afraid to get in contact should you have any questions!