How To Repair Crack In Quartz Countertop

Cultured Marble vs Corian vs Quartz
vs Granite in 2022

You may take heard of cultured marble, merely it's not surprising if you don't know much nearly information technology fifty-fifty though information technology does take extensive use and entreatment and could be exactly what you want for your kitchen or bathroom countertops.

So let'southward compare cultured marble vs Corian vs quartz vs granite and solid-surface to see which of these popular countertop materials is right for your home remodeling projection.

Yous may also like our Cultured Marble vs Marble comparing.

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Cultured Marble vs Corian

Corian countertops are the most closely related of all countertop materials to cultured marble.

Both are fabricated by mixing natural stone (marble, limestone) dust or aggregate and/or natural minerals with polymer resins to class a seamless solid-surface countertop.

Cultured marble was the original version of an "engineered countertop" followed shortly after by Corian, and then quartz countertops. These days several additional types of man-made countertops are available.

Laminate countertops are actually the showtime "homo-made" countertop cloth, but for whatever reason are not considered in the "engineered" category.

Corian countertop kitchen island color witch hazel Paradigm Source: Corian Corian countertop color Witch Hazel

Corian and other solid-surface countertop brands accept largely surpassed cultured marble in popularity as the expect is a bit more mod. Even so, cultured marble vanities and countertops remain in demand.

Colors: Cultured Marble vs Corian

Corian and cultured marble tin can be identical in overall look & experience, finishes, and colors. Even so, the bulk of patterns are different. Corian offers a bit more diversity and has a more modern and refined appearance.

Cultured marble and Corian colors share a similar palette with well over 100 colors from white, beige, and brown to gray and black, blueish, green, yellowish, and cerise.
Corian solid-surface offers more pattern options than cultured marble.
Corian patterns are plentiful, simply the vast majority are grainy, speckled, or pebbled patterns reminiscent of granite. A few designs are nearly identical to mutual cultured marble patterns, though, with marbleized swirls and veins.
Corian surface finishes come in matte, semi-gloss, and gloss, which are the same for cultured marble.

Cost: Corian vs Cultured Marble

Corian countertop prices have a wider range than costs for cultured marble, simply the average Corian cost is essentially identical.

Corian countertops installations run from $35 to $100 per square foot.
Average Corian countertop costs are $45 - $65 per foursquare foot.
Cultured marble countertops go for $44 - $68 per foursquare foot.

The reason Corian countertops could toll as much as $80, $ninety, or $100/ psf is that Corian is commonly installed as kitchen countertops that typically are more than complex .

Also, costs increase when the countertops are heavily customized with various shapes, sizes, unique edge styles, etc.

Care & Cleaning: Cultured Marble vs Corian

It's not surprising that cleaning and maintenance requirements of cultured marble vs Corian are nearly identical since both are manufactured with basically the same materials and resins.

Do not employ abrasive cleaners or scouring pads.

For daily cleaning , use the trusted Stone Care Marble Cleaning Spray for both cultured marble and Corian. Puracy cleaner is a second selection.

Use this Gel-Gloss Polish to maintain the gloss finish of both cultured marble and Corian. It is made merely for these types of surfaces.

Sure cleaners and chemicals tin cause surface harm and discoloration.

Avoid contact with drain cleaners, oven cleaners, paint strippers, acetone and nail polish remover, and acidic or caustic cleaners.

Soap can exist used but will leave a lather scum remainder if used as a regular cleaner. Window cleaners will besides go out a waxy buildup on Corian.

Both can be scratched and burned or scorched. Definitely use durable cutting boards and trivets.

Both are non-porous and practise non need sealing. However, surface stains are still possible.

Acquire more about how to clean cultured marble correctly in our comprehensive guide.

Repair & Refinishing: Cultured Marble vs Corian

Notation that Corian is one solid, consistent textile through the full thickness, whereas cultured marble has a solid core with a protective gel glaze applied over the height.

