In fact, dust from real natural marble is used in the manufacturing process of cultured marble, and actually makes up about 75% of the finished product. The dust is combined with liquid polyester resin to create the cultured marble vanity top.
What are solid surface vanity tops made of?
Solid-surface vanity tops are created from synthetic materials with a mix of acrylic resin, quartz, and crushed stone. They come in the widest range of patterns, colors, and styles of any countertop material available.
What is the best material for a bathroom vanity top?
The material for your vanity top that works for you depends on how much you want to spend, how much of the work you do yourself, the color and finish you want, and the look you plan to create in your bathroom. You can purchase shower pans and bathtubs in solid-surface materials to match your vanity top, but not with cultured marble.
What is cultured marble vanity top?
Unlike real natural marble, it is a nonporous surface, meaning it is resistant to stains from hair dye, shampoos, and other beauty products that are commonly found in the bathroom. Furthermore, if your cultured marble vanity top does obtain a scratch, chip, or blemish, it can usually be repaired fairly simply.
What are composite bathroom countertops made of?
Composite countertops are an eco-friendly bathroom vanity top material, made from natural fibers and resin as a binder. In fact, they are one of the greenest options out there.
What material are vanity tops made of?
Top choices include granite, marble, cultured marble (a man-made surface made of real marble chips and resin), solid surfaces, tile, and wood. Although bathroom vanity tops see less wear and tear than kitchens, you may want to consider low-scoring materials as there are many risks for scratching in a bathroom.
What is the most durable material for bathroom vanity top?
Once known to dominate high-end home counters, granite has held the top position as one of the best options for bathroom countertop material. This material is incredibly durable and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
What is my bathroom counter top made of?
While it's possible to find a bathroom countertop made from a very unusual material, such as stainless steel, crushed glass, concrete, or wood, most of today's bathroom countertops consist of one of these five different materials: laminate, tile, solid surface, stone, and quartz.
Is cultured marble the same as Corian?
Corian and cultured marble can be identical in overall look & feel, finishes, and colors. However, the majority of patterns are different. Corian offers a bit more variety and has a more modern and refined appearance.
Which is better for bathroom vanity quartz or granite?
Quartz is a better choice than marble or granite for a bathroom vanity countertop. Since quartz is engineered and not a natural stone slab like marble or granite, it's less expensive and more eco-friendly. Unlike marble or granite, quartz is nonporous, making it less susceptible to bacteria and more durable.
Are acrylic vanity tops durable?
Acrylic surfaces do not require sealing to get repaired, unlike granite countertops. Durable: Acrylic countertops are hardy and long-lasting. The average lifetime remains between 10–20 years. Easy to repair: If any burns or damages occur during installation, buffing the surface is not difficult for the installers.
What is engineered stone vanity top?
Unlike natural stone countertops that are cut from pure granite, marble or sandstone, engineered stone counters are made from quartz crystals held together with a resin binder. They have a similar appearance to natural stone, but they possess benefits not available with natural materials.
What is solid surface countertops made of?
Solid surface countertops are manufactured using acrylic, polyester, or a combination of the two. These substances are mixed with a powdered filler and various pigments. Under heat, this mixture chemically cures to create a solid material that can be cut and sanded to form the desired countertop slab size.
How can you tell the difference between quartz and quartzite?
The biggest difference between quartz and quartzite is that quartz is a man-made material, while quartzite is a natural stone. A quartzite countertop begins as sandstone, which under a natural process of heat and pressure is fused with sparkly quartz crystals to form quartzite.
What is a drawback of cultured marble?
Con: Although culture marble is more durable than natural marble, it can still be damaged, and removing scratches from the surface can prove difficult.
Which is better ceramic or cultured marble?
A ceramic or porcelain tile can easily crack if something is dropped on it. Marble, while a little stronger than tile, can also crack and is expensive to replace. Our cultured marble surfaces are built to handle the abuses of every day living and are difficult to break or crack.
Which is better acrylic or cultured marble?
Cultured marble is more durable over time because it will not disintegrate like acrylic. Cultured marble will remain more water resistant longer than acrylic because its is a harder and more durable material that acrylic. There is nothing easier to clean or more durable than a cultured marble product.
Are resin vanity tops durable?
Resin countertops are surprisingly durable and sanitary — in fact, long before they were used in kitchens and bathrooms, they were used in laboratories. Their manufacturing makes them resistant to impact damage, heat, scratches, ultraviolet rays, and stains from acidic products.
Is granite good for a bathroom vanity top?
Granite counters perform well in the bathroom due to their beauty, solidity, and water-shedding properties. As long as granite is well-maintained, it can be expected to return years, even decades, of high performance in the bathroom.
Are quartz vanity tops good?
But unlike stone slabs, quartz countertops are more durable and require less maintenance; they don't need to be sealed. Quartz aces our abrasion and heat tests and scores a Very Good rating for resisting stains.
Is Corian good for bathrooms?
Corian is a beautiful and durable waterproof construction material, making it ideal for bathrooms.
What are the two most important aspects of a vanity top?
One important aspect is the vanity including the vanity countertop. The two most important aspects of the vanity top are material and color. This buying guide explains your vanity top options in detail.
What is a tile vanity top?
If it’s options you want, then a tile bathroom vanity top is for you. Tile comes in thousands of interchangeable options. This can be available as ceramic tiles, glass tiles, porcelain tiles, and more (though ceramic is most popular). Each tile material is available in a nearly endless variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
What is the best material for a bathroom countertop?
