A cultured marble bathtub surround combines the look and durability of natural stone with the minimal cost and ease of installation of artificial substances. On average, cultured marble is less costly than high-end substances like natural rocks, but it’s far from the cheapest surround material.
Material Costs
The cost of the cultured marble surround itself can fluctuate widely based on the grade level of the item you choose. In the time of publication, a straightforward low-end surround might retail for as little as $400, but a luxury-level item or a custom surround design might cost $2,500 or more. Costs vary by area as well; a mid range surround may cost around $1,200 from the Midwest, but the same surround could cost $100 more in New York City.
Labor Costs
Labor costs also differ from location to location, and the complexity of the job has an effect on the general labor cost. Expect a licensed contractor to spend about 2 and a half hours installing a average surround; typical labor cost for work that size ranges between $150 and $350; supply costs can add another $100 to $140 on average to the entire cost. If you elect to perform the job yourself, then you save the cost of work, but keep in mind that some parts of the installation might be hard for an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer.
Additional Factors
These average costs do not include the cost of removing the present surround or tile, which can add substantially to the labor cost, based on the type of material installed. Any required modification or repair to existing walls or changes to produce the walls plumb or level also incurs additional charges, as will changes to your pipes or bathtub fixtures. Installation of surrounds with complex layouts beyond a simple rectangle could lead to above-average labor expenses.
Material Comparisons
Cultured marble surrounds fall close to the center of the range of surround material options in terms of cost. Cultured marble is more expensive than fiberglass or sheet acrylic surrounds, but it’s less costly than natural stone. Some ceramic tile flooring options are comparable in cost to cultured marble, but tile installation is much more pristine than installation of cultured marble. Tile surrounds are very likely to cost significantly more than cultured marble surrounds complete because of the intensive labor involved in the installation procedure.
