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.

What s interesting about marble grading is that it falls into four different rating categories identified a to d. Thassos aaa for example is a higher quality of stone than standard thassos. 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. Cultured marble provides you with a solid surface that does not contain the same functional problems you can encounter when using tile.

Cultured marble is a slightly dated blanket term for manufactured marble granite and onyx. 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. You will receive a solid surface when using cultured marble. Molding is installed around the edges of the panels to complete the.

Also ask for the marble s hardness factor. The below chart provides a graphical comparison of 6 common vanity top materials. The naturally nonporous surface of quartz makes it resistant to scratches heat though lowes recommends that you still use heat. 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.

In a head to head between cultured marble and quartz the latter is the clear winner when it comes to durability. The cultured marble comes in slabs that are cut to fit the exact dimensions of your shower area. Many consumers don t want cultured marble in their homes because of its reputation for being an old product that cracks easily. Oh and yes they do also make cultured onyx in the same way that cultured marble is made with all the same characteristics except that cultured onyx has a translucent quality to look like real onyx.

Natural marble natural granite engineered stone solid surface cultured marble and laminate. The result is a solid panel that looks like marble but installs like a fiberglass panel. Cultured marble is still a relatively tough surface but it can be scratched easily and is also susceptible to damage from extreme temperatures. Thus everything you read above about cultured marble vs marble is also true of cultured marble vs onyx.

These ratings are on a scale from 0 poor 10 excellent. Ratings are provided on key features which should be considered prior to investment. Cultured marble vanity tops vs. The cost of cultured marble is about 40 less than the price you would pay for a natural quarried stone.