Tired of grout lines? Try replacing your ceramic tile tub and shower surround with cultured marble. It is waterproof and keeps its shine for years with minimal care.

While the new millennium sees consumers returning to the comforts of a familiar, traditional-style bath, the latest spa-like extras remain in hot demand, and splashes of color in unexpected places are finding their way in the bath, as well.

Substituting lower-cost luxury materials can add a feeling of opulence, without the opulent costs. According to Bill Cizek of Syn-Mar Cultured Marble, Inc., “Granite, marble and stone are a pricey way to state luxury in a bathroom. Cultured granite, marble and onyx provide the luxurious look and feel of the real stuff at a fraction of the price.”

—“Traditional-Style Comfort” by Janice Anne Costa
Kitchen & Bath Design News

Perhaps in response to … granite looks, solid surface materials are moving away from granite textures to more innovative styles.

“[Designers] are excited about the new colors that are available, the solid colors,” says James Yon, distributor for Samsung/Cheil Industries, Inc., makers of Staron products, in La Mirada, Calif. He adds that the new solid surface is finding its way to other decorative applications, such as frames.

“Solid surface has become a classic, a noble material in its own right,” declares Ebnesajjad.

— "Counter Fit"
Kitchen & Bath Design News

For a designer look in your bathroom, try using cultured marble. It’s easy to work with because it’s made of real marble dust mixed with plastic resins. It’s lighter in weight than real marble and less expensive too.

— “Cultured Marble”
BobVila.com

The life of a home is often in the details. When the details are thoughtfully chosen, a home develops a personality. Through various upgrades and decorative options, not only does a home develop its own character, it also reflects the homeowner’s individuality.

“Then comes the pizzazz—countertops, laminates, ceramic tiles, granites, solid surface countertops, small tiles for the kitchen and bath, or maybe cultured marble for the bath,” says Barbara Fowler, design gallery manager with Sivage Thomas Homes, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

— “Upgrades Give Homes Personality” by Sherry Karasik
New Home Source

The time has come for a kitchen remodel, and you have longed to ditch your laminate countertops and stage a “counter revolution.”

Cultured marble is an attractive selection as countertop material. Like Corian, cultured marble can also be formed into custom bathtubs and sinks. Cultured marble considerably less expensive than natural stone or Corian, and is available in a wide range of decorator colors.

—“Countertops”
Remodeling News
Winter 1999

Countertops are usually custom-designed for each installation. There are hundreds of colors and patterns to choose from and they can be made in any size and shape, so they’re impractical to stock in inventory. They are generally the last item chosen for a bathroom because they need to complement the major fixtures such as the whirlpool or shower.

Cultured marble is one of the more popular materials used in bathroom countertops. It is both elegant and functional, and comes in a wide variety of colors and styles. It is very rugged with a hard waterproof, stain-resistant surface.

The beauty of cultured marble is the ease with which it can be cleaned and polished. To preserve the finish you should apply a protective coat of wax.

— “Bath, Plumbing, Kitchen Planning Guide”
Keidel.com

“It seems that people are thinking of re-sale more than their own personal use when talking about the master bath,” Deese said. “A beautiful marble tub with the columns — ah, it’s gorgeous—love to have that but I’ll never use it. Sure, it’s pretty, but not functional. Or you can go with the cultured marble or tile or true stone, and then drop the tub units into it. Those are the type of tubs I think are a lot more comfortable, and people tend to enjoy because they are more ergonomically designed for the body.”

— “The Open Shower” by Dr. Oneida Cramer
Home Issues

The surfaces in your bathroom must be moisture-tolerant and should also be easy to clean and maintain.

Solid surface materials. Nothing beats this smooth acrylic surface for ease in cleaning, and the material lasts a lifetime.

Solid surface countertops offer many of the advantages of stone with few of the drawbacks. Cast from acrylic resin, this surface requires little maintenance and is extremely durable.

