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Glass vs. Marble Bathroom Countertops

Marble countertops are a lot of people’s countertop material of choice. Well, until they see the price tag, that is. Even granite is less expensive, and glass is far more cost-effective as well.

In this article, we’ll pit marble against glass to determine which countertop material comes out on top. We’ll review areas such as porousness, durability, and scratch resistance.

Let’s get started!

Glass vs. Marble – Porosity

The porosity of your countertop is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when buying a counter, yet you’d be surprised how many shoppers overlook it.

The more porous the counter is, the easier it is for any sort of substance to become embedded in the counter. That goes for germs, viruses, and bacteria as well.

You’d have to keep the counter exceptionally clean to prevent you and your family from getting sick due to all the germ exposure.

Marble counters are very porous, which means they’re very germy. Water can easily absorb into the counters, causing long-term damage as well.

Glass, on the other hand, is completely nonporous. Between that and the smooth surface of the glass, germs have nowhere to hide, so your counters will be cleaner by default.

Of course, you’ll still have to clean your glass counters, but not with so much urgency.

Glass vs. Marble – Scratch Resistance

Scratches are a fast way to make even a new counter look very old and dated.

The value of the counter goes down in a jiffy once it develops surface scratches, and that goes double for deep gouges.

You can buff out surface-level scratches, but if those scratches are deep enough, then they’ll never come out.

Glass is not impervious to scratches, but this countertop material does not scratch easily. If you do notice a scratch, you should buff it out right away to maintain the luster and appeal of your counter.

Marble, on the other hand, is very susceptible to scratches.

The more acidity you expose the countertop to through time and use, the more the protective finish is stripped away. This allows marble to easily be cut and carved into each time you use your kitchen counter.

Glass vs. Marble – Durability

Durability is a top priority when selecting a countertop material. You’re going to invest in your kitchen counters, and you want to be sure that your money is going into a worthwhile venture.

Let’s begin by talking about the durability of glass counters first.

Glass is stain-resistant, mostly scratch-resistant, and heat-resistant as well. Although misusing a glass countertop could cause it to chip or even break, glass is a lot more durable than most people give it credit for.

It’s thick enough to withstand day-to-day kitchen usage.

Marble counters, as we already established, are not scratch-resistant. The counter can stain, but if you’re quick to clean it up, then that shouldn’t happen.

A marble counter is heat-resistant, but you still don’t want to leave very hot surfaces on the countertop for too long.