What Does Cultured Marble Look Like
It looks great on bathroom countertops and shower walls.
What does cultured marble look like. Cultured marble is a slightly dated blanket term for manufactured marble granite and onyx. In fact some culture marble has no marble at all just pigments and fillers. This industry started out with calcium carbonate and that is the least expensive of these types of engineered materials. In addition the manufacturer can add tint to create just about any color you desire.
Cultured marble is a blend of stone particles and resins that is combined with pigments to produce a wide range of colors and realistic natural looking patterns cultured marble cultured granite and cultured onyx among them. Although blacks blues greens unique bright colors and solids are also available. Marble can be either polished to a gloss or have a matte honed finish but never looks plastic. Cultured marble is a blend of various stone particles and resin which manufacturers combine with an array of pigments to create realistic colors and patterns that simulate the real product.
The final product is coated with a clear finish that can be either satin or high gloss depending on your preference. Cultured marble is made from natural ground marble calcium carbonate. However this kind of surface looks pretty obviously fake and it s more similar to a solid surface countertop than an engineered stone countertop. Yes gloss and satin finishes are available and some shops even offer different textures such as a subway tile.
But you can also give it a matte or honed finish if you like. The surface is such that it is stain resistant and is not affected by the presence of moisture. Overall as an industry we are trying to get away from the term cultured marble. Quartz color palette favors whites tans and grays but any color is also possible.
Unlike stone that comes from a quarry cultured marble comes from a mold cast in a factory to create the specific shape and size that is needed for a project. Cultured marble usually has a glossy finish. Colors and patterns can look similar. Cultured marble mainly has marble like veined and mottled patterns in soft whites and earth tones.
Cultured marble has a larger amount of polyester resins compared with the amount of actual stone. From discrete cream veins in white carrara marble to violet red or blue veins in yellow sienna marble natural marble will show its impurities through long sinewy streaks. Due to this process just about any shape or size can be custom made to fit your needs.