In the Know | Stone Table Top Alternatives. Updated

Marble table tops have been a popular choice for alfresco dining for over 200 years. Marble is a stunningly beautiful material.

However, it isn't a perfect table top material for hospitality and this is why, over the years, different man-made table top materials have been created. These materials try to capture the beauty of marble but without marbles natural vulnerability to etching,

Marbles have a high heat resistance, however they can etch. Etching is a reaction between the acid in liquids we consume such as colas, wine, citrus juices, vinegar-based sauces and calcium which is the main mineral content within the marble and limestone. The acid mattes the polish level of the material which can be seen as rings from wine glasses, bottles etc, whereas Granite and Quartz do not have calcium content and therefore this reaction does not occur. Unfortunately, etching cannot be reversed.

Sealants can be applied to tops to help prevent staining through clogging the pores of the stone. This helps to prevent the marble from absorbing liquids and stop colours from penetrating by extending the period of time to clean up a spillage. It is not a surface coating and will not prevent etching. This can be purchased and applied to re-seal the top on a 6 month/yearly basis depending on how frequently the top is wiped.

Cleaning with hot soapy water and normal trade cleaning agents is the easiest and best way to clean on a daily basis and stubborn stain marks can be released using white spirit. Whilst stone is less likely to incur scratching than wood and other materials, it can occur if care is not taken with unglazed bottoms and sharp edges.

The first question to ask yourself is do you require a table for indoor or outdoor use. If you require a table top for outdoor use, then the 2 alternative stone materials to consider would be:

• Quartzite
• SilicaStone Terrazzo