The 3 Best Alternatives to Calacatta Marble Surfaces

Of all the varieties of marble, Calacatta is one of the most sought after.  It is known for its subtle grey veining contrasted by an almost pure white background.  In recent years, Calacatta marble has been gaining popularity as a hard surface for the home and has been the number one requested countertop material, (at least in Southern California, where I live).  As much as I always say that I would always go natural over man-made surfaces, I am finding that advances in technology are making it difficult not to choose a stone alternative.  When I first started seeing Calacatta lookalikes, they either looked very pixelated or lacked depth,  and could never pass for the real thing.  Nowadays the alternatives look just as good as natural Calacatta ' but with so many other positive qualities, that it is hard to not go with a copycat.

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The number one complaint of natural stone is maintenance. As beautiful as it is, one must be aware of the maintenance that is required to keep it looking its best.  Because Calacatta marble is a naturally porous surface, it needs to be sealed regularly.  Even with regular sealing, it is prone to etching when exposed to any acidic substance, such as vinegar, orange juice, and ketchup. Exposure to these products will strip the polish and cause the surface to dull. I have also discovered through my own experience that natural marble or stone is not the ideal surface for someone with OCD tendencies, like myself.

So what do I recommend in place of natural Calacatta marble?  Earlier this year I attended KBIS ' the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, where I was able to compare my findings.  Here are my 3 picks of ways to achieve the same look but without the maintenance and unnecessary stress ' all of which are excellent solutions, where both form and function are met.

Calacatta Gold ' Silestone Eternal Series

Silestone is natural quartz surface that is non-porous and stain resistant.  The veining seen in Silestone's Calacatta Gold runs through the entire body and thickness of the slab, so you are not limited to only straight edge profiles, and curved, bullnose/ogee edge profiles are possible.  Although Silestone's Calacatta Gold is offered in a polished finish, I prefer their 'suede' finish, as I live in a busy household of boys, and I love how the suede finish hides fingerprints and smudges that occur throughout the day- perfect for a rambunctious household.  With a polished finish (especially in a dark color) I find myself constantly with spray bottle and towel in hand, when a cocktail in hand is what I'd really like to have'

The Calacatta Gold 'suede' finish has a matte texture soft touch finish, that has a nice, subtle sheen that is most prominent when viewed at an angle.  It is highly resistant to stains and does not have the maintenance issues that natural stone has, which means that you don't have to worry about the guests spilling ketchup or lemonade on the countertop.

Calacatta ' Neolith Classtone

Neolith Classtone's Calacatta has a bright yet warm, creamy white ground, with an evenly distributed grey veining and subtle hints of gold.  The pattern only occurs on the surface, so only straight or mitered profiles are possible.  Like Silestone, Neolith is available in other finishes, but I prefer the Silk finish, which is matte with a slight sheen.  The light enamel finish allows for easy cleaning and the surface has a nice touch with a very subtle tooth.

What is Neolith made of? It is sintered stone ' 100% natural raw materials that are subjected to high temperature and pressure, and digitally printed to mimic the natural veining that occurs in Calacatta marble.  With digital printing, two different looks can be achieved with the veining when installed- a book match and an end match.

Neolith is also resistant to stains, scratching, can withstand extreme low and high temperatures, does not fade or deteriorate when exposed to UV rays, and is resin-free.  The surface is so hard, that you can cut directly on the Neolith surface ' as long as a ceramic knife is not used.  (their demo video has a chef cutting directly on the countertop without any problem) I also love how beautifully it plays with a natural wood finish ' especially how the warmth of the wood brings out the subtle gold accents in the veining.

Make note that Neolith offers two types of Calacatta '  'Calacatta' and 'Calacatta Gold'. I prefer Calacatta ' C01 as the veining is a little bit more sparse and looks more like the veining that the other lines offer.  Calacatta Gold tends to have a much busier pattern with more gold.

Unique Calacatta ' Compac

Compac's Unique Calacatta has a 'Glacé' finish, which is currently the smoothest, most silky matte finish that I have seen ' and felt.  The surface looks and feels like a surface that has just been sanded with the finest grit sandpaper ' just on the verge of a high polish.   Compac sure delivers with this product ' beautifully warm veining that is so natural that it takes a very close inspection to realize that it is engineered and not a natural occurring marble surface. To the touch, it feels like a smooth silky satin.  The surface is resistant to stains and scratching, but cutting directly on the surface is not recommended and it cannot be used outdoors and should be shielded from UV rays. The near-zero porosity and compact structure make it impervious to water and dirt. I had just put hand cream on and my hands were a little bit greasy when I touched the surface, and it left a hint of greasy finger print, but with the fine, silky surface that is almost to be expected. I would imagine that the maintenance for Compac's Unique Calacatta is slightly more involved than the other two surfaces, but the beauty of the smooth Glacé finish makes it worth it.

Moreover, the fine texture and lack of 'tooth' in Unique Calacatta reflects light in much the same way a polished surface would but with a much more diffused effect.