—“Choose the Right Materials for a Bathroom Remodel”
Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

Cultured marble sheets are a good choice for tub surrounds, instead of ceramic tile. You will save considerably on labor costs and the marble sheets are much easier to clean. Fiberglass surrounds are also less costly than tile.

Cultured marble lavatories can be a great budget choice since it is an integrated sink bowl and countertop sold in one easily installed unit.

—“General Remodeling Tips”
DIYonline.com

Joe and Lena Prichard have lived in their ranch-style home in Memorial for 38 years, watched their children and grandchildren grow to adults, and now … they’re remodeling.

The new bathroom is a soothing vision of pale floral wallpaper and fixtures in a “desert bloom” color, all selected by Lena. The whirlpool tub is flanked by mirrors and textured glass blocks, with half-arched windows overhead. The separate water closet has an “elongated portrait” Kohler commode with an appealing sculpted look, and the matching china sinks, also in desert bloom, are dropped into the cultured marble countertop for a smooth, uninterrupted line.

—“It’s Never too Late to Add On” by Nancy Serebrenik
House & Home

Because the resin coats all of the marble dust particles making them impervious, high quality cultured marble can withstand stains that might otherwise harm natural marble.

Cultured marble can be used to create many bathrooms and kitchen products. Sinks with integral tops, bathtubs, whirlpool baths, shower basins, bask splashes, wall panels, etc. are all possible. Since it is a molded product, manufacturers can create an infinite amount of designs tinted to any color. The clear finish can be ordered high gloss or satin from many manufacturers.

—“Ask the Builder” by Tim Carter
Nationally Syndicated Newspaper Column

Solid surface material is chosen for its strength, durability and ease of maintenance. Scratches and imperfections that occur over time can be sanded out with an abrasive pad. Even large areas can be repaired with patching and sanding.

Solid surface comes in several hundred colors, from solid to mottled. Since it is a man-made material, the color is extremely consistent. Colors can be combined in any way imaginable.

There is no limit to the shapes that solid surface can be molded into. Customers can bring pictures or draw a design that can be translated into the material.

—“Solid Surface Countertops”
Home and Garden Television

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Solid surface, which is less expensive than natural stone, has the look and cool feel of stone. Its properties are identical throughout the entire piece, making it possible to sand out imperfections.

Solid surface can be maintained with window cleaner and non-abrasive liquid cleaners.

Solid surface tub surrounds are popular because there is no grout to clean.

A variety of products are in solid surface: sinks, shower pans, towel racks, soap dishes, show caddies.

—“Solid Surface in the Bath”
Home and Garden Television

”

Solid surface tops are manufactured from specific polymer blends, chemically engineered to be resistant to stains and acids. Besides good looks, solid surface material offers a number of benefits when used as a kitchen countertop. The material is solid color throughout — the color and pattern go all the way through the countertop. This differs from a plastic laminate top, which only has a surface layer of material over a substrate of plywood or particleboard, and even ceramic tile, which has a glazed color layer over a white core.

This translates to a top that is extremely durable and easy to maintain and repair. The material is non-porous and naturally resistant to a number of stains, so routine maintenance typically involves only washing with a damp cloth. But should you stain, burn or scratch the surface, you can literally sand it off. Depending on the severity of the stain, you can use anything from abrasive household cleaner to fine sand paper to remove the discoloration.

You will find solid surface tops in a variety of colors and patterns. There are solid colors ranging from white and almond to several different colors. There are also natural-looking patterns that duplicate the rich and fascinating colors of granite, marble and onyx in subtly blended shades ranging from tan and peach to greens, blues, grays and blacks.

In addition to the solid sheets there are accessories such as pre-cast sinks and cutting bards to round out the installation. Sinks can be either top-mounted or mounted underneath the counter, and are available in several colors and patterns and in sizes ranging from approximately 14” x 16” (bar sink size) to standard 36” x 22” double-bowl configurations. Sinks come pre-cut with a bottom drain hole that fits all standard basket strainers and garbage disposals, and can be ordered with one to five holes for mounting faucets and accessories, or undrilled for more one-site placement flexibility.

