Jasmine Roth Says To Think Twice Before Choosing This Popular Countertop Material

The perfect countertop can bring a kitchen space to life by providing a place for families to come together and make lasting memories. Picking the right countertop is a challenge that HGTV star Jasmine Roth knows all too well. Marble is a notoriously beautiful countertop stone, but Roth insists homeowners should consider how much upkeep they are willing to invest in when picking this format.

On her blog, Roth shared her own "cautionary tale" about the hidden downside of having marble countertops in your space. "Everyone thinks they want marble, but honestly it's SO easy to damage. Brett and I had marble countertops put into the first house we ever built — the 11th Street Retreat — and we spent years babying the countertops," Roth recalled. "Marble stains and etches so easily that we were using coasters and wiping spills frantically left and right." She makes a great point, as marble countertops stain more easily than people realize and can become discolored. They can also be subject to etching, which is a dull spot that eats away at the marble's material and overall visual. Liquids, especially acidic ones like juice, could wreak havoc on marble by weakening the material if it spills. Even too much sun exposure can damage or fade the look of a marble countertop. Luckily, Roth discovered a secret to keeping her marble countertops in tip top shape.

Marble is one of the hardest countertop materials to clean, so it's best to be proactive by preventing potential damage before it happens. Jasmine Roth was ecstatic when she discovered that UV coating could preserve the picturesque look of her marble countertop. "Basically, you hire a professional that comes to your house and does a UV treatment to your marble countertops that seals them. Game changer!" she raved on her blog. "I only wished we'd learned about it sooner than we did!"

A UV coating is a sealant that provides a protective layer. It is cured with ultraviolet light to keep marble countertops from fading and getting dull over time. It also keeps the marble strong and preserves the stone's visual for longer. This makes overall maintenance easier, as it is an extra level of protection for marble countertops against stains and other damage. Remember not to use any harsh chemical cleaners on your countertop, as it can weaken the UV coating treatment. Instead, a classic soap and water combination is the best way to clean marble countertops.