The three alternatives to Calacatta marble I have mentioned in this post are all viable options in the kitchen, bath, or other areas of the home, but what you ultimately choose should depend on your own personal preferences and what is important to you ' whether something other than a straight or mitered edge is for you or the fact that you cannot live without being able to cut directly on the countertop surfaces.  These are all factors that need to weigh in on your final decision.

A countertop is a large investment, so choose wisely!

If you're shopping around for surfacing material, you probably already know that few things say elegance like marble.

In the world of white marble there are many variances ' some tend towards gray while others are a bit more creamy or granular. Those in the most pure form are without a doubt the hardest to procure and therefore the most expensive. 

Are you interested in learning more about calacatta quartz slabs? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

A major market favorite is Calacatta, it is exclusive and has pronounced veining contrasted by an almost pure white background. Fortunately there are realistic Calacatta alternatives available that are easier to ship, require less maintenance and won't change with age as marble will. Check out these incredible copycats.

Maxfine

Maxfine is a Collection of 'thin porcelain panels' or tpp by Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti (FMG) a division of the Iris-Group, an international manufacturer and exporter of ceramic and porcelain tile. The Iris Group operates Stonepeak Ceramics in Crossville, TN which produces 6 million square meters of material a year.

Maxfine's Marmi Calacatta  comes in 120' x 60' and 60' x 60' x 6mm slabs/tiles. Smaller tile  are available for floors and walls.  The Marmi Calacatta beautifully captures the elegance that we come to expect from a Calacatta. A/B book-matched panels allow designers to add movement and drama to an interior.

Neolith

Neolith by TheSize offers Calacatta in their Classtone Collection. It  blends the classicism and elegance of marble with revolutionary Neolith Digital Design (NDD) technology.

Like all Neolith products, Classtone is a sintered compact surface offered in 6 mm thickness. For improved functionality in the Kitchen, Neolith offers jumbo 3,200 mm by 1,500 mm (125' x 59') sheets in 12 mm thickness. The Calacatta is available in 3 finishes: Polished, Textured, Silk.

The grayish veins with subtle hints of gold lays on a bright white body bringing light and vitality to the kitchen or bath.

iTop|Ker

iTOPKer Countertops is a another product that stands out from the rest. It's a line of tpp by Inalco, a Spanish manufacturer known for their slimline porcelain tiles.

iTOPKer countertops offer an impressive collection of 50 design choices. The Touché Collection offers the elegance of Calacatta with the added benefits of porcelain. 12mm thickness for countertops and 6 mm thickness for walls and floors provides many design options. The 126' x 59' slabs are offered in both natural and high polish finishes. The Super Blanco-Gris  design is one of my favorites for it's ultra-white body.

Coverlam

I fell in love with Coverlam Top when I saw it in Spain at the Cevisama Tile show. Coverlam Top by Grespania is a thin ceramic slab suitable for countertops, walls and floors. Coverlam comes as thin as 3.5 mm up to 12 mm. One benefit is the multiple sizes available ' 5.6 mm thickness is offered in a long   x mm format, the 10.5 mm thickness is available in x mm slabs and the 12 mm thickness is offered in a jumbo x mm format.

Coverlam offers a Calacatta Collection so there's no strange name to remember. Coverlam has 18 collections in total offered in 6 different finishes, including stone, cement, wood, metal, monochromatic and marble.

Silestone

Silestone by Consentino has been producing quartz slabs since . Consentino is another Spain-based manufacturer who recently opened a US Headquarters in Miami.

Many consider Calacatta Gold, the crown jewel of the Silestone Eternal Series, It is subtle in nature but its bold refine veining draws similarities from the coveted marble.  Silestone slabs come in two sizes ' standard is 55 inches by 120 inches and Jumbo ' 63 inches by 128 inches.

While the binders in quartz countertops keep it from being heat resistant, there are some advantages to using quartz. The 2 cm and 3 cm edges can be profiled with various edge details. Another nice benefit that Silestone offers is the ability to fabricate an unsupported overhang. According to their website, the max overhang is 15' for  3 cm ( 1 1/4') and 11' for a 2 cm (3/4') material.  Another key benefit is that engineered stone is quieter than tpp countertops.

Cambria

Cambria  is the only American manufacturer on this list of Calacatta alternatives. The Marble Collection  marries the sophisticated look of marble with the low-maintenance convenience and superior performance of natural quartz. Torquay offers soft gray swirls and movement similar to Calacatta.

A nice feature of Cambria is that its quartz is responsibly mined, and 100 percent of the water used during processing is recycled. Their jumbo slabs are offered in 1 cm, 2 cm and 3 cm thicknesses in a polished finish or matte finish. A unique benefit Cambira offers is their Augmented Reality App that helps homeowners envision their new countertops in their own kitchen.

Half the battle to a beautiful kitchen is the fabrication. If you want to discuss the options for your kitchen project, KSN is here to help.

Want more information on white calacatta quartz? Feel free to contact us.