Cultured Marble

We Fabricate and Install Cultured Marble Countertops & More

What is Cultured Marble?

The term “cultured marble” is sometimes used as an umbrella description for all types of manufactured, or engineered, stone. Used in this sense, the term includes man-made marble, granite, and onyx.

Division Nine installs cultured marble countertops in Orlando, plus backsplashes, shower panels, and tub surrounds. Cultured marble is manufactured by blending crushed marble, marble dust, polyester resins, fillers, and pigments. The mixture is poured into molds that are lined with a gel coating. When the mixture hardens, it is removed from the mold. The gel coat is affixed to the surface of the piece. This creates a non-porous product and then can either be polished for a high-gloss look or sanded for a matte look.

Cultured Marble—How Is It Different?

Cultured Marble is a man-made product using crushed natural marble mixed with a polyester resin. A pigment color is added for veining and unique characteristics. People like cultured marble because it is a non-porous, antibacterial surface that provides unique beauty and aesthetics without the need for sealing.

Natural marble, such as what one sees quarried in Italy, gets its distinctive coloring and veining from other minerals that are present in the limestone when it undergoes its transformation in nature. Black, gray, white, red, green, yellow, brown, and pink are common marble colors that result from the presence of iron oxide, iron, feldspar, serpentine, porphyry, and other minerals.

Since the entire process happens at the whim of Mother Nature, veining is random and occurs without pattern.

While no two pieces of natural marble are the same, cultured marble pieces are uniform in appearance and can be made custom to specs of individual client needs.

Further, the cost of cultured marble is much more affordable (a fraction of the cost of natural marble).

Unlike natural marble, cultured marble does not have to be sealed.

Why Choose Cultured Marble?

Customers choose cultured marble for several reasons.

It does not have to be sealed since it is non-porous. This means it does not require resealing either, so it requires little maintenance.
Cast cultured marble pieces have no joints or seams that must be filled with grout and kept clean.
A huge range of product sizes, shapes, and edge profiles are available.
Cultured marble tolerates use. It resists stains, mildew, and chipping.
It is usually less expensive than slab marble but still gives homes a high-end, luxurious look.
Many colors of cultured marble are available.

The Origins of Cultured Marble

Cultured marble has been manufactured and commercially available for about 50 years. Early fabricators sold their inventory to plumbers and builders.

Since cultured marble could be manufactured by small producers, early on this resulted in products that ranged widely in quality.

One producer would use higher quality resins, fillers, and pigments while another producer would use poorer quality ingredients.

For some time, quality controls of cultured marble across the industry were lacking. Eventually, the International Cast Polymer Association (ICPA) was founded.

Comprising manufacturers of cultured marble, stone, and tile (plus industry suppliers and distributors), this non-profit corporation now seeks to educate the public, set product standards, and support its member companies.

Recently the ICPA partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to help member companies develop safer work environments and other goals.

About the Cracking Around Drains Problem

Some consumers have veered away from cultured marble for sinks and tubs because it acquired a reputation for developing cracks around drains. Typically, the cracking had more to do with the oil-based putties used by builders to attach drains to sinks. Putties formulated for this purpose now don’t contain oil.

Filler material for cultured marble has also improved.

Whereas crushed limestone was used as filler for many years, new, cleaner, lighter-weight filler options are now available. Better fillers plus oil-free putties are greatly reducing the problem of cracks around drains.