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A History of Cultured Marble Vanity Tops

Cultured Marble


Cultured Marble

Cultured Marble Tops represent the second most selected countertop material in the United States. Besides laminate counters, more home owners select cultured marble than any other material for their bathrooms. The material was wildly popular in the 1940's to 1980's as the color options were unique, different, and relevant to consumer tastes.

Most importantly, they were extremely affordable and readily available nationwide. The vast distribution network of cultured marble vanity tops manufacturers also made it an easy choice for home and apartment builders.

Between the 1980's and late 1990's, cultured marble still sold very well in the market place, but was considered a low end and dated material. There was a lack of innovation with the color options that were available and consumers treated the product as dated. To the younger generation, it became known as the product our parents and grandparents had in their homes. But it would certainly not be good enough for the younger generation of home buyers.

This perception has remained to some extent in spite of the fact that cultured marble counter tops are now rather innovative in their colors. The cultured marble colors have been completely updated as new swirl techniques became available. Additionally, the newer generation of cultured marble is designed to last for a very long time. Previous versions had a tendency to yellow or discolor over time and exposure to the sun. However, the newer versions inhibit the chemical reaction brought on by sun exposure.

Big box home improvement retailers now carry these new colors and finishes and consumers which had previously written off the material are changing their minds. As today's intelligent consumer realizes that the material has evolved significantly from the material they remember in their parents and grandparents homes, they are embracing cultured marble tops once again. Big Box retailers are also helping to educate consumers on products at all ends of the price spectrum. Home owners that are looking to make an affordable upgrade now see the value of the material. As the recession of 2006 started and consumers returned to a value oriented frame of mind, cultured marble sales steadily began to increase in sales. In terms of bathroom countertop sales, cultured marble has steadily taken market share from granite, quartz, laminate, and even tile counters in the last number of years.

An additional consideration for purchasing cultured marble is that the material is predominately made in the United States and Mexico. Most consumers have become aware of products made in China and would prefer to purchase a product that is manufactured domestically. Since cultured marble is so inexpensive to manufacture, it is not always viable for importers to purchase it from an off shore company and to have it shipped in a container to the USA. As a result, there are still a handful of cultured marble manufacturers producing the product for their local markets. If you are concerned about where the products you purchase are actually made, you can look on the box packaging labels to make a more informed decision.

 


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