Custom Made Cultured Marble | Bella Marble - Slidell, Louisiana (985) 645-0978

What is Cultured Marble?

Cultured marble, a manufactured product, is a precise blend of polyester resin, catalyst, fillers and pigments that are thoroughly mixed and placed into open molds that have been coated with a clear gel coat. The gel coat is specially formulated to produce a tough, durable, transparent surface resistant to in service wear. The manufacturer produces a unique range of colors, patterns, and veining.

The chemical reaction initiated by the catalyst causes the resin to polymerize and harden, bonding the entire matrix together in a hard, strong mass. After several hours of chemical curing, the parts are removed from the molds and trimmed, ground, polished and inspected, the parts are then ready for shipment and installation.

The Advantages of Cultured Marble

Beauty - Elegant, luxurious appearance
Durability - High strength, resistant to denting, chipping, abrasions and staining (with normal use and proper maintenance)
Lower Cost - The casting process enables the manufacturer to produce cultured marble substantially lower than quarried marble
Seamless Construction - Vanity tops can be cast in one piece (up to 12 feet in length) with integral bowls and back splash, minimizing seams
Water and mildew resistant - Silicone is used to seal the seams, and it is much less likely to leak or mildew than ceramic tile installations that use porous grout. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to inspect and maintain all silicone joints. As houses settle and move, there is the opportunity for the joints to separate. This situation should be corrected as soon as possible so that more serious problems do not develop.

What Products Can Be Made of Cultured Marble?

Vanity Tops and Integral Bowls
Bath Tubs and Whirlpool Tubs
Bar Tops and Integral Bowls
Tub Surrounds and Tub Decking
Shower Bases, Wall Surrounds and Ceilings
Decorative Trim
Bath Accessories (Shampoo & Soap Holders, Shelves, Shower Seats, and Towel Bars)

Click here to view a few of our available Vanity Top and Integral Bowls.

Click here to view Technical Drawings of a few of our available Tub and Shower Models.

Caring for your Cultured Marble

Regular cleaning with generally available non-abrasive liquid or foam cleaners is all that is needed to maintain the beauty of our product. Just using a squeegee on shower walls after each shower keeps the walls clean. When cleaning your shower floor, scrub with a soft-bristle brush and rinse well. We suggest that you try some of the current products on the market: Clorox Bathroom Cleaner with Teflon®, Tilex Fresh Shower Daily Shower Cleaner™, 409™ or Fantastic™. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's directions carefully.

If you need to remove soap build-up – use a mild solution of vinegar and water. More difficult build-up may require the use of Tilex Soap Scum Remover™ or a Lime & Rust Stain Remover. It is important to remember to rinse the Cultured Marble thoroughly after using these types of cleaning products.

To keep your vanity top and shower walls looking new, we reccomend polishing them at regular intervals with a non-abrasive liquid auto wax. This process maintains the lustrous finish and will make your Bella Marble product even easier to keep clean.

Repairing minor surface scratches or burns: it is possible to buff out this type of damage using a combination of wet sanding, polishing compound and an industrial type buffer (minimum 2000 RPM). For deep scratches or chips a professional repair company should be called.

A note for plumbers: excessive tightening of drain plugs will crack the lavatory, shower base or tub. Use plumber's putty then tighten to finger tightness, finish up with one half turn of wrench.