The pale, white stone with gray veins, known as marble, has been favored by humans for millennia. Despite being around for centuries, it has come back into fashion, thanks to gray minimalist interior design and accompanying packaging trends popularized by the internet and social media influencers on Instagram.
There’s a lot to admire about this sturdy natural stone – from its sleek finishes to its powerful associations with grandeur and luxury. However, its high maintenance has influenced homeowners to seek out other marble countertop alternatives. Stones like quartz, granite, and quartzite have a similar look but don’t require as much meticulous effort to keep in mint condition.
The cost of marble varies widely depending on the quality of the slabs you choose and their rarity. This stone is not always budget-friendly. Unique colors, patterns, and veining can drive up prices. Commonly purchased Carrara Marble costs roughly $45 per square foot. In contrast, a rare Italian marble-like black Calacatta, which has gold veining, retails for about $300 per square foot, excluding labor costs.
Marble is a durable heat-resistant stone; however, it must be handled with care. It is far more porous than granite and quartz and reacts adversely to harsh cleaning materials that are not pH-neutral and any liquid or food spills that contain a high level of acidity.
While undeniably beautiful, marble scratches etches, and stuns easily, even after being sealed. To provide you with an example, water spilled and left too long on a marble counter will cause a stain unless wiped away immediately. Despite this, the majority of marble stains are barely visible and can usually only be seen if looking at the surface from a particular angle.
All marble countertops should be sealed upon installation and then every 6-12 months after that, depending on the type of stone and how often it is used. Marble needs to be wiped down and/or cleaned directly after use with mild soap and/or a damp microfiber cloth, especially when preparing oily and acidic foods. Trivets are recommended when using hot pots and pans.
Stubborn stains caused by oil or paint may have to be removed with a poultice. This entails placing a special DIY or store-bought paste over the affected area for approximately 24-48 hours to draw out the stain. If a poultice doesn’t work, this may require professional help to buff out the stain and reseal the countertop at an additional cost.
If a marble countertop is used extensively, then placing a silicon sheet over it will help maintain the longevity of its polished or honed surface. In fact, any object, whether liquid or fresh produce, shouldn’t really be placed directly on the counter. This includes using placemats and coasters for cutlery and crockery.
If you’re looking for countertops that look like marble, then quartz, quartzite, and granite provide excellent alternatives. They are more durable, potentially cheaper, and lower maintenance. Just remember granite and quartzite are natural stones, and the patterns on your countertop will vary from those in showroom samples.
Granite is an igneous, light-colored rock composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with minute amounts of mica and other minerals. Its unique mineral composition usually gives it a red, gray, pink, or white color, with darker mineral grains visible throughout the rock.
Quarried in Sri Lanka, this granite has light, gray-colored lines that form wavelike patterns and tiny black dots. Its color ranges from white to beige, and some slabs may have purple veins.
With its pearl effects, this granite will produce countertops that look like marble. Imported from Brazil, it’s mainly white with gray, cream, and tan veining and occasional flecks of burgundy.
Featuring gray veins across a dirty white background, White Wave looks like a gray marble stone with a matte finish. Quarried in Brazil, it has a medium variation of white and gray tones.
White with gray veins and grayish/black specs, Thunder White granite remains a popular choice for those looking to emulate White Carrara marble. At first glance, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between the two.
Predominantly white and gray, with occasional green and yellow tones, Venus granite is quarried in India and is an affordable option at only $35 per square foot.
This manufactured stone undoubtedly offers the best marble look. Quartz minerals are mined and then ground into an aggregate. Once fused with resin and bound under intense pressure and heat, it transforms into slabs that are harder than granite.
This stone has a milky white background and dark, gray veins. It’s a quartz that looks like marble, although its dramatic veins may be overpowering for those after a more subtle marble look.
And what would you say about this cool marble-looking Calacatta Laza quartz project? It’s sure worth a look!
A pale white background and long, gray veins provide a marble look-alike more elegant than Calcutta Vendata. This beautiful white stone blends in perfectly in bathroom and kitchen settings.
This white marble-looking quartz has light sterling and gray veins. It’s subtle and understated, adding sophistication to any room, while its pale, porcelain color mimics that of marble.
Any quartz with Carrara in its name will look just like marble. This stone’s lush and lavish surface with subtle veins is one of the best alternative marble countertops.
Not to be confused with man-made quartz, quartzite is a natural stone made from metamorphic rock. It forms when sandstone, rich in quartz, is altered due to heat and pressure, crystallizing the sand grains and silica cement that binds them together.
This soft gray and ivory quartzite has random charcoal and white veins that are sometimes even light green or brown. Quarried in Brazil, it’s suitable for interior and exterior use.
Also quarried in Brazil, this cold-colored stone comes in varied colors of soft gray with contrasting white veins. Ideal for those who love the aesthetic characteristics of marble but desire something a little different.
Quarried in Italy, this quartzite may emit a yellow-orange glow from closeup but looks just like marble from afar. It contains swirls of white, ivory, gray, and peach.
Originally from Brazil, White Crystal has grayish, brown veins. Its white-gray background is suited to contemporary and traditional applications, including flooring.
Also imported from Brazil, White Macuabas has a soft off-white background complimented by light longitudinal glazes in ivory undertones. Its thin, linear gray veins flow beautifully across each slab.
Granite Selection is an industry leader specializing in quartz, granite, quartzite countertop slab fabrication, and in-home installation. If you want marble look alike countertops that are economical and versatile in both classic and contemporary spaces, then come and visit us today. Our highly knowledgeable staff can advise you on the best stone to use for your countertop. Alternatively, you can browse online through our extensive collection of stones and contact us for an affordable quote.
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