There s a reason a vintage marble topped table looks like it s seen a thing or two it s because it has.
Marble patina over time.
I learned however that over time marble develops a beautiful patina and the subtle imperfections that can mostly only be seen when the sun hits it just right all blend together and become the character of the marble and therefore of your home in my opinion.
Patina p ə ˈ t iː n ə or ˈ p æ t ɪ n ə is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of copper brass bronze and similar metals tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes or certain stones and wooden furniture sheen produced by age wear and polishing or any similar acquired change of a surface through age and exposure.
Btw i run a catering biz from my home.
So if you are looking for that aged marble patina marble look that can be accomplished with a honed finish.
Marble is a living finish so it s always going to change with age says sklar.
Marble develops patina over time.
From our own experience we found that etching that thing everyone is worried about when it comes to marble becomes charming over time and fades into a nice aged look.
Anything with a ph of less than 7 will acid etch marble vinegar is 2 which will cause acid etching this would be the last thing i would recommend to clean of a watermark a coating is the only way to protect marble and we have the best in the world clearstone this has proven itself many times over and comes with a 10 year guarantee against acid etching and staining.
The other thing that the acid wash achieves is that it removes seams i wanted a thick slab for my island so that it would resemble an old baker s table so my fabricator joined two separate pieces at the angle and after the acid bath the seam completed disappeared.
Imo if you get polished marble it will withstand a lot yes it will patina over time but that to me is the beauty of it but i use my kitchen a lot and if i did not have a hug stone fp that backs on my kitchen i would have done cararra counters.
However since it is a softer material than granite it requires more care to maintain its original luster and can acquire a worn patina over time in heavy use areas.
So an etch that was there six months ago is no longer there.
My experience with etching is that i have found that the etching tends to fade over time.
Imo marble with patina beats plastic quartz everytime.
It s calcium based so anything acidic causes etching and then fades to a patina if you will.
I have a house full of antiques and i personally value the wear and tear and signs of life the patina that a surface such as marble can provide to a space.
Keep in mind marble can be fixed from small etching from in home products and can even be professional refinished as well.