NaturaStone has been fabricating and installing marble countertops in Orlando FL since 2014. If you have spent any time in a stone showroom, you already know what happens when someone runs their hand across a slab of Calacatta or Statuario for the first time. The conversation changes. This page covers everything you need to know before you come in.
Table of Contents
- What Makes Marble What It Is
- Honed vs Polished
- Etching and Staining
- Where Marble Works Best
- Our Marble Collection
- Caring for Your Marble
- Cost in Orlando
- Where We Work
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes Marble What It Is
Marble has been coming out of the ground in Carrara, Tuscany for over 2,000 years. The Romans quarried it. Michelangelo picked his blocks from the same mountain range. Every slab of Carrara or Calacatta in our showroom came from there. That is not trivia. It is just context for why no factory has ever made anything that actually looks like it.
The veining comes from mineral impurities that got stretched and pushed during the millions of years limestone spent under enormous pressure becoming this. Iron oxide makes it warm. Serpentine makes it green. Clay makes it grey. The exact conditions that existed in a specific layer of rock at a specific depth determine what your slab looks like. So does the angle they cut it at. Two slabs from the same block will not be identical. That is not a flaw.
Honed vs Polished
Most of our Orlando clients end up with honed in the kitchen and polished in the bathroom. Not a rule. Just what tends to make sense once you think through it.
Polished closes the surface tight. Less absorption, more color intensity, and that glossy look you see in big hotel lobbies. The problem is any acid contact shows immediately as a dull spot against all that shine. In a bathroom where the worst thing touching your countertop is toothpaste, polished is fine. Actually it is beautiful there.
Honed is matte. Already not shiny, so when something happens to the surface it tends to blend in. Etch marks on honed marble look like nothing. On polished they look like you ruined it.
Leathered exists too. Textured, organic, hides everything. Not for everyone but worth seeing in person if you have not.
Etching and Staining
We get this wrong constantly in the stone industry. People say “seal it and you’ll be fine.” That is true for staining. For etching it is completely wrong and it sets clients up to be frustrated.
Marble is calcium carbonate. Acid dissolves it. Not into it, not through it. It actually removes a microscopic layer of the surface. Lemon, vinegar, wine, tomato, soda. The contact does not need to sit there. It reacts on contact. What you are left with is a textural change, not a stain, and no sealer touches it because sealer does not change what calcium carbonate does when it meets acid.
Sealer handles the other problem. Liquids absorbing into porous stone and leaving color behind. Oil, coffee, red wine. That is staining. Seal properly and wipe spills before they sit and staining is almost never an issue.
On honed marble you will likely never notice etching. On polished you will see every single one. That is the real reason honed is the right call for a working kitchen.
Where Marble Works Best
Kitchen islands are natural. The stone stays cool on its own which actually matters when you are rolling dough or working with chocolate. Baking areas especially. See examples in our kitchen countertop gallery.
Bathroom vanities are the easiest marble application there is. Soap and toothpaste are alkaline. They do not etch. Polished marble in a bathroom holds up for decades with almost no maintenance. Browse our bathroom vanity projects.
Fireplace surrounds are where marble makes the most impact for the least risk. Nothing acidic is going near it. The visual payoff is enormous. We have done dozens of custom marble fireplace surrounds across Orlando.
Backsplashes behind a range get overlooked. Vertical surface, no food contact, and floor to ceiling polished marble behind a stove is one of the best things you can do in a kitchen.
Full countertops around the sink and stove are done. Plenty of clients live happily with them. You need to go in honest about what it means. The patina that develops over years either bothers you or it does not. We can usually tell within five minutes of talking to someone which type they are.
Our Marble Collection
Carrara is the starting point. Grey background, softer veining, the marble most people picture when they think of Italian stone. Popular because it is versatile and sits at the more accessible end of the price range.
Calacatta is from the same region and gets mixed up with Carrara constantly. Brighter white background, bolder veining, more dramatic. Rarer, which is why it costs more. If someone shows you a marble kitchen and your first thought is that it is incredible, there is a good chance it is Calacatta.
Statuario is bright white with strong grey movement through the slab. One of the most recognized marbles in the world. Used in significant architectural projects going back centuries. The demand is real and so is the price.
Arabescato has intricate layered veining. More complex looking than Carrara without the boldness of Calacatta. Works well where you want something interesting without being loud.
Calacatta Viola has purple and grey veining. Genuinely rare. Not something you find in most showrooms.
Emperador is dark brown with light veining. Completely different character from the Italian whites. Clients who want something that does not look like every other marble kitchen tend to love it.
Fantasy White sits between marble and quartzite. White background with grey and gold movement and slightly better durability than traditional marble. One of our most requested right now.
Bianco Dolomite, sold as Super White, is soft and feathery. One of the more popular slabs for transitional kitchens where clients want clean but not stark.
We also carry quartz countertops for clients who love the marble look but want a lower-maintenance surface.
Caring for Your Marble
Seal it on installation day. Reseal every 12 months or whenever water stops beading on the surface. pH neutral cleaner for daily use. Never vinegar, nothing citrus, nothing abrasive. Trivet for hot pans. Cutting board for prep. That is the full list. The Natural Stone Institute also offers homeowner guidance on natural stone care and maintenance.
Marble Countertop Cost in Orlando
Carrara sits at the accessible end of natural stone. Calacatta and Statuario cost more because supply is limited and demand is not. Exotic varieties like Calacatta Viola and Emperador are priced as rarities because they are. Edge profile, slab thickness, and project complexity all affect the final number. We give free estimates. Bring measurements or we can come to the site.
Where We Work
Our showroom is at 429 N Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. We fabricate and install marble countertops across Central Florida including Orlando, Winter Park, Dr. Phillips, Windermere, Lake Nona, Oviedo, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Celebration, and Sanford.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is marble actually practical for a kitchen?
It is if you go in knowing what it is. The clients who struggle are the ones who expected zero maintenance and then felt blindsided. The ones who understood the material going in almost universally love it. We try to make sure everyone is in the second group before they buy.
What is the difference between Carrara and Calacatta?
Carrara reads grey and soft. Calacatta reads white and bold. Same region of Italy, very different visual result. The price difference exists because Calacatta is rarer and the look is more dramatic.
How do I know when marble needs to be sealed?
Pour a small amount of water on the surface. If it beads up you are fine. If it soaks in, seal it. Simple test, takes ten seconds.
Can marble chips be repaired?
Minor ones yes, with color-matched epoxy. The repair will not be invisible up close. Proper edge profile selection at the start reduces the chance of chipping significantly, which is something we talk through with every client.
Does marble add resale value to a home?
Luxury buyers expect natural stone. Marble specifically is recognized as a premium material in a way that quartz is not. So yes.
Can marble be used outdoors in Florida?
We do not recommend marble outdoors here. The UV, humidity, and rain deteriorate it quickly. For covered patios and outdoor kitchens we recommend porcelain or quartzite.
Ready to see slabs in person? Contact NaturaStone to schedule a free consultation at our Orlando showroom, or schedule your appointment online and we will get back to you the same day.