Marble is a natural mountain born stone that has a classic history. It has been used as the material of choice in the palaces of nobility throughout human history, and it has also been selected to create some of the most famous and meaningful works of art ever conceived. In a home or office this material is an elegant touch that can elevate the sophistication of the space. What marble drink coasters allow you to do is to bring the positive benefits of marble into your home, without having to go to the trouble of having expensive construction or remodeling done.
Care and Maintenance
While the ultimate purpose of marble coasters is to protect your possessions, acting as a barrier between elegant surfaces and damaging liquids, there are a few steps that you will have to take to ensure that the coasters themselves remain as beautiful and vibrant as the day you purchased them.
The first thing you should know is that marble is a base in an acid base relationship. The consequence of this is that whenever marble surfaces come in contact with any acidic substance, such as fruit juice, tomato sauce, and many sodas, there will be a chemical reaction and the surface of the stone will be altered in color.
Luckily most marble coasters are shipped only after being treated with an invisible chemical sealant. This substance coats the surface of the marble, acting as a barrier between the stone and any damaging substance that may come in contact with it. However this protective layer can only do so much, and eventually if left long enough, an acid will eat through the sealant and come in contact with the stone.
The best way to protect against discoloration is to simply wipe the marble coasters down whenever a non-water liquid is spilled on them, especially if you suspect that it is an acid based chemical. If a stain does occur, you can sometimes remove it by soaking the piece in warm water.
Cleaning Your Coasters
Most commercially available soaps and cleansers are chemically acidic, and so it is very important that you do not use them to clean a set of marble drink coasters. Instead the coasters should simply be wiped down with a warm cloth or paper towel whenever they become a little foggy. Further you should never put marble coasters in the dishwasher as they can ship and become discolored from the acidic wash.
The Color of Marble Coasters
Marble in its purest form is a simple white, which when polished has a semi translucent property that allows sunlight to penetrate just past the surface of the material causing it to take on a slight glow under the right conditions. However during the formation of the stone there are many different elements that can be present, which can cause the final material to have various colors and patterns in its surface.
Due to the way that marble forms, the colors found in its surface often appear in swirling bands which can look like wispy bursts of cloud playing across the face of the stone. This is often contrasted with a more uniform background hue.
Coaster Surfaces
In general marble coasters have a polished finish. The fact that marble can take a high enough hone to actually get a polished sheen is one of the reasons that it is so highly prized in art and architecture. The problem with a polished finish is that it can be a little slippery, and if it gets wet, it can become really slippery.
To offset this fact most marble coasters have a ridge carved around the edge of the piece. This protective barrier keeps a wet glass from sliding off, and also ensures that the moisture itself can’t drip off of its protective platter.
Another surface option for marble is tumbling. A tumbled coaster is generally a square stone that was placed in what is the equivalent of a giant rock tumbler. As the stone is tossed about the corners lose their sharp edges and become more dull, and rounded. The surface is also often softened, with the polished features receding into higher traction less finished surfaces.
A set of marble coasters is an easy way to capture the spirit and beauty of this powerful natural material in your home or office, without having to engage in expensive construction projects. They are available in a wide variety of colors and multi-colors, as well as a variety of finishes allowing you to choose a custom set that will fit into almost any setting.
