How are Cultured Marble Shower Walls Different from Natural Marble?

Have you ever stayed in a luxurious hotel with extravagant bathroom shower walls? Why not bring the same sense of luxury to your setup? The material is either natural marble or cultured marble shower walls. When selecting a shower wall, you will face multiple choices in material. There are numerous other materials available, including ceramic, porcelain, acrylic, stone resin, laminate, concrete, and more.

The majority of luxury installations prefer using cultured marble shower walls over other available materials. It's primarily due to its extraordinary durability, resistance to staining, and maintainability, but we cannot rule out the performance of time-tested natural marble. Let's analyze these two powerful contenders for shower wall material!

What is a Cultured Marble Shower Wall?

The cultured marble shower wall is named for the material used to cover the walls, giving bathrooms a luxurious feel. The word "culture" refers to a man-made material that mimics naturally occurring rock structures.

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The purpose of a cultured marble shower wall is to provide an aesthetic and a practical solution to the moisture, humid, and wet environment of a shower. It protects the concrete wall from water that could seep in and damage the wall. Other materials can also perform the same function, but they do not provide the luxurious feel to the environment.

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The material of the cultured marble shower wall is made using a combination of ingredients. The technical name for this material is gel-coated stone resin, also referred to as engineering stone. It uses crushed stone particles, acrylics, and pigments, which are mixed to achieve a similar appearance to marble. The base material consists of crushed marble dust or stone, combined with acrylic or polyester resin. It can also contain some pigments depending on the type of material. The second layer is what gives it the appearance of marble, typically a thin film. Finally, a clear gel coat is applied over the second layer, giving it a shine and an exquisite look.

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In comparison to natural marble, the cultured marble shower walls have distinct features that make it a superior choice in most cases. Here are some key ones:

• Easier to Transport:  The material of the cultured marble shower is mostly acrylic or polyester, which makes it durable and easier to transport.
• Low-Maintenance:  Due to its gel surface, the material requires minimal maintenance. A simple cleaning using a cloth. In case of damage, the defect can be easily buffed away.
• Affordability:  The man-made nature of cultured marble shower walls makes them more affordable.
• التنوع: They are available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Similar material is used in the construction of countertops and cabinets.
• Seamless Construction: Matching patterns of a man-made design is achievable. The veins can be matched to ensure a seamless aesthetic.

Cultured Marble Shower Wall and Natural Marble

If we compare a natural marble and a cultured marble shower wall head-to-head, we can gain a deeper understanding of this engineered stone. The extraordinary properties of cultured marble make it easier to set up, move, maintain, handle, and customize in comparison to natural marble. Let's see how:

1  Porosity and Resistance to Staining

The microscopic structure of cultured marble shower wall material is tightly packed. There is no space for the bacteria or stains to take hold. It enhances its ability to resist staining and improve hygiene. In comparison, natural marble is porous, which allows it to catch stains easily and provides a suitable environment for bacteria to grow.

2  Durability and Strength

In durability and strength, the marble shower wall takes the lead. Natural marble is highly scratch-resistant and can withstand considerable weight. However, it comes at a cost of brittleness, which can make it challenging to handle. In comparison, marble showers have good scratch resistance but offer great strength under load.

3  Seamless  Installation vs. Natural Veining

Natural marble features natural veining, making it highly attractive aesthetically. In comparison, cultured marble shower wall offers similar veining but with a man-made pattern, which makes it easier to match the veining between two pieces of cultured marble material.

4  Chemical Resistance: Cleaning and Care

Cultured marble shower walls come with a gel coat, which makes the surface non-porous, and the primary surface does not come into contact with the acids and alkalis of a typical household. In comparison, natural marble contains calcium carbonate, which can react with common bathroom liquids, such as bleach, vinegar, and cleaning agents. It can etch away material from the surface. Resistance to chemicals makes cleaning cultured marble shower walls and maintenance easier.

5  Cost and Affordability

Extracting natural marble from the earth and carefully delivering it to its designated position requires a great deal of work and handling. The natural veining is only possible if the large pieces stay together. In a cultured marble shower wall, the transport medium is easier to handle. They are not as fragile, making them affordable. Natural stone, extracted from the earth, has inherent limitations that also make it more expensive compared to engineered stone.