Granite. Source: Best Granite for Less. Granite has long been the number one most desired material for bathroom countertops, with granite vanity tops being popular choices for modern bathroom renovations. The natural stone is loved for its overall attractiveness and dramatic beauty.
What is resin made of?
Created with synthetic materials (most often cured epoxy, acrylic, or polyester resin), your top can be customized to your needs and preferences. Resin styles are available in a wide variety of colors, hues, and patterns to mesh with your bathroom style. In addition to its beautiful looks, resin is also very strong.
Is quartz a good vanity top?
Most quartz has a clean, contemporary look that can totally transform any bathroom space, making it a popular choice for solid surface vanity tops.
Is granite vanity top the most expensive?
The combination of beauty, durability, and desirability means that granite is one of the most expensive options around. Yet the high upfront cost pays off in the long run. Not only does granite last just about forever, but granite bathroom vanity tops also add resale value to your home.
Is laminate vanity top the cheapest?
In fact, laminate is one of the cheapest bathroom vanity top materials.
What is a bathroom vanity top made of?
Like kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops can be made from a variety of countertop materials. Many of the same materials used in kitchen countertops can also be used in bathroom vanity tops, though it is rare to find wood butcher-block or stainless steel in a bathroom vanity top.
What is a vanity top?
The name is self-explanatory: These are vanity tops that have large cutout openings into which a separately purchased sink basin is inserted . They require either a sink designed for drop-in installation (called self-rimming ), which rest on the lip of the cutout opening and are caulked into place; or an undermount sink that is attached below the lip of the cut-out.
What is a vessel vanity top?
Vessel vanity tops are designed for use with the stylish and trendy vessel sinks, elevated basins that rest on top of the vanity top. These usually come with only a very small hole for the sink basin's drain fitting.
How big is a bathroom vanity?
Bathroom vanity base cabinets typically range in size from 24 inches to 60 inches, and in front-to-back depths of about 17 inches for small rooms, or 23 inches for standard-sized bathrooms.
What does integrated mean on a vanity?
When you see the term integrated used in reference to a vanity top, it means the sink basin is already incorporated into the vanity top —either because it is molded into the countertop material itself (known as a fused sink), or is attached below the vanity top at the factory.
What to know before choosing a vanity top?
Before you jump to make a decision about what material to choose for your vanity top, it is important that you discover all there is to know about cultured marble. You need to know what it is and how it is made, as well as what colors and styles are available. In addition, you should be aware of what it takes to clean and polish cultured marble.
How to keep marble tops in shape?
To help keep your cultured marble vanity top in tip-top shape, you should consider polishing it , particularly when they have become smudged or scratched. The process is fairly simple and can be done in a relatively quick manner.
Can you repair a cracked vanity top?
The surface can be rebuffed with a gel compound that recoats the vanity top. With that said, a crack or broken piece cannot be repaired , as these are made from a single mold. Routine cleaning involves minimal work on your part. You should avoid abrasive cleaners, however.
Is cultured marble a vanity?
0. Cultured marble is not a term heard very often. However, it is a product that many homeowners choose for the bathroom vanity. Surprisingly, many homeowners who are interested in granite countertops or vanity tops often choose cultured marble for its versatility in styles and shapes. Before you jump to make a decision about what material ...
What is a cultured marble vanity top?
Cultured marble vanity tops are made specifically for bathroom use, while solid-surface countertops work in the kitchen and the bathroom. Shower pans and bathtubs can be made from solid-surface materials for an integrated look. When it comes to installation, cultured marble vanity tops are made for homeowner installation; whereas, ...
What is solid surface countertop?
Solid-surface countertops are made from marble dust, polyester resins, acrylics and dyes. A man-made product -- just like cultured marble -- this countertop can mimic the appearance of wood, stone, quartz, granite or marble. It comes in many color variations and patterns with a matte finish. A stain-resistant, but durable product, solid-surface ...
Is solid surface countertop more expensive than granite?
A stain-resistant, but durable product, solid-surface vanity tops are less expensive than granite, marble or quartz, but more expensive than tile or cultured marble. With your solid-surface countertop, you can include a molded sink and backsplash, if desired.
Is cultured marble countertop solid surface?
When it comes to installation, cultured marble vanity tops are made for homeowner installation; whereas, solid-surface countertops require trained professionals to install the product. Overall, solid-surface products cost more to buy and install as compared to cultured marble.
Why are composite countertops dark?
Patina: Like wood, composite surfaces tend to darken over time from oxidation and sunlight exposure.
What are the eco friendly features of composites?
Eco-friendly features: Composite usually includes recycled material or material that would otherwise go to waste. Most manufacturers rely on water-based and non-petroleum-based phenolic resins and steer clear of VOCs (including formaldehyde) to minimize emissions for better air quality.
How thick is a bath countertop?
Generally, bath countertops run from three quarter inch thick to an inch and a half thick . Choose from a wide variety of edge treatments. Colors: Much like solid surface, composite comes in a range of earth tones, from chocolate brown to denim blue. The color runs all the way through.
Is black composite good for bath?
Rich black composite countertops are stylish enough for any bath. The color runs all the way through the material, and minor damage can be sanded out. Photo courtesy of Paperstone. Composite countertops look and perform like solid surface—and you'd never guess most are made out of paper.