Hi I'm doing a bbq island outside and was planning on doing the top using granite tile. however, the marble tiles im finding are more appealing to me. I'm assuming granite is a better option for outside but would the marble hold up almost as good and still look good 5-10 years later?

 

Dear Jeff:

Let's start with the granite.

There are over 2700 (no, it's not a typo) stones traded as granite on the market (and counting). Approximately a couple of dozens of them are true geological granite. Another three or four do zens could be classified as next of kin. (we're looking at 2% altogether). All the remaining 2700 plus stones (98%) are related to granite and to each other like a cat to a cow. Many are as good as granite, many are even better, but some are a disgrace.

Q.: “But… isn't that illegal?...”

A.: “Yes, it is. It's consumer fraud big time! Welcome to the stone industry!”

Having said all that, which “granite” do you have? I don't care about the fancy name they call it with: I want to know the actual mineralogy of that stone. Do you have the information? Does the yard that sold it to you have the information?

Get back to me when you have it.

The fact in the matter is that, like I said before, most of what could be called mercantile granites are just as suitable as true granite (and many even better) for indoor application. But the same thing can't be said when the same stones are installed outdoors at the mercy of the weather. A whole lot of them will not perform as granite would and get damaged in the long (and sometime not too long) run.

Bottom line: I have no idea on how well the “granite” that you have in mind will fare for your project.

 

Now about the marble.

Go take a look at the marble slab your local pizza parlor uses to roll its dough on.

Do you like the way it looks?...

That is if you use as intensively as your pizza parlor. If not, go take a look at some marble tombstone at a cemetery near you, and then decide.

Of course, if marblecleaning.org could have its way, all this confusion that stems from the policy of “keeping it simple through ignorance” diligently and vigorously implemented by the industry establishment, would not exist any longer…

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri zio Bertoli

 

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