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Maybe you’re considering buying a new dining table. I’m going to share with you the pros and cons of sintered stone and marble. Also, I will tell you which one is more ideal for certain types of households. It’s important to be informed when we’re spending our hard earned cash.
Marble
Appearance
WINS. A slab of marble is very unique, no two piece of stone is alike. Marble has the ability to elevate any space – making it feels luxurious and elegant. Regardless of your design style, marble fits into every design.
Durability
LOSES. Marble is a very porous material. It will experience staining and etching (erosion of the top layer) overtime due to exposure to moisture.
Maintenance (ease of)
LOSES. Marble is a very high maintenance material due to its porous nature. You will need to use a coaster to prevent cup stains. You will need to clean and dry your tabletop after every meal. Overall, it’s not a type of material that you buy and forget about it. To increase its longevity, you will need to care for your furniture daily and be conscious of how you uses it.
Cost (affordability)
LOSES. Marble is arguably the most expensive of the two. However, like all things, it depends on the company that you’re buying from. During my search for a dining table, I noticed that some companies were selling sintered stone tables (of the same size) at a higher price.
Sintered Stone
Appearance
LOSES. Sintered stone is a man-made material, which result in a consistent veining pattern. In other words, were you to buy sintered stone tiles for a bathroom, the patterns will repeat in an organized manner. Sintered stone is appealing to the eyes but in an understated manner compared to marble. The veining of the stone is more dispersed and larger scaled, which offers a cleaner and more minimal appearance than marble. This is not a negative quality to a person who finds the veining of marble to be overwhelming. Maybe you want to look of marble but prefers something more muted.
Durability
WINS. Sintered stone is extremely durable. It’s resistant to scratching, staining, heat, and moisture. I’ve had sintered stone in my bathroom and countertop for over two years now and they’re in perfect conditions. No visible scratches, stains, heat marks, or watermarks from moisture. And I rarely have to worry about steps to take to prevent these from happening. With sintered stone you simply goes about your everyday life.
Maintenance (ease of)
WINS. Sintered stone is very low maintenance. You don’t have to worry about drying the surface after cleaning it with a damp cloth, you don’t have to obsess over using a coaster, you don’t have to take any special precaution to prevent damages.
Cost (affordability)
WINS. Generally, sinistered stone will cost you less per square feet than marble. However, this truly depends on where you buy it. Marble generally costs more due to its status of being luxurious. However, some places charges more for sinistered stone due to its durability.
Household Types
Due to my experience with both, I would recommend sintered stone to individuals who value a low maintenance living. I find having a marble tabletop to be a bit of a nuisances, especially with having a child in the household. At mealtimes, I am constantly surveilling the area for any hints of moisture on the tabletop – instead of being present and enjoying the meal. I don’t regret my choice of dining table. However, knowing what I know now, I would’ve opted for a sinistered stone tabletop. I don’t enjoy having to clean AND dry my tabletop after EVERY meal due to fear of staining and etching.
On the other hand, I would recommend marble to individuals who wants something unique, beautiful, and elegant. Aside from the cost, marble is a great choice for most individuals. It truly elevates any space and design style. However, be prepared to invest a little time each day on maintaining. This will ensure its longevity and saves you money on repairs.
Summary
Marble. Child-free homes, individuals who desire a luxurious and elegant feeling in their homes
Sintered Stone. Low maintenance individuals
The Verdict
Ultimately, the choice is yours to make. However, marble is the clear winner for appearance. Whereas, sintered stone wins for its durability and ease of maintenance.
The Takeaway
The best home decor decision you can make are the ones that take into account your level of commitment on maintaining an item. You should always consider what you’re willing and unwilling to do. Also, you should always define your level of tolerance. Failing to do these two things sometimes result in us creating a home that we don’t enjoy.
Don’t choose the white sofa that you know you’ll dread maintaining. Don’t buy the furry rug that sheds when you know you hate vacuuming. Likewise, don’t buy the table that you know you won’t enjoy cleaning three times a day.
Remember, having a functional and aesthetically pleasing home is possible.
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