Artificial Marble vs Natural Marble

Natural marble and engineered marble may look alike but they have several differences you can check out. They both exude elegance and a luxurious feel to them.

Here are the different characteristics of artificial marble and natural marble:

Price

Natural Marble:
Expensive (Availability, cutting, and quarrying can be costly)

Artificial Marble:
More affordable (Easily created in a quarry with few elements)

Options

Natural Marble:
Available colors depend on the impurities of the stone

Artificial Marble:
Diverse patterns and colors (colors are artificially added to the slab)

Installation

Natural Marble:
Requires a skilled workforce (Can lead to marble cracking, curling, discoloration, and popping when wrongly installed)

Artificial Marble:
Hassle-free and less fragile installation (adjusting and cutting do not require professional touch)

Maintenance

Natural Marble:
High maintenance & Costly (Requires resealing every 6 months)

Artificial Marble:
Hassle-free & non-porous (Requires lower upkeep and maintenance)

Weight

Natural Marble:
Can be hefty

Artificial Marble:
Comparatively slimmer & lighter

Durability

Natural Marble:
Hard but brittle (Avoid spilling acidic substances, cleaners, and oil at all cost)

Artificial Marble:
Resistant to discoloration, oil, and stains (Compatible with regular cleaners)

Heat Resistance

Natural Marble:
Can undergo immense heat and pressure (The natural stone was formed by geographical activity)

Artificial Marble:
Lack of heat resistance (Risks melting/burning under a high temperature)

Customization

Natural Marble:
Cannot be customized (Crafted from naturally occurring limestone)

Artificial Marble:
Can be shaped and remodeled based on user preference

Cleaning

Natural Marble:
Requires meticulous cleaning and resealing

Artificial Marble:
Difficult to remove scratches