CULTURED MARBLE COUNTERTOPS

We are surrounded by objects in life that we have seen and touched repeatedly, yet are unfamiliar with their technical name. One such item that fits this description is cultured marble countertops. Cultured marble is a product that we have all seen from early childhood in bathrooms at home, school, an office, or even in public facilities. Yet, when you ask someone how familiar they are with the material without showing a photo, they may say they don't recognize what it is.

ITEM #	LENGTH	DEPTH	PRICE
SH-VS-19x17	19"	17" (Flush Oval Bowl Only)	$244.25
SH-VS-25x19	25"	19"	$260.00
SH-VS-25X22	25"	22"	$266.25
SH-VS-31X19	31"	19"	$278.38
SH-VS-31X22	31"	22"	$282.25
SH-VS-37X19	37"	19"	$306.13
SH-VS-37X22	37"	22"	$315.38
SH-VS-43X19	43"	19"	$344.63
SH-VS-43X22	43"	22"	$350.00
SH-VS-49X19	49"	19"	$361.63
SH-VS-49X22	49"	22"	$367.75
SH-VS-49X22DB	49"	22" (Double Bowl)	$386.75
SH-VS-61X19DB	61"	19"	$472.63
SH-VS-61X22	61"	22"	$440.00
SH-VS-61X22DB	61"	22" (Double Bowl)	$481.75
SH-VS-73X22DB	73"	22" (Double Bowl)	$528.13

Cultured marble countertops are made by mixing high strength polyester resin and real marble stone dust. The combination is formulated with additional chemicals and poured in to a cast mold. These molds can ultimately produce bathtubs, whirlpool decks, shower pans, window sills, and even vanity tops. The finished material is significantly less expensive than natural marble. Concurrently, the formulation is four times stronger than natural stones such as granite or marble. The process of using a mold also allows the fabricated countertops to have features which natural stone can not. This includes an integrated bowl, the option of a shiny or matte finish, and even an integrated back splash or side splash. In the end, the product can be significantly strengthened by using a non porous gel coat on the product to seal it and prevent mold, bacteria, and even staining.

With all of these added benefits, how can cultured marble counter tops be better and yet less expensive? The challenge is that the material can be produced in only a limited number of colors and can be defaced and damaged with heat. Cigarette stains, blow dryers, scouring pads, abrasive cleaners, and such can create permanent damage. To repair cultured marble, the surface coloring and glaze must be completely removed by sanding. This can be a long laborious process and one should really consider just discarding the old top in favor of purchasing a new countertop. Keep in mind that once the glaze is removed, you will still need to apply a gel gloss wax product to reseal it. This will restore the shine of the material and make it look like it's nearly brand new. Additionally it will make the product stain resistant. If you're looking for a real high gloss finish, you can put coats of a high gloss polyurethane varnish as well. Just as cultured marble countertops can have damage, so can window sills, shower floors and other such products. The same high gloss polyurethane varnish can be used as a temporary stop gap measure until you opt to completely replace it.

If you decide to proceed with sanding, wet sandpaper in 200, 400, 600, 800, and 2000 grit variations are strongly recommended. The wet style will provide a cleaner finish. At the end of the process, a high speed buffer can be used to create a proper finish. One final consideration with cultured marble countertops is that the material can yellow over time. Natural sunlight combined with the glaze coating make a bad combination over time and there is no process to remove the yellowing. So, you should assume that your countertop will have a 6 to 10 year lifespan.

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• Marble Countertops
  Marble counter tops are classic material that works well with cottage style design, traditional white cabinetry, farm house sinks, and even modern cabinetry with earth tones.