This does impart a slightly different look to each countertop textile. But mostly, it is meaning when it comes to repairing.

Scratches and burns can be removed by sanding away the blemish. However, you lot must be much more careful when repairing cultured marble to not sand through the gel glaze.

Corian countertops can be sanded more aggressively since the colour, pattern, and texture run through the unabridged thickness of the slab. Nevertheless, sanding a "gloss" Corian finish volition dull the finish and require more piece of work to get the smoothen dorsum.

Stains, pits, and cracks can as well be removed, filled, or repaired on both materials using the same methods.

Now, information technology's essential to understand a few terms that often get mixed upwardly when comparing Corian and cultured marble… "solid-surface" and "acrylic."

Cultured Marble vs Solid-Surface

The comparison between solid-surface materials and cultured marble is the same as cultured marble vs. Corian.

Corian IS a solid-surface material.

Solid-surface is a class or type of countertop material (as are "quartz countertops" or "laminate countertops" for example) that is made in a sure way with specific operation characteristics.

Corian is the biggest and most well-known brand, so information technology often seems like Corian is a unique textile unto itself, only many other companies make solid-surface countertops.

To be fair, Corian did invent the solid-surface countertop formula, just once their patent expired, other brands jumped in to make a near identical material.

So, all the pros & cons and differences noted in this article about Corian versus cultured marble equally apply to cultured marble vs solid-surface.

And how near acrylic countertops...

Cultured Marble vs Acrylic

Also, comparing cultured marble vs. acrylic surfaces is precisely the aforementioned equally comparing cultured marble vs. Corian and vs. solid-surface.

An "acrylic" countertop IS a solid-surface countertop.

Corian is a solid-surface countertop made from acrylic every bit are virtually all other solid-surface brands such as these:

Corian (Dupont)
Wilsonart
Swanstone
Formica
Samsung Staron
HI-MACS
Meganite
LivingStone

It'due south nevertheless cloth. Contrasting cultured marble vs. Swanstone, or Wilsonart, or any other solid-surface brand is the aforementioned equally comparison it to Corian as detailed above. Then, anytime yous read "Corian" y'all can insert "solid-surface" or "acrylic," etc.

A few solid-surface brands make polyester solid-surface countertops instead of using acrylic, but the majority use acrylic for better operation and for creating a seamless look.

Cultured Marble vs. Quartz Countertops

Both cultured marble and quartz countertops are "engineered countertops" or manufactured surfaces like Corian and solid-surface too. However, they are made, wait, and perform differently.

Colors: Cultured Marble vs. Quartz

Cultured marble and quartz countertops tin look almost the same in some cases, but quartz has a much wider range and variety of colors and patterns.

white quartz countertops caesarstone color nougat Paradigm Source: Caesarstone Caesarstone quartz color Nougat

Cultured marble mainly has marble-like veined and mottled patterns in soft whites and earth tones. Although blacks, blues, greens, unique brilliant colors, and solids are as well available.
Quartz colour palette favors whites, tans, and grays, only any colour is too possible. Quartz patterns mainly mimic the expect of natural rock and, in particular, granite, but many likewise wait similar marble or physical.

Quartz countertop patterns and colors tend to wait much more realistic and natural.

Quartz feels like natural stone (granite or marble) where cultured marble looks and feels more like plastic due to the gel glaze is all resin.

Cultured marble is a solid-surface without seams (up to a 12 ft. run), then near cultured marble countertops will not take seams.
Quartz countertops are made in slabs about the same size every bit granite slabs (approximately sixty" ten 120"), and by and large, countertops will have seams.
However, it's worth noting that quartz is used far more often for kitchen countertops where longer runs are needed, and seams are unavoidable. Cultured marble is primarily used for bathroom vanity tops and showers.

Price: Quartz vs. Cultured Marble

On average, the cost of quartz countertops is significantly more than cultured marble.

Quartz countertops costs go from $45 to $125 per foursquare foot installed.

The average quartz countertop installation costs $65 - $85/sq. ft. which is well above the average cost of a cultured marble vanity ($44 - $68 psf) and tin be well-nigh double.

Care & Cleaning: Cultured Marble vs. Quartz

Maintenance requirements for quartz and cultured marble are remarkably comparable. Mainly this is because both are made with resins that are sensitive to certain types of damage.

Both materials are non-porous and do not need sealing.
However, dyes and some food items will however stain both quartz and cultured marble.
Both will be damaged by certain stiff chemicals. Bleach, acetone and solvents, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and acids are all possible culprits.
Quartz is highly scratch-resistant. Cultured marble is non and can be scratched.
Cultured marble too burns easily. Quartz resists heat much better simply tin can still be burned or scorched by hot pans.
Both surfaces can pit, or bit, or crevice from impacts.

Even though quartz countertops and cultured marble can suffer the same type of damage, quartz is more durable and will hold up better over the years.

Repair & Refinishing: Cultured Marble vs. Quartz

Cultured marble comes out the winner when comparing "repairability" versus quartz.

Scratches, stains, pits, chips, cracks, burns, and chemical damage to cultured marble can be removed or repaired and then long as some of the gel coat remains.

Not truthful for quartz countertops. Pits, chips, and cracks can be repaired, and surface food stains can be removed, but burns and quartz stains from chemical discoloration are usually permanent.

Popularity of Man-Made Countertop Materials

It's interesting to note in the development of countertop materials that cultured marble was one time a premium surface.

Cultured marble was then supplanted by Corian and solid-surface as a more advanced and desirable surface.

For a long fourth dimension, Corian was considered a luxury countertop textile, then along came quartz. Corian is all the same an fantabulous surface that fits somewhere in between laminate and granite on the luxury scale.

Cultured Marble vs Granite

Many would fence that granite is the best performing countertop material all considered. And granite tile is hard to beat out for floors, showers, and walls too.

Santa Cecilia Granite Countertop

However, cultured marble does have some advantages, then it depends on the needs of your project.

Colors: Cultured Marble vs Granite

Granite countertops expect decidedly different than cultured marble. They share some of the same overall colors but non patterns.

Cultured marble primarily leans toward a lite color palette with subtle, mottled, or feathery veined patterns. It'south a softer look.

Granite typically has a singled-out and grainy or pebbled pattern that may be very consistent or with dramatic contrast, variations, undulations, or movement forth with fissures and veins.

Granite comes in thousands of colors and patterns but not primary colors or anything extra bold or striking.

Cultured marble has maybe 100 colors and patterns across all manufacturers, and nigh are in the white, biscuit, and grey range. Still, any color is possible, including deep vibrant hues or completely solid colors.

Note: Some manufacturers practise make "cultured granite" as well that does take speckled or grainy patterns made to resemble granite. Cultured marble and cultured onyx are much more prevalent, though.

Cost: Granite vs. Cultured Marble

Surprisingly granite and cultured marble are similarly priced at to the lowest degree when comparison the more mutual and inexpensive granite colors.

Thus, many granite installations tin exist equally cheap every bit cultured marble. But on average granite is more expensive.

Granite countertops cost range from $35 to $125 per square foot installed and can go equally loftier as $200.

The average granite countertop installation costs $45 - $65/sq. ft . which is the same price range as a cultured marble vanity ($44 - $68 psf).

Care & Cleaning: Cultured Marble vs Granite

Granite does have its share of maintenance issues, simply overall, durability long-term is really where granite outshines cultured marble.

Abrasive cleaners cannot exist used on cultured marble (except gently on matte finishes), and harsh or potent cleaners and chemicals will harm the protective gel coat.

Abrasives tin be used without event on granite, and granite will not exist damaged by most cleaners and chemicals (except for repeated apply or powerful acids).

Daily cleaning is basically the aforementioned. Use a pH neutral cultured marble cleaner or a granite cleaner .

Granite is porous, and most countertop and tile installations volition need sealing to preclude staining. Still, darker granite colors are often exceptionally stain-resistant and exercise not require sealing.

Cultured marble is not-porous, does not demand sealing, and is exceptionally stain-resistant, but can exist stained by hair dyes and the like.

Cultured marble needs regular application of Gel-Gloss Polish or automotive wax to maintain its smooth and luster. Granite does not.

Granite is nearly impossible to scratch or burn.

Cultured marble will rather easily scratch or burn down.

Granite tin develop pits, chips, or cracks from bear upon.

Cultured marble can also develop pits (usually in the sink), only this is not a mutual issue. Dents or impairment to the gel coat tin occur from a heavy affect.

Repair & Refinishing: Cultured Marble vs Granite

Most damage to granite and cultured marble tin be repaired. DIY procedures work for both, and both can be professionally repaired and restored to a nearly-new status in most cases.

Nevertheless, granite will stand up to heavy use without showing much wear for many years… decades fifty-fifty.

With diligent, proper intendance (using the right cleaner, buffing with Gel Gloss , guarding against scratches, burns, stains) cultured marble tin can remain in skilful condition for a long time, but information technology is just non as robust as granite.

Cultured Marble vs Laminate

Laminate countertops were the original manufactured countertop coming to market in the early 1900s. And then, laminate may seem very old-school, but this countertop material has continually improved, has many fans, and nonetheless enjoys high demand.

Although cultured marble and laminate are made and expect quite different, they do share many of the same performance characteristics.

But without doubt, laminate countertops provide the most blindside for your buck of all countertop materials.

Pros & Cons of Cultured Marble vs Laminate

Laminate has far more colors and patterns than cultured marble.
Cultured marble has a high gloss terminate where laminate typically has a matte or satin terminate.
Cleaning requirements are similar. Use pH neutral, non-abrasive cleaners (although laminate can stand up up to some chafe).
Puracy cleaner is a top choice for employ on both surfaces.
Both are highly resistant to stains simply not stain-proof (no surface is actually).
Both tin can exist scratched, chipped, and burned rather hands.
Damage to laminate is generally not repairable. Notwithstanding, cultured marble can usually be repaired to like-new condition.
Cost of laminate is far cheaper at $5 - $40/sq. ft. installed vs. $44 - $68 for cultured marble.
Cultured marble countertops are seamless. Laminate volition have seams.
Laminate countertops can be installed in any size range - large kitchens or for small bathroom countertops - where cultured marble has more fixed sizes and is used mainly for bath vanities.

Determination

Comparing cultured marble vs Corian, solid-surface, and acrylic reveals that these types of countertops are the about closely-related across the board - look and feel, cleaning, care, cost, and repair.

Cultured marble vs. quartz countertops is a different story. Quartz is far more expensive and with more than sophisticated colors. Cleaning requirements are about the same, though.

Quartz is generally more durable, only any damage may be permanent, and cultured marble is often easier to repair.

Surprisingly, the costs of cultured marble vs granite are shut for the average countertop installation. Just that is where the similarity ends.

Granite wins out over cultured marble (and about other kitchen countertop materials ) for long-term durability, ease of intendance, cleaning and repair, range of colors, mode, and real manor resale value.

Comparing cultured marble vs laminate countertops is a tough call that will likely come up down to personal sense of taste in colors and pattern, but also budget as laminate is the cheaper countertop material.

Related content on cultured marble:

Cultured Marble vs Marble: What's The Difference?
Cultured Marble Guide: Countertops, Showers & Bathtubs
How To Repair Cultured Marble The Right Style
Guide to Cleaning Cultured Marble

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How To Repair Crack In Quartz Countertop

Cultured Marble vs Corian vs Quartz
vs Granite in 2022