Marble Fireplace Mantels

When many people think of marble, it's the milky white statues carved by the Greeks and the Romans that instantly spring to mind. Marble was once a very common choice of material for fireplace surrounds, and it has some advantages over other mantel surround materials. Depending on the type of hearth you desire, a marble mantelpiece may be the perfect choice for you.

Marble fireplace surrounds can be embellished with fine details. Throughout history, marble fireplace mantels have served as a kind of canvas for the world's finest artisans. Marble is softer than other materials like granite that are used to construct fireplace mantels. This property makes marble the best choice of material if you hope to have carvings of figures or other motifs incorporated into your mantel surround.

Marble mantels are safe and durable. Marble is a non-combustible material, and is therefore a safe choice for mantles. Marble is more porous than other natural stone materials like granite, but a marble fireplace surround will last for many years if it is properly cared for. Marble can be damaged by acids, so it is best to keep your marble fireplace mantel indoors if your area gets significant amounts of acid rain.

Marble fireplace surrounds are visually appealing. Some people would prefer to have mantel shelves constructed of pure white marble, but there are many exciting colors available. The various colors of the swirls and veins often seen in marble give a deep texture and charm to mantles constructed of this natural material.