What Is Cultured Marble? Here’s Everything You Need To Know

You may not know what cultured marble is, but there’s a good chance you’ve seen it before as the countertop (and integrated sink!) in the bathroom of someone's home. Despite its name, cultured marble isn’t actually real marble—it’s just manufactured to look like it. “Cultured marble is an entry-level product that kind of mimics a very high-end product, so you get a lot of bang for your buck,” says Matt Pulliam, Vice President of Manufacturing at AGCO, Inc. “The stigma of cultured marble is that it’s old school, but today it’s actually much more modern and consumer-friendly.”

Nowadays, you may not even realize it’s being used in a remodel or new construction. Below, you’ll find out why you should consider using it in your own project.

Composition of Cultured Marble

Cultured marble is made up of three things: polyester resin, crushed marble dust, and pigment. To make it, Pulliam says, a mold is covered with a clear gel coat. “After that, it’s filled with the polyester resin and marble dust pigment mixture before curing for three or four hours,” he continues. Once the cultured marble is fully cured, it’s pulled off the mold, and the bottom is ground flat. The last step before installation is flipping it over to do some light sanding and buffing on the surface.

Characteristics and Benefits of Cultured Marble

Nonporous Nature and Durability

As far as durability goes, Pulliam considers cultured marble middle-of-the-road: “It’s not as durable as stone, but it’s more durable than laminate.” If any chips or scratches somehow occur, you can easily DIY the repair—unless they go through the gel coat, in which case you’ll need to call a pro. Plus, since the cultured marble is nonporous, you don’t have to worry about water damage or stains. Given that it’s an entry-level product, you get a lot of value for a lower cost.

Integration of Sink and Backsplash

Because cultured marble is made in a mold, having an integrated sink and backsplash is one of its signatures. It cuts down on decision-making, and with minimal nooks and crannies, cleaning is much easier. This kind of integration is no longer as prominent as it once was, however.

Customizability

The biggest pro of cultured marble is its unlimited possibilities. According to Pulliam, the entry-level cultured marble has the standard white backdrop with a certain color of veining. Where the customization gets really fun is with what Pulliam calls the second tier of cultured marble: “We can make an engineered granite or quartz finish that has different sizes of rock to copy the look.”

With both tiers, Pulliam says, they can also install a separate sink (as opposed to creating one with the countertop) and change the finish from shiny to matte for a softer, more modern look. 

Comparison with Real Marble

Advantages

• Options: With marble, you’re limited to whatever nature has created and a company has sourced. Cultured marble, on the other hand, allows for countless customization options.
• Cost: Cultured marble is considered an entry-level material and marble is known to be a premium stone. You’ll save at least 50% with cultured marble—likely much more.
• Durability: Marble is considered a high-maintenance stone, while man-made cultured marble is inherently low-maintenance. “Because cultured marble has a gel coat surface, it’s not going to require sealing every six months or year like marble,” explains Pulliam. “It’s also more impervious to staining.” This is because marble is porous and can absorb liquids.

Disadvantages

• Not an exact look-alike: At first glance, you may mistake cultured marble for real marble. The trained eye, however, will notice that it’s actually too visually consistent to be natural. The variation, depth, and patina are part of what makes marble so compelling.
• Resale value: People are familiar with cultured marble as an entry-level product and marble as a premium one. If you plan on selling your home sometime in the future, know that this perception may impact your home’s resale value.
• Heat sensitivity: As a natural stone, marble can withstand a high degree of heat, but cultured marble’s topcoat might end up damaged if exposed to it. If you use hot styling tools in your bathroom or do a lot of cooking in your kitchen, cultured marble may not be the right fit.

Applications of Cultured Marble

Cultured marble is most commonly used for countertops (both in the kitchen and bathroom), vanities, and shower surrounds. The first two are the most common applications, but Pulliam insists that “this product really shines on a vertical surface.” This also includes tubs, tub surrounds, and tub skirts.

Nowadays, cultured marble can even mimic tile. “A lot of people love tile, but cleaning the grout lines and having to regrout later can be kind of a nightmare,” says Pulliam. “Our product goes up in whole pieces that look like tile, and the only place you have to worry about grout lines, so to speak, would be in the corners.”

Cultured marble can even be outdoors—as long as the manufacturer uses a UV-resistant gel coat. “If not, the clear gel coat will start turning a hazy yellow color,” Pulliam explains.

Maintenance and Care

Cleaning Instructions

Cultured marble is a breeze to clean. You just need a non-abrasive cleaner or soapy water. “If there’s anything a little bit tougher that doesn’t come out, then you can use denatured alcohol,” Pulliam explains. It’s both anti-bacterial and a solvent that can dissolve stains and grease. Bonus: Because it evaporates easily, you don’t have to worry about streaks.

How To Prevent Stains and Damage

It’s the gel coat’s job to make sure you don’t have to worry about most stains or damage. If you want to be extra safe, Pulliam recommends periodically applying a wax: “On top of the gel coat, it doesn’t let soap scum or anything else stick to the cultured marble. Just like the better wax your car is, the easier it is to clean up.”

Cost Considerations

Cultured Marble Versus Other Materials

While it’s difficult to offer a definitive comparison because every market is different, Pulliam says that in Atlanta, the first tier of cultured marble is roughly 50% cheaper than entry-level stone. It’s worth mentioning that Atlanta is a low-cost market in general, so the difference could easily be less or more. The closest in cost would be laminate, which is also budget-friendly, while you can expect materials like quartz, soapstone, and stainless steel to be more than double the cost.

Factors That Can Affect Cost

Whether you’re purchasing something custom or ready to install, there are four primary considerations: size, installation, design, and quality of materials. If you’re working with an existing bathroom, you don’t have much choice in size, and installation is unavoidable. The two wildcards are likely going to be quality of materials and design. For reference, AGCO is a custom manufacturer that offers 5-7 different bathroom vanity styles, plus 10 different sink options (you could also use your own sink). You can also decide whether to opt for the classic cultured marble look or a more high-end—and expensive—aesthetic that better mimics stone.