What is Agglomerated Marble?

Featured Image: Palladio Moro Agglomerated Marble Bathroom Floor from Arizona Tile

Agglomerated marble has long been a classic in interior design. This versatile material can be used in a variety of ways across the home, and its timeless, charming look will be the focal point of any room. But what exactly is agglomerated marble?

As suggested by the meaning of the word “agglomerate”, this marble is crafted from separate chips of marble that are leftover during the quarrying process. Once polished for smoothness, the chips are laid out, resin is poured over the top, and the entire sheet is bonded and cured to form a workable material. It’s the perfect choice for many home projects. By understanding the benefits of agglomerated marble, as well as its many applications, you can easily incorporate it into your next renovation.

Agglomerate Marble vs. Natural Marble

Both agglomerated and natural marbles can bring a refreshing and clean look to your spaces. They’re also very similar, as they come from the same source stone. However, the two do have slight variations on some characteristics. Knowing which material is best suited for your needs is key to making the right selection during a renovation. Here’s a quick overview of how the two compare.

Appearance

Natural marble is taken from one large stone slab and cut as needed. Since each piece comes from the same source stone, the natural motifs inside (like veining or tone shifts) align, and they can be laid to form one cohesive pattern across the entire surface. This creates a dynamic and flowing feeling within the space. Additionally, natural marbles typically come in white, gray, or black, and bring a cool, earthy vibe to any room.

Agglomerated marbles, on the other hand, have a distinctly retro vibe. Their patchwork designs have been a staple in design for decades. While the marble chips typically come in white, gray, or black, the sealing resin has a larger range of tones. Additionally, marble chips naturally develop oxidized spots. These can bring unique flairs of color, including gold, to your surface. Altogether, this material has a vintage and bold look that improves any space.

Image: Arabescato Bianco Agglomerate Marble Floor from Arizona Tile

Durability

Both materials are incredibly durable. The strong stone base means that tiles and slabs in the home will be able to endure everyday wear and tear. Because of the addition of resin, agglomerated marble is slightly sturdier, and has a higher measure of hardness. 

Care Instructions

All natural stones are porous, and both natural and agglomerated marbles need to be sealed to prevent absorption or staining. Prolonged exposure to liquid can still seep into the materials, and avoiding direct contact is recommended. Additionally, acidic cleaning materials can slowly erode stone over time, leaving etches in the surface. Even household acids can affect both types of marble. Using pH-balanced cleansers is best to avoid damage.

Price

The strenuous process of quarrying and refining natural marble slabs means that it can be costly. Contrastingly, the easier process to craft agglomerate marble means that its price is very competitive. Larger projects may benefit from switching to an agglomerated material. Assessing your budget is needed before deciding which type of marble to purchase.

Image: Palladio Doge Agglomerate Marble Bathroom Floor from Arizona Tile

Bringing Agglomerate Marble Into Your Home

If agglomerate marble is the best choice for your home, there are many ways to incorporate it into a renovation. One of its most popular uses is as a countertop. Its durability and strength lend perfectly to kitchen countertops, islands, and bathroom surfaces. The Palladio Moro slab is a top choice for this. By combining light marble chips with a black resin, this slab will bring a bold and timeless vibe to your room. Additionally, once cured and sealed, this agglomerate marble has a smooth finish that is easy to keep clean. 

Shower interiors are another great candidate for agglomerate marble tiles. When choosing a tile with a softer color scheme, like our Arabescato Bianco, the tile brings a calming and refreshing feeling to the space. The cleanliness of white marble with white resin also brings much-needed reliability to all bathroom spaces. 

Finally, agglomerated marbles work well on interior floors or accent walls. Our Palladio Doge, which has white and gray marble sealed with white resin, brings a dramatic geometric look and complimentary neutral tone to any bathroom or kitchen. As an accent wall, this looks gorgeous behind a bathroom tub, large mirror, or earth-toned cabinets. As a flooring, agglomerate marble thrives when matched with silver or white fixtures and folksy color palettes.

Get Started Today 

At Arizona Tile, our selection of agglomerated marbles and other materials can help transform and refresh your space. With our design tools, you can visualize how our agglomerate marble will look inside your home, as well as locate the nearest slab yard with your selection. Once you’re ready, contact us. Our team will answer any questions you have and help you get started renovating your home.