6  Aesthetic Appeal: Variety   and Pattern   Options

In the case of natural marble, the surface may contain some hollow sections, which the manufacturer must fill using various techniques. The cultured marble shower wall is man-made, allowing excellent surface finish and patterns that are available in costly natural marble. Some even feature gold infusion for extra luxury, which can be challenging and expensive to achieve in natural marble.

7  Weight and Installation

The weight of both materials varies based on their density. Which are:

• Natural Marble: Approximately 2.5 - 2.8 g/cm³   
• Cultured Marble: Approximately 2.0 g/cm³ (typically lower than natural marble)

Their density makes installation difficult, as it requires more manpower and time. In comparison, natural marble could be over five times heavier than cultured marble. That is mainly due to the thickness requirement for handling of both materials. We will discuss the thickness difference later.

8  Heat  Resistance and Insulation Properties

In heat resistance comparison, natural marble takes the lead. It can handle offering significant thermal inertia. Natural marble can handle exposure to water 150-200°C (300-392°F) or even higher for short periods. In comparison, the cultured marble's outer surface or resin coating can be damaged and even burned by hair dryers or heat irons.

9  Longevity and Wear Over Time

Another ground where natural marble takes the lead is longevity. Natural marbles are a naturally occurring resource that makes them compatible with Earth's natural environment. A well-taken care of natural marble can last for centuries. In comparison, the cultured marble shower wall is meant for replacement. It may require polishing after some time, and the resin can start to lose its strength with time.

10  Customization and Design Flexibility

A typical cultured marble shower wall panel is 1/4  inch thick (6-7 mm) while a similar natural marble will need to be 3/4 inch (20 mm) to 1 1/4 inch (30 mm). Bending natural marble is impossible, while some cultured marble shower walls are designed for heat shaping. It can follow slight curves and still exhibit strength.

Cultured Marble Shower Walls Vs. Natural Marble

The cultured marble shower wall panels undoubtedly won on many grounds against natural marble. It outshines in hygiene, chemical resistance, affordability, weight, installation, aesthetics, and customization. However, natural marble has longevity that has stood the test of time at many historical sites. Its inherent value of being natural cannot be understood. However, in a modern, fast-paced lifestyle, users like to switch. Investing in natural marble means staying with the same design long term. Cultured marble shower walls are easier to replace. Both materials will eventually end up in a quarry. So it's the user's choice when it comes to choosing between luxury and practicality.

If you are looking for high-end cultured marble shower walls that look exactly like natural marble, then consider visiting the KKR (Kingkonree) website . They offer extensive aesthetic variety in cultured marble shower wall panels. Their experience in exports to more than 126 countries worldwide makes them a great supplier with an established supply chain network. They also offer OEM and customization on their products. Visit their website to learn more!

FAQ

• Are cultured marble shower walls easy to clean and maintain?

Due to the gel-coating on cultured marble, they have low porosity, making them easier to clean. The stains cannot penetrate the material, allowing users to clean using a wet cloth and very light cleaning liquid. In case of damage, light buffing can easily solve the scratch issues and bring back the shine.

• Do cultured marble shower walls need to be sealed?

No, the cultured marble shower wall panels come with a gel-coat that protects the inner design layer and base resin layer. It hardly has any porosity, making it an excellent choice for hygiene environments. The low porosity makes the material low-maintenance.

• Are cultured marble shower walls resistant to mold and mildew?

Fungi like mold and mildew need a surface to cling to. Material that has surface roughness or space for the fungi to allow growth will have mold and mildew. Cultured marble shower walls are nonporous, which eliminates the chances of fungi taking control. However, it can take hold in seams that need to be adequately sealed using silicone or another agent.

• Can cultured marble shower walls be installed over existing tile or other surfaces?

Yes, as long as the older tile or any other material is firmly adhered to the walls, you can install the cultured marble shower wall panels over it. However, it is highly recommended to install fresh using a strong adhesive. However, installing over existing construction will lower the shower space.

• Are cultured marble shower walls a good choice for high-humidity bathrooms?

For a regular shower room where temperatures do not reach up to 100 and the environment is not humid and high temperature all the time, cultured marble shower walls will work great. In case of saunas, Temperatures can easily reach 70-100°C (158-212°F) or even higher. Exposure to such a condition can lead to deformation of the material and degradation.

• Are there eco-friendly options for cultured marble shower walls?

While the cultured marble shower walls are not inherently eco-friendly by design, they can become a green product by some measures. Using recycled crushed stone, lower VOC emissions, sustainable