Natural Stone
Marble Countertops in Charlotte, NC
Marble is metamorphosed limestone — calcium carbonate — which means acid dissolves it. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar and tomato will etch a dull mark into polished marble within minutes. Understanding that before you buy is the difference between loving marble and resenting it.
- Installed price
- $70 - $200+ installed
- Hardness
- 3-4 Mohs
- Sealing
- Reseal every 6-12 months
Best for
- Bathrooms and vanities
- Baking and pastry stations
- Bar tops
- Fireplace surrounds
Think twice if
- Primary cooking surfaces if you want zero patina
- Outdoor bar tops with citrus
Etching versus staining — two different problems
An etch is a physical dulling of the polish caused by acid. A stain is absorbed pigment. Sealing helps with stains and does essentially nothing for etching. Honing the surface up front eliminates the contrast problem: on honed marble, an etch is nearly invisible because there is no gloss to lose.
Carrara, Calacatta and Statuario
Carrara is grey-white with soft, feathery veining and is the most affordable. Calacatta is whiter with bold, dramatic gold or grey veining and costs multiples more. Statuario sits between them with crisp grey veining on a bright white field. All three are Italian and all three etch identically.
- Carrara: soft grey veining, best value
- Calacatta: bold gold or grey veining, premium
- Statuario: bright white, crisp grey veining
- Honed finish hides etching far better than polished
Marble questions
Compare other surfaces
Granite
Heat-proof, UV-stable and the best natural stone value in Charlotte.
ViewEngineered Quartz
Non-porous, stain-resistant and the most popular surface in Metro Charlotte.
ViewQuartzite
Marble's look with granite's durability — the current luxury favorite.
ViewPorcelain Slab
Ultra-thin, UV-stable and the strongest option for outdoor and cladding.
ViewSoapstone
Soft, matte, acid-proof and period-correct for historic Charlotte homes.
ViewGet marble pricing for your kitchen
A licensed Charlotte fabricator will confirm slab availability and price your actual square footage.