Telling The Difference Between Quality Cultured Marble And Poor Quality

When two products contain similar characteristics such as cultured marble and solid surface countertops you may be faced with a challenge to.

Telling the difference between quality cultured marble and poor quality.

Cultured marble is still a relatively tough surface but it can be scratched easily and is also susceptible to damage from extreme temperatures. The result is a solid panel that looks like marble but installs like a fiberglass panel. The naturally nonporous surface of quartz makes it resistant to scratches heat though lowes recommends that you still use heat. If you notice dull areas when holding the tile under a light at a slight angle especially when most of the surface has a mirrorlike appearance this typically indicates a lower quality marble.

What s interesting about marble grading is that it falls into four different rating categories identified a to d. These ratings are on a scale from 0 poor 10 excellent. Cultured marble provides you with a solid surface that does not contain the same functional problems you can encounter when using tile. You will receive a solid surface when using cultured marble.

Natural marble natural granite engineered stone solid surface cultured marble and laminate. Cultured marble is simulated marble made from a resin compound and ground up marble. The cost of cultured marble is about 40 less than the price you would pay for a natural quarried stone. Ratings are provided on key features which should be considered prior to investment.

Many consumers don t want cultured marble in their homes because of its reputation for being an old product that cracks easily. Overall as an industry we are trying to get away from the term cultured marble. If a stone has a high hardness factor yet seems to have fiberglass resin fill or fissures this is a poor quality tile of that stone. Thassos aaa for example is a higher quality of stone than standard thassos.

Ask for the marble s complete name. Thus everything you read above about cultured marble vs marble is also true of cultured marble vs onyx. The below chart provides a graphical comparison of 6 common vanity top materials. Molding is installed around the edges of the panels to complete the.

Cultured marble is a slightly dated blanket term for manufactured marble granite and onyx. Cultured marble vanity tops vs. The a classification is the highest quality and d is the lowest in terms of that particular marble slab s soundness or how easy it is to work with from a fabricator s or an installer s perspective. Also ask for the marble s hardness factor.