Cultured marble is an artificial and man-made product made from marble dust and resins that are molded into the desired shape and then finished with a high gel coat. This process allows it to be made into vanity tops, benches, shower surrounds, and many other products that can provide a bathroom with elegance at a very low cost.
This marble can get chipped or damaged, and it can also need cultured marble repair if it has been drilled or worked on in any way. It is possible to get gel coat repair kits in the colors that the cultured marble has been made of originally, and these repairs can easily be undertaken at home, without the need for the intervention from professionals. This can extend the life of the cultured marble so that it can continue to give the required service. The cost of these repairs will be a fraction of the cost that will be incurred if the piece has to be removed and replaced. Removal and replacement will require the services of a licensed plumber to disconnect and then reconnect any plumbing fitting, and the new piece may even require some modification to the plumbing.
To carry out any cultured marble repair it is important to get hold of a gel coat repair kit that contains the same materials in color and consistency that were used by the original manufacturer. This should not be difficult if you go to the source, the original people to installed your cultured marble item. Once you have obtained the necessary repair kit, you will have to prepare the damaged area for the needed repairs. If it is a chip or a hole, sand it down at the edges so that are no more loose or jagged areas. Clean out the area and make it completely dry for receiving any patch. You then need to pour a small quantity of gel coat and add the catalyst and pigments and mix it well till it is completely blended. Put some of this mixture over the chipped area or hole. This mixture will shrink as it dries, and so you need to overfill the damaged area. Smooth the top of the patch until it is level with the original surface. Allow this patch to dry overnight.
Next day check the patch for any crack or if it has shrunk, when you will need to apply additional patch material. The finished patch can then be sanded with fine-grit sandpaper until the patched area is indistinguishable from the surrounding