Choosing the Right Surface
The material of your dining table determines how it looks, how it feels, and how it performs over years of daily use. This guide compares the three most popular options — microcement, marble, and solid wood — across the criteria that matter most.
Microcement
A composite surface system applied in multiple layers over a stable core. At Marlot Baus, we use nine layers: primer, base microcement, three fine-finish layers, and four coats of waterproof sealer reinforced with flexible mesh, over a sustainable low-density MDF core.
- Weight: Moderate — lighter than marble, heavier than laminate
- Porosity: Non-porous when sealed — waterproof and stain-resistant
- Maintenance: Low — clean with water and mild soap
- Repairability: Can be locally refinished by a specialist
- Seamless: No visible joints between top and edges
- Colour options: 6 microcement colours plus wood and steel leg finishes
Marble
A natural stone quarried in blocks and cut into slabs. Each piece is unique, with natural veining that cannot be replicated.
- Weight: Heavy — requires reinforced floors and limits leg design options
- Porosity: Porous — stains easily from wine, oil, and acid. Requires periodic sealing
- Maintenance: High — needs sealing every 6-12 months, etches on contact with acid
- Repairability: Difficult and expensive to repair chips and cracks
- Seamless: No joints within a slab, but visible seams if assembled from multiple pieces
- Colour options: Determined by natural stone availability
Solid Wood
The Tomasso is our solid oak model — natural wood with visible grain that develops character over time.
- Weight: Moderate
- Porosity: Semi-porous — sealed but can absorb moisture if finish is compromised
- Maintenance: Moderate — dust regularly, oil periodically, avoid prolonged moisture
- Repairability: Can be sanded and refinished
- Seamless: Natural wood grain — may show joints depending on construction
- Colour options: Natural wood tones — Dark Oak, Cherry, Natural Oak, Walnut
Summary
| Criteria | Microcement | Marble | Solid Wood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof | Yes | No (porous) | No (semi-porous) |
| Stain resistant | Yes | No | Moderate |
| Weight | Moderate | Heavy | Moderate |
| Maintenance | Low | High | Moderate |
| Custom colours | 6 colours | Natural only | 4 finishes |
| Repairable | Yes | Difficult | Yes |
