Frequently Asked Questions

Natural stone is a term that covers various kinds of stone that are extracted from the earth. They have been used for a long time as materials for building and or beautifying structures. Some examples of natural stone available at natural stone suppliers are Granite, Marble, Dolomite, Quartzites, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Bluestone and more.

There are several factors that go into choosing a natural stone. To choose natural stone slabs for your home project, you should consider the type, finish, maintenance, colour, hardness, intended use, and price of the material. Each factor can affect the look and performance of the stone in different ways. Our qualified staff at Marella Granite & Marble are here to assist you with any further questions, please feel free to call us on 03 9077 5880.

Marble benchtops are a natural stone that adds beauty and elegance to a home. Being a natural stone, they have a cool temperature and do not heat up, which is great if you’re considering them for a kitchen benchtop. High Quality impregnating sealers are a must for all Natural Stone surfaces and marble is no exception. These sealers help maintain the stone for years to come.

As per a finding from the National Association of Home Builders, Marble can live for over a century. However, it needs care and upkeep. It’s not the strongest material and strong impacts with heavy pots may cause chipping. Sealing marble benchtops with high quality impregnating sealers will make sure they survive for a lifetime.

Marble slabs depending on the style and pattern can be expensive due to the fact that it’s rare, strong and beautiful. This natural stone looks attractive thanks to the luxurious feel and look it adds to any space. Also, the process of turning the raw pieces of rock into elegant slabs of splendour takes a lot of effort and time. Saying this not all marbles are expensive, like any natural product the rarer the mineral the more expensive it becomes.

The cost of marble varies across different factors depending on whether you’re sourcing cheap marble slabs or more expensive ones. However, the average cost of marble can range in price from a few hundred to over $2,000 per m2. The price, as mentioned earlier, may differ. We recommend you seek help from us as we are Melbourne`s trusty marble supplier.

A Granite slab is basically a ready to fabricate piece of stone that can be shaped to fit your kitchen or bathroom benchtops. It’s sliced like bread from a huge block of stone and then treated in different ways before it gets polished, honed or leathered to suit your kitchen benchtops. All this extraction and processing of this beautiful Natural wonder makes it more expensive than tiles but totally worth it.

Natural slab of granite for benchtops on an average can range between 2.8 – 3.5 mts in width and upto 2 mts in height and weight can be between 300 – 350 kilos per slab depending on the size.

Like any Natural resource the cost entirely depends on the rarity of the substance. To give you a rough idea Granite slabs can start at around $180/m2 ranging up to $500/m2 some even more expensive.

Normal perception is Granite being more expensive than marble but it isn’t true, We have Natural Stone Slabs which start at around $180/m2 and go all the way up to $2000/m2 (Most likely High end Italian marbles and Quartzites).

Yes. Granite as kitchen benchtops are a worthy investment which not only bring a touch of sophistication to your household but also are durable enough to withstand your normal usage. They are strong, unique and beautiful. There are also many granite benchtop colours to choose from. And, if you take good care of your granite benchtop by regular sealing, significant value can be added to your home over time.

Like any Natural Stone it all depends on the rarity of the mineral. Our Quartzite range starts at around $300/m2 and can range up to $1000/m2.

Again Quartzites like any natural stone vary in price range. Please contact us to get more information.

Quartzites are for people looking to have marble like natural stone with less drawbacks. They are also considered by people who like to have a translucent stone like onyx but more durable to withstand everyday use.

*Not all Quartzites are translucent

Quartzites being a hard mineral are durable and can last for years to come by. Saying this it is also highly recommend that a premium impregnating sealer is to be applied every 10 – 12 months to maintain the surface.

Dolomite is a common type of rock that can be used for kitchen benchtops. It has a strong and lasting quality that makes it ideal for this purpose. Dolomite resembles marble or quartzite in appearance, but it has a different level of hardness.

Dolomite is more durable than Marble because they have a higher mineral density. Dolomite is slightly harder than most marbles, which means it can resist heat and scratches better.

A common question which arises in every customers head, There is no simple answer for this as just like any Natural resource rarer the material costlier it can be.

Dolomite stone is different from Quartzite or Marble. It is a type of sedimentary rock that resembles limestone. Dolomite looks like marble but it has more hardness and is more stain & scratch resistant.

*A Premium Impregnating sealer is recommended to seal the surface before use.

Dolomite can also be used outdoors but when exposed to the elements it can discolour overtime.

One of our top selling products, Super White Dolomite from Brazil is considered by home owners and architects throughout Australia a colour that is super appealing to look at and same time more durable than marble.

All Natural Stone surfaces are porous in nature, Super White is no exception. Even though it is more durable compared to a marble we highly recommend that the surface has to be sealed with a premium impregnating sealer once every 10 – 12 months.