—“Solid Surface Tops Make Great Kitchen Counters” by Pail Bianchina
DoItYourself.com

When it comes to product choices, CC Bjork’s take agrees with much of what was on display at the recent NAHB show: It’s all about luxury, and luxury products that create a high-end look. “We’re using a lot of solid surface, cultured marble … and doing a lot of work with Jacuzzi.”

—“Enjoying the High Life”
Kitchen and Bath Design News

• Solid surface materials can give the look of a slab without the grout headaches. The color goes all the way through the material, so scratches can be buffed out, and the sink can be integrated seamlessly. The price of solid surface is comparable to many natural stones.
• Cultured marble is a man-made marble that costs one-half or one-third less than solid surface. You can have an integral bowl and backsplash with no seam like solid surface, but the color does not go all the way through the material.

—“Man-Made vs. Natural Materials”
HGTV

Q: We have an older house with a tile shower. My husband and children never dry it and the grout is a mess. I am considering installing a synthetic cultured marble shower liner. Is this material durable and easy to clean?

A: I understand the problem you are having and a cultured marble liner is an excellent, reasonably-priced option for you. We have a shower in our basement and Mr. Grudge and the kids make a mess of it. I installed a cultured marble liner last year and it literally wipes clean now.

—“Grimy grout making a mess of the family shower"
Ms. Builder

Cultured marble, cultured onyx, and cultured granite are used frequently in the bathroom. These products come in a wide variety of colours and can change a boring bath into the ultimate in beauty. Onyx can be used on a vanity top with a banjo extension over the commode for a finished look and added countertop area. An onyx whirlpool bath will complete the bath in exquisite style.

—“Luxury Bathrooms: They’re Worth Sinking Into”
The Kitchen Emporium

Seen strictly from the standpoint of resale, carving a bathroom out of available space, especially in a home that has only one or one-and-a-half baths, might be the most productive remodeling project owners can undertake.

[For a midrange project] add a full 6-by-8-foot bath to a house with one or one-and-a-half baths. Locate within existing footprint near bedrooms. Include a cultured-marble vanity top, molded sink, standard tub/shower with ceramic tile surround, low-profile toilet, general and spot lighting, mirrored medicine cabinet, linen storage, vinyl wallpaper, and ceramic tile floor.

—“Bathroom Additions”
Realtor Magazine

Americans want to pamper themselves, and in their quest for comfort they are turning the bathroom into a haven where they can relax and regroup.

[Richard] O’Gara agrees. “There’s cultured marble with a lot of different colors and swirls,” he said. “I also see solid surfacing countertops come in a variety of materials…”

—“Smallest Room Gets Bigger in Our Quest for a Haven”
Business Journal

Q: I'm remodeling two bathrooms. We would like to replace the bathroom tile because it is hard to clean. What would you recommend we put in its place?

A: Well, there are many materials out there that are good in a shower/tub area -- and many of these are pretty easy to take care of. One example is fiberglass and another is manmade marble or composite material.

—“Replacing Bathroom Tile”
Good Housekeeping

Looks like rock, but…

Sinks that look like stone, but aren’t, are one of the hottest crazes in the kitchen. They’re lighter, scratch-resistant, more chef-friendly.

Another bonus? The sink — which come in a variety of colors in real granite and quartz blended with acrylic — enable homeowners to match the stone materials in their countertops, backsplashes, and floors.

—“Composite kitchen sinks clean up” by Craig Wilson
USA Today

Many in the industry agree that the growing demand for engineered stone products is driven by these products’ functionality and ease of care… Another advantage of engineered stone, manufacturers point out, is that designers can show the countertop choices to the customer right in the showroom. The product has a consistent look that consumers can identify and count on. And, there are no trips to the manufacturer’s stone yard required.

—“Counter Expressions” by Denise D. Vermeulen
Kitchen & Bath Design News