Cultured Marble or Tile for tub surround/shower?

16 years ago

We had planned on tiling our tub surround and the master shower but while in the tile store my sister and the sales lady (believe it or not)where trying to talk me into cultured marble? One main focus of theirs was the easy clean up. I have been trying to look it up on the internet and the only thing I can see is that the labor for the marble is less. I am not sure if the product it self costs less.

Did anyone go with cultured marble? Do you like it? Do you have pictures? I am trying to find a show room here in Austin so I can go and take a look. I think I found one but I will need to call them tomorrow.

Thanks!!

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Comments (5)

ralphv
16 years ago
During a remodel and an addition to our house a few years ago we chose cultured marble for all our bathroom sinks and a custom sized shower. I don't know if cultured marble means different things in different areas of the country. All I can tell you is that is what the fabricating company we used called the product. We have been very satisfied with what we have. It is easy to clean and has held up well for us. It seems to me that installation costs for this product would be cheaper than real marble, especially if you go with marble tiles. I'm including a link to a web site I have that contains photos of the rooms in which we used the cultured marble. I don't have any close ups of the product but it still may give you some idea of what we have.

Here is a link that might be useful: House for sale in Virginia
pinktoes
16 years ago
My parents have cultured marble in sheets--not the individual tiles--in all 3 baths, built in 1982. It is in perfect condition (don't use abrasives or harsh chemicals on it). And mother, in her mid-80s, still does her own housekeeping. She loves the ease of cleaning the sheets of "marble".

OTOH, have you had tiles shower walls before? I've always had them and I never will again. Despite good exhaust fans, we live in the humid southeast, and every week in the shower we use I scrub individual grout lines. It's my most dreaded chore. And you will get a little mold growth which stains the grout and can only be removed with bleach. So, you have a toxic VOC and stench contaminating your air for awhile.

Not for me anymore.
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allison0704
16 years ago
We did a custom shower in our last home and used cultured marble sheets for the walls, ceiling,floor (textured floor). Loved it - so easy to keep clean. I used Bon Ami and/or Soft Scrub.

One thing I did was ask for a solid color - no marble (veining) effects. It wasn't stark white and not almond - something in between like an off white.
kelntx
Original Author
16 years ago
I have had tile before and I think that is how we got on the subject. Our grout was such a pain to clean and the sales lady at the stone store stated that when you have tile in your bathroom tub/shower you really need to re-grout every 2-3 years. No thank you! LOL!

Pinktoes - I remember standing in my shower for hours with a toothbrush trying to clean the grout. I remember using bleach in a spray bottle one day and having to go outside because I was about to throw up breathing it in.

Allison - that is what I am thinking, more of a solid color. I do not know if I would like the marble effect. I guess it would depend on the color. I know I do not want a white or almond color.

ralphv -Thank you so much for the pictures! I can see the marble and that does help so much! I adore the house and how big all the rooms are! Is that an arrowhead on the stone work?! My father in law would love to have that antique case in the living! The views are breath taking. I forgot how beautiful VA is! We lived in Manassas VA for a year and fall was my favorite.

My sister is trying to find the address to the place where they went and looked at the cultured marble and granite. I am curious to see what they have!!!
chisue
16 years ago
Corian is another possibility.

We replaced old tile tub surround in our Maui condo with a cultured marble product two years ago. Itas a nice inset for shampoo bottles, soap, etc. Still looking good despite many guests and many housekeepers.

If you decide on tile, get BIG tiles and colored grout.