Cultured Marble

Cultured marble is to marble what cast stone is to stone. It's a compound meant to resemble the real thing at a fraction of the cost. Cultured marble is a popular material for production of garden statues and outdoor fountains because of its appearance, cost efficiency, and resilience.

What is cultured marble made from?

Cultured marble is a cast polymer, a compound mixture typically composed of about 70% real crushed marble dust, unsaturated polyester resin, and organic and inorganic fillers (often calcium carbonate) and pigments set into a mold and coated with a gel gloss. The resulting material is strong, shiny, non-porous, and very durable. A catalyst used in the making of cultured marble causes the resin to harden and transform into a polymer, after which it's removed from the mold.

How is cultured marble used?

Cultured marble is waterproof and highly impervious to stains or mildew. These qualities, combined with cultured marbles cost effectiveness, make it suitable for use in bathtubs, vanity tops, whirlpools, showers, and planters. Cultured marble garden statues, outdoor fountains, and bird baths are appealing because they can be left outdoors during the winter and are highly weather-resistant.

Cultured marble appearance and maintenance

Cultured marble has a rich visual texture and is an elegant and functional material available in many different colors. Cultured marble often features a white background and swirling patterns in such colors as green, blue, or red.

Cultured marble garden statues are easy to clean, maintain, and polish, though you should avoid using abrasive cleaning products. A vinegar solution can be used to wash away any mineral deposits, and a household glass cleaner can be used for routine cleaning of your cultured marble garden statue.

Cultured marble can also be prone to scratching or chipping, so take care to place your cultured marble garden statue or fountain in a safe or controlled area. If your cultured marble item is scratched, try treating it with an automotive polishing compound to smooth the surface, or pick up Gel Gloss at your local store and apply it using a soft cotton cloth.