A man -made alternative to natural stone marble is composite marble. A blend of resins and stone particles together with pigments that generate natural looking patterns and great looking colors are called composite marbles.: Composite marble is formulated by blending about 90% of natural marble chips along with color pigment or polyester resin and are similar to cutting natural stones where they are cut and polished. Unlike quarried stones, composite marbles are usually cast into moulds for developing specific pieces which are later used as bathtubs, backsplashes, sinks, countertops, shower pans, mouldings, shower walls and more. The moulds are lined using a specific gel coat which links the mixture which develops a transparent and a hard surface. Once the process is complete and the pieces are cured they are removed from the molds, and polished to obtain a matte finish as required by the customer.
Composite marble Vs natural marble
Interior designers and home owners are nowadays opting for composite marble as an alternative for its elegant look and classic pattern at an economical cost .
Price comparison
Natural marble is considered to be a high end product whereas composite marble is a bit less expensive. Composite marble is not present in the quarry but is developed as per specification with required pigments, coloring, to give it a realistic look.
Maintenance comparison
Continuous maintenance and care is required for a porous stone like marble as they have the probability to get crack, chip, and get stained easily. In that aspect composite marble is an easy to maintain product. They are finished with a gel coat which is a non-porous surface finish to provide enhanced protection. The manufacturing process is designed in a way that they absorb oils and stains on the stone.
Selection of the stone
Choosing a marble can only be done by picking what is available in the yard; there is no guarantee for consistency of grain and color. But this is not the same with composite marble as they are developed as per the specifications of the client. The best part of selecting a composite marble is that there are unlimited colors and veining patterns.
Installation Natural marble is hard and brittle. Improper installations can lead to discoloration, cracking whereas, where as composite marble is installed with new application methods. A Strong and a seamless free finished surface is obtained by the molding process for composite marbles. For example for composite marbles sinks can be added to vanity tops as one piece with no separate separation for the sink.
Features of composite marble
- The best features of composite marble when compared to normal marble is that various patterns and colors are available which can be used for a number of purposes other than flooring.
- They are lightweight as compared with natural marble and the maintenance is relatively hassle free as they can be cleaned with non-abrasive products.
- Composite marbles can be bought in varied thickness and sizes and they are more versatile as compared to stone.
- Composite marbles are non-porous and durable; they are tough, resistant to mildew, stains and chipping.
- The fabrication and installation of composite marble is less expensive as compared with marble
- With composite marbles, integrated sinks, backsplashes of varied colors can be obtained. Composite marbles are able to create new trends that complement with the overall design theme.
- The casting process makes use of veining and patterns that creates depth and character in its look and at the same time it imitates its natural counterpart.
