Cultured marble is a man made product. It is made up of approximately 82% natural stone materials suspended in a polymer resin. This product can be poured into a mold and made into any shape or form. Cultured marble is often used for vanity tops and full salon style bathrooms in which there are showers, tubs and vanities all made from cultured marble. The dated look of cultured marble is something that can be remedied with the refinishing process.
Now, the new look people are going for is granite, there is a faux granite finish that can be applied to your cultured marble fixtures when refinishing, this product will resemble granite after the completion of the work. A lot of the bathtub refinishing companies do not like to work with cultured marble as it is more labor intensive than refinishing a regular bathtub, but for the customer the reward of the finished product is phenomenal. Any damage that can occur to your cultured marble can be repaired when refinishing.
The most common issue with cultured marble is “thermal shock” cracks. These cracks are caused by the surface being cold and coming in contact with hot water, as cultured marble cannot expand and contract like metal it has no option but to crack. These cracks are most common in the bottoms of sink bowls and bathtubs made of cultured marble. These cracks are an easy repair for a skilled refinisher.
Although they can be blended in without refinishing the entire fixture, it is impossible for an exact match, as cultured marble has swirls and there is no way to replicate that. The best option for repairing something cultured marble is to refinish the entire thing. There is no need to tear out your full cultured marble bathroom! Save yourself some time and money and have it refinished by a professional!