What Are Cultured Marble Shower Walls? (And Why We Love Tyvarian at JSB Home Solutions)

If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, one of the first big decisions you’ll make is what kind of shower wall material to use. You want something beautiful, durable, and easy to clean — without the headaches that come with high-maintenance materials.

Over the last 50 years, we’ve worked with every type of shower material you can imagine—from tile and natural stone to acrylic surrounds and solid-surface systems. And while many of them look great at first, not all of them hold up to real, everyday family use. Through decades of installation and homeowner feedback, we’ve learned which products last, which ones are easy to maintain, and which ones cause headaches down the road. That’s why we’ve carefully narrowed our selections to only the materials we feel truly confident installing in your home—ones that combine beauty, durability, and long-term value.

In this blog, you’ll learn what cultured marble shower walls are, how Tyvarian compares to traditional tile and other wall systems, and why it may be the ideal choice if you want a shower that’s stylish, durable, and easy to maintain — without the stress of constant scrubbing or repairs.

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What Is Cultured Marble? (And How It’s Different From Real Marble)

When people hear “cultured marble,” they often assume it’s just fake marble — but it’s actually much more than that.

Cultured marble is a man-made material created by blending crushed natural stone (usually marble or stone dust) with high-quality resins. This mixture is poured into molds and then finished with a durable gel coating that gives it a smooth, glossy, and water-resistant surface. The result is a solid, seamless panel that has the look of stone without the high maintenance that comes with real marble.

While natural marble is undeniably beautiful, it’s also porous — which means it absorbs water, stains easily, and requires constant sealing and upkeep. Cultured marble, on the other hand:

• Doesn’t need sealing

• Won’t stain the way natural stone does

• Resists mildew because there are no grout lines

• Cleans easily with just mild soap and water

So if you love the elegant, polished look of natural stone but want something easy to live with and designed for everyday use, cultured marble gives you the best of both worlds!

How Does Cultured Marble Compare to Other Shower Wall Materials?

If you’re exploring shower remodel options, you’ve probably noticed there are a lot of materials out there — from basic acrylic surrounds to high-end stone slabs. Each one has its own strengths and drawbacks, especially when it comes to maintenance, durability, style, and long-term value.

Cultured marble stands out because it offers the look of natural stone without the upkeep, and unlike some panel systems made from thin plastics or glued layers, cultured marble is solid all the way through, giving it a durable, long-lasting feel.

Here’s how cultured marble stacks up against some of the most common choices homeowners consider:

• Traditional Tile: Beautiful and customizable, but grout requires ongoing cleaning and sealing. Many homeowners love the look of tile but don’t love the maintenance that comes with it.

• Acrylic Surrounds: Affordable but usually thin and prone to scratching or staining over time. These often look “builder-basic” and can yellow or warp.

• Onyx Shower Wall Systems (what we use at JSB for solid surface installs): Another excellent low-maintenance option. Onyx is made from alumina trihydrate + a proprietary resin blend, which makes it strong, non-porous, and easy to maintain. It offers a more polished, stone-like look and feel than acrylic and holds up beautifully for decades.

• Natural Stone: Luxurious and stunning — but requires ongoing sealing and careful cleaning to prevent stains, etching, or mildew issues.

In other words, the right choice comes down to how you want your bathroom to look and how much time you want to spend maintaining it. If you want something that feels elevated, looks like stone, and is easy to care for — cultured marble and Onyx are both strong, lasting solutions. Here's a chart that shows you how Tyvarian measures up:

Shower Wall Material Comparison Chart

Why JSB Home Solutions Installs Tyvarian As Our Cultured Marble Option For Homeowners

At JSB Home Solutions, we install Tyvarian™ cultured marble shower walls because they offer the perfect combination of beauty, durability, and stress-free maintenance — ideal for busy homes and real-life bathrooms.

Tyvarian is not just standard cultured marble — it’s cultured marble enhanced with high-definition imaging and a crystal-clear protective coating. This means you get shower walls that look like natural stone, tile, or artistic textures without any grout lines, sealing, or constant scrubbing.

Why Homeowners Love Cultured Marble Shower Walls In Their Bathrooms

Unlike acrylic inserts or fiberglass surrounds, cultured marble looks and feels solid. It’s sturdy, substantial, and has a smooth, elegant finish that instantly makes your bathroom feel more upscale.

And unlike natural stone, it’s:

• Non-porous

• Doesn’t require sealing

• Won’t absorb moisture

• Won’t grow mold

So you get the beauty without the maintenance stress.  The real benefit here is the easy cleaning!  No grout means no constant scrubbing and worrying about water leaks.

Let’s be honest — cleaning grout is the worst. For busy homeowners, families, or anyone who doesn’t want their bathroom to become a constant upkeep project — this is a game-changer.

With Tyvarian shower walls, there are no grout lines at all.

No scrubbing.
No sealing.
No toothbrush required!

Just wipe the surface down with a mild cleaner and you’re done!

Cultured Marble Has All The Design Options to Match Your Style

Tyvarian comes in a wide range of:

• Stone prints (marble, granite, slate, travertine)

• Solid colors

• Soft modern neutrals

• Artistic textures and patterns

Whether your bathroom style leans cozy farmhouse, clean modern, warm traditional, or sleek luxury — there’s a finish that fits beautifully.

Ready to See What Your Shower Could Look Like?

At the end of the day, your shower should be a space that feels clean, comfortable, and easy to maintain—not something that requires constant scrubbing or worry about stains and mildew. Cultured marble and Onyx wall systems take the stress out of bathroom care by offering a smooth, seamless surface that looks beautiful and holds up to everyday life.

These materials are designed to work with your home—not against it. They resist water, wipe clean in seconds, and bring a timeless style that won’t look dated a few years from now. Whether your goal is a cleaner, brighter bathroom or a full spa-like transformation, choosing the right shower walls is one of the smartest upgrades you can make.

If you’re curious how these options could look in your space, we’d love to show you!

No rush. No pressure. No obligation.
Just real guidance and real design solutions tailored to your home.

A beautiful bathroom shouldn’t require constant work to stay that way. With Onyx and cultured marble, you get timeless style and easy maintenance — the best of both worlds. Let’s help you Dream Big and Remodel Smart so your new shower fits your life, not the other way around.