Is there anything like low cost marble countertops?
Marble is a beautiful, noble material that can work in any kind of bathroom style–from traditional to modern, from retro to vintage. It’s especially good for elegant, luxurious styles. It makes you think of Mediterranean palaces, of Cleopatra in her bath, of traditional Roman bathhouses that were built out of the beautiful veined stone. So it’s no wonder that lots of people remodeling their bathrooms consider low cost marble countertops for the floor or wall tiling, or even for the vanity countertops.
But the main problem? Marble is expensive. Even the low cost marble countertops such as Carrara can still put a good dent in your bathroom remodel budget. Pre-fabricated marble vanities can cost above $1000, whereas cut marble needs to be installed by professionals, which hikes the price even higher.
One of the hottest trends in real estate is the use of low cost marble countertops flooring, a style that can suit any kind of building but only for those who are bold enough to use the costly stone for their interior floors.
Uses of low cost marble countertops
For thousands of years, marble was used to adorn palace floors, walls and ceilings but in the modern day, low cost marble countertops have been finding their way into people’s homes for that gorgeous, classical elegant finish.
The polished look is what most people go for when they choose low cost marble countertops. The idea that it is a timeless stone is one of the reasons why most people will go for marble.
Most high-end marble has a color palette with soft veining such as pure white marble which is a classic favorite in most American homes. Its shiny polish and attractive nature makes it suitable for different surfaces of the house such as around fireplaces, flooring, bathroom walls and cabinet tops.
Unless you have experience with tile-setting, don’t DIY marble even if you are looking for low cost marble countertops
As with ceramic and porcelain tiles, homeowners who are knowledgeable in basic countertop-laying practices can save a lot of money by installing their own marble countertops. If you’ve never laid tiles, you’ll be better off having a professional fabricator or installer to do the work. If you opt to DIY the project, keep the following tips in mind:
- The surface must be perfectly flat, without dips or bumps that could interfere with the countertop. If the surface isn’t flat, you can apply a self-leveling compound to fill in dips and smooth out the surface.
- Marble countertops should be installed over cement board underlayment, which resists moisture damage. Regular plywood surfaces are not suitable for installing marble.
- Marble countertops can be butted tightly together for an ultra-smooth look, or you can choose to install them with gaps between the counters and then fill the joints with grout. If you go the grout route, be sure to use un-sanded grout as sanded grout can scratch the surface of the marble during installation.
Why is it considered difficult to find low cost marble countertops?
Marble typically ranks as the most expensive countertop material. The stone itself is pricey, if only because it is quarried in Italy, Turkey, or India, and has to be shipped thousands of miles to get to you. Fabrication is difficult. Installation requires professionals. Even low cost marble countertops are never a DIY project
When you try to reach out to architects and designers to take an informal poll on the best Marble & Granite Countertops in Milwaukee picks for budget projects, you will find out that the question about low cost marble countertops is more difficult than most people think.
Honestly, it is a struggle these days for low cost marble countertops material. There is no one source of low priced marble countertops that can be strongly recommended.
First off, “low cost marble countertops” are entirely relative—one man’s “cheap” is another man’s astronomical. Plus, many factors will affect the price you’ll pay for any type of marble—where you live, the quality you’re after, whether you’re willing to purchase a discontinued color, etc.
Understand that every type of Milwaukee Marble Countertops will require some shopping around, but keep this in mind: Even after asking around about the most popular countertops options for people on a budget, the most popular budget recommendations are wood, engineered quartz, and stainless steel. As for the downright cheapest option? Good old laminate.