Michelangelo’s statue of David is more than 500 years old, and yet there he stands, not looking a year over 20. This is a great testament to the durability of the material he was carved out of, statuary marble, useful information for homeowners who want their kitchen countertops to last 500 years as well.

Michelangelo's David on display at the Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Italy. Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna/Wikimedia Commons

That’s the case with the owners of the Model ReModel project. The countertops will be made out of statuary marble, with a honed finish (more on that later). The original idea was to bull nose the edges of the counter, but it would make the project go over budget. Instead, the edges were lightly rounded and smoothed.

Rounding the edges of the marble used at the Model ReModel project.

A Rainbow of Marble

Wikipedia tells us that the term “marble” generally means metamorphosed limestone, and they can vary in color based on the amount of minerals and impurities that have recrystallized with the limestone, so marble varies in color depending on where it was collected.

If you’re curious to learn how marble is quarried, here’s a beautiful and satisfying video from Nowness:

Another factor that affects how marble looks is its finish. Stone slab and tile company All Natural Stone offers a neat explanation of the two marble finishes: honed and polished.

When marble is honed, it is matte, has a more satin feel, and is smooth and velvety to the touch. Meanwhile, polished marble gives out a sheen, and it is glossy and slippery to the touch.

Honed marble slabs ready for use at the Model ReModel project.

Take Care! Keep These Away

Michelangelo’s David thanks his youthful looks to keeping these vices at bay: alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, vinegar, tomato products, mustard, carbonated beverages, salad dressing, tea, coffee, butter, and cosmetics.

Just like how it is with the 500-year-old statue, these things can damage any marble surface, no matter what finish is used. That’s why it is always advised to use sealant, and a handy tip is to thoroughly clean the surface before reapplying